True - which is surprising, considering how strong the car was last year.

 

+1 could we see the Rain Master on the podium???
Behind two McLaren drivers of course

 

If Schumi stays till next season...Mercedes are going to storm 2011!!!

 

Because Brawn GP had a full year on development over everyone and admitted it. This year they had the normal amount of time to develop a car.

 

I went ahead and made this the official banter thread and made it a sticky too.

Did anyone see P1 this morning? Hamilton had a big wreck I guess.

Prac One: Sutil quickest, Hamilton crashes | Planet F1 | Formula One News

 

Wasn't I just saying something about Hammy making rookie mistakes in the rain? LOL!!

 

Alonso: We don't need rivals to falter | Planet F1 | Formula One | News, Standings, Results, Features, Video

Alonso seems pretty confident ...



Alonso is currently fifth in the standings trailing Championship leader Lewis Hamilton by 47 points, with Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber also ahead of him.

It would tend to suggest Alonso needs the McLaren duo and Red Bull pair to suffer problems over the remaining nine races if he is to have any chance of adding to his 2005 and 2006 titles.

But under the current points system, with 25 for a win, Alonso has no doubts he can emerge victorious under his own steam, starting at Sunday's German Grand Prix.

"We can do it on our own," said Alonso.

"We need consistent races. If it had been a normal race in Valencia and Silverstone, then maybe I would have the points I am behind now and maybe leading the Championship here.

"There are four guys in front of me, and not all of them can win.

"Maybe in one race one of them doesn't take any points, in another race maybe one of them is fifth or sixth, and so on.

"We just need to concentrate on our job and that will be enough because at the moment we have not capitalised enough on Sunday."

That was clearly the case in the recent European and British Grands Prix, although circumstances conspired against the Spaniard, and at a time when the Ferrari was back on the pace.

Although Alonso concedes having suffered "frustrating moments" in both those races, he is refusing to let them get him down.

"We had a very good weekend in Valencia, but came away from there with four points," added Alonso, who celebrates his 29th birthday next Thursday.

"We also had a very good weekend at Silverstone, just behind the Red Bulls, finally putting some pressure on them, but zero points.

"But I'm very happy with the car, very motivated, and it's possible to fight for the Championship, and I'm very confident to do so now, more than before.

"Although the gap between me and the leader has increased, the car is improving race by race, and now there is a possibility to be on the podium regularly.

"Before Valencia we had two Red Bulls in front of us, two McLarens, sometimes one Mercedes and one Renault, and we were fighting with them.

"Now I think we are very strong, so I have more confidence."

 

Heard that last year, and in '05 and '06.

:: Yaaaawn. ::

 

Please, that's because the British were putting their noses in German ingenuity.

Don't worry... Next year!! I'll remind you in 2011, you have my word!!!



Wasn't able to catch P1 today!! Hopefully, I'll be able to watch tomorrow's practice!

 

Nice to see a good showing from Alonso, I'm still a big fan of his despite the fact that most think he's a dick.

Quali should be interesting tomorrow if the weather keeps up. Probably no bantering from me though, as I've got a track day tomorrow.