PF1's 2008 Season Predictions - Part 2

Tuesday 11th March 2008

The PF1 crew brings you Part Two of our crystal ball gazing for the 2008 F1 season.

Pete Gill, Frank Hopkinson, Michelle Foster, Richard Ferraris and Skybet's F1 guru Dave Pilgrim contribute their predictions.

11. Who won't be re-signed for 2009: Trulli, Coulthard, Fisichella or Barrichello?
PG: Only Trulli will be retained. F1 is fast becoming a young-man's sport.
FH: : All of them except Trulli. DC should get a testing role because he is a fantastic development driver. I wouldn't be surprised to see him return to a McLaren role. He has a McLaren mindset.
MF: Barrichello and Coulthard.
RF: Barrichello's career must be over [puts hands together and prays]. Fisi has a contract until 2009 and has probably found his level at the back of the grid so he will probably be around next season. DC to Prodrive...maybe?
DP: I think 2008 could be the last year for all four realistically. Rubens has been outclassed by Button ever since joining Honda, and DC is definitely winding down - and as for Fisi - a pointless year in 2008 after struggling to secure the drive would not be the perfect preparation for holding onto his seat.

12. In what month will the first Lewis Hamilton 'kiss and tell' be published in the British press?
PG: March. Oooh, some of the things I have to tell...
FH: July in time for the British GP.
MF: Actually the first 'kiss and tell' was already published last season. So I guess this year will be book two.
RF: What kind of a question is that?
DP: Lewis will be far too busy trying to keep up with Kimi to have time to land himself in the spot-light for off-track antics.

13. Biggest surprise of the year?
PG: Williams. Hopefully.
FH: Williams return to the sharp end of the grid.
MF: Sales on Lewis' 2008 'kiss and tell' will bomb.
RF: Wouldn't it be wonderful if Force India secured a couple of points finishes?
DP: I don't want to ruin the surprise! But I will be watching Alonso with interest to see whether he can drag the Renault back to the front.

14. Biggest mistake of the year?
PG: Ross Brawn joining Honda long after the design for their new car had left the drawing board.
FH: We've seen from Alonso's time at Renault (with Fisi) and McLaren very conspicuously last year with Hamilton, that Fernando doesn't like competition within his own team. Nevertheless Nelson Piquet Jr. is a feisty character and nobody's pussy. He won't want to be trashed by Alonso when his great GP2 rival of 2006, Lewis Hamilton, could easily match him for pace. So there is a great potential for friction and aggravation in that relationship and that could cause mistakes.
MF: Alonso signing with Renault - although I'm not sure if that's Renault's mistake or Alonso's.
RF: The Hungarian GP anyone?
DP: Running out of 10p's for the Meter in Sinagapore.

15. How many cars will be overtaken on the track for position during the Monaco GP?
PG: 18. It's gonna bucket down...
FH: Not counting the start - five.
MF: Three, excluding those who manage to leap ahead at the start.
RF: The same number of points as Super Aguri will score. Zero.
DP: 12?

16. Can Super Aguri upstage Honda? Again.
PG: No. Alas.
FH: With Ross Brawn at Honda? The question is damnable heresy. Not a chance.
MF: No, Honda won't let that happen. Again.
RF: No, they don't have Ross Brawn.
DP: It's happened once, but I don't think Honda will be keen to repeat those mistakes. Button has been upbeat about the improvements to come, and the acquisition of Ross Brawn is a bit step in the right direction.

17. Sebastien or Sebastian?
PG: The boy Vettel is a special talent (I think).
FH: To do what? To break mirrors with their stunning good looks? To be the first driver with glasses to win a GP since Professor Pat Pending? To be the latest member of the Mark Webber fan club? I think that the answer is Sebastian and I'll provide the question in Brazil.
MF: Sebastian Vettel I think will have the upper hand over his Champ Car team-mate. But it should be close.
RF: Vettel. He has the edge in terms of experience in the cockpit of an F1 car.
DP: Another tricky one, and I'd bet them 5/6 each, but if I wanted to avoid splinters from sitting on the fence, I would have to say Bourdais. He might take a few races to get up to speed, but his experience should help.

18. According to the AA Routefinder device, it should take Pete Gill two hours and five minutes to travel from Silverstone to his home. How long will the journey actually take on the evening of the British GP?
PG: One hour and twenty-two mins. You should see me drive.
FH: Which of Pete Gill's homes do you mean? His shooting estate is a whole lot closer than that and if he takes the helicopter it will only be thirty minutes - providing his masseuse, his grape tosser and his manicurist can all fit in.
MF: That depends on how many pubs Mr Gill stops at on his way home.
RF: What ever happened to the PF1 helicopter?
DP: Pete is experienced enough to know that he should be heading to the after race party on the infield to beat the traffic for a trouble free journey home after watching Tony Jardine and Jenson Button's post-race antics.

19. Will F1's first night race in Singapore live up the hype?
PG: All I care about is that it doesnt mean another early-morning start...
FH: It's going to be a blast.
MF: I think the brakes glowing red will be worth it. So yes, it will.
RF: See questin #9
DP: The jury is still out, but I'm all for the idea if it means I'm not required up at 4am to bet the race in-running from the Skybet offices.

20. Best quote of the season will go to...
PG: Frank Hopkinson.
FH: Mark ****ing Webber.
MF: Not Kimi that's for sure.
RF: In the PF1 towers, Mr Gill. In a press conference, Kimi.
DP: Martin Brundle every time someone riles him on the grid. His Prime-Minister incident in 2007 was the stuff of legends.

Part One Of The PF1 2008 Predictions

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