Team "Formula 1" long gone from vacation, almost completely decided on trains and in part presented their new car. Already on Tuesday in Valencia will start the first official Preseason Test Session, which will last three days. In anticipation of the debut performances on the track of new machines and pilots Sportbox.ru meets with participants of the 2011 season, and suggests what can be expected from them.
"Red Bull" (Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber)
Few doubted that the champion will hand over its positions in the new year. For the brainchild of Adrian Newey, you should not worry - the best designer of our time certainly put in RB7 best of award-winning predecessor, but still in store a couple of surprises for the contestants. The only thing that may disturb fans of bulls before the start of the season - the development of KERS. Austrian stables will approach this issue from scratch, while Ferrari and McLaren recovery system Kinetic energy tested two years ago.
With regard to the pilot's composition, the situation may develop in two directions. Or all efforts will focus on hurt and disappointed in life Mark Webber, for whom this season could be the last, or will remain like this in 2010: the rate will be made to order, "who better to go" (it's - the official position of command, but we know that the "better" go with Vettel ...). Sebastian, by the way, too, can go two ways. The first - the way Schumacher - victory, records, titles. The second - the way Raikkonen - choc, vodka, broken rally car ... In general, follow the Red Bull again, it will be interesting!
McLaren (Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button)
The British came second last year, but for both titles, by and large, the struggle is not waged. Machine Tim Goss was not bad on some tracks, but in general compete with Red Bull could not. The upcoming season should be to "McLaren" is defined in terms of staff teams. It is no secret that the MP4-26 was to develop Pat Fry, but the Englishman decided to move to Ferrari, so the second consecutive year, race car will be manufactured Goss that can benefit from ex-"Silver Arrow". Do not forget that in Woking has been developed best at the moment KERS, so some trump cards in front of the main competitors at the "McLaren will be exactly.
Last year, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were on an equal footing, although there comes a time when the reigning champion was forced to "save fuel". But with the stability of a Button, everything was in order, in contrast to the much more rapid Hamilton, who was wrong more often. But Jenson's finest hour has passed, a nightmare you can not imagine that this pilot will be a two-time ... But Lewis is quite capable of winning the second crown, but will make it no easier than in 2008.
Ferrari (Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa)
Season 2010 Scuderia started with a victorious double, and then fell into ... In general, where it is not the place. Extraordinary effort in the second half of the season Ferrari returned to fight for the title at the cost of the titanic work of engineers and pilots on a clear division of the first and second rooms. This season, the Italians are waiting for a significant step forward (ie - championship), otherwise the whole bridge, headed by the unlucky Stefano Domenicali risks to get a kick up the backside. Enormous budget, developed KERS and secrets "McLaren from Pat Fry - those components that can make the best F150 engine in the peloton.
Despite numerous interviews Felipe Massa that, he says, he was no second pilot, all the obvious converse. Especially in the regulations in 2011 officially authorized team tactics. The Brazilian will once again help Fernando Alonso in the fight for the title, and it is possible that will do it right from the start, not when rivals umchatsya from the Spaniard in the individual competition. With this support, two-time may well overtake the number of champions Ayrton Senna ...
"Mercedes" (Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg)
Legendary German company returned to Formula-1 "own team with bright hopes come true which was not meant to be. Having bought from Ross Brown, the champion's stable, "Mercedes", if not planning to immediately take the title, then at least fight for it - exactly. But the car was not ready to compete for places on the podium. Think, season 2011 was formed to "Silver Arrows" is better. More professional part of scrutiny Rules Brown surely saw in him something of such things that have lost sight of everything else. As they say, not a single cone ...
In terms of a pilot's "Merce" is also not going smoothly. If Rosberg is not yet ready for big wins, Schumacher - already. The return of Michael in the royal race "turned a disaster, and frankly there is no guarantee that after a season seven times the retractor will regain its former speed. On the background of my grandfather Nick will once again look like is preferable, but will be able to make a qualitative step forward - a big issue.
Lotus Renault (Robert Kubica, Vitaly Petrov)
Team Renault sample in 2010 to leave a good impression and easy to fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, if at Robert Kubica was the more experienced team-mate. Change of national orientation together with a name will former French and British stables now favor. The "Reno" is no longer expected problems with finances, and thus prepare for the season will take place in a much more relaxed atmosphere than a year ago. Manual black-and-gold has already announced a goal of the season - a couple of wins, but in the longer term, the team must once again fight for the championship.
Clearly, for this is the championship or at least for the notorious "win" deal, according to Bouyer and Co. will be Kubica. Pole has turned into a real robot, which brings car in points in any hand. It will be interesting to see Robert boring driving a really competitive car. But all our views will be glued to the second pilot to Lotus Renault Vitaly Petrov, who is optimistic entering its second season in the "F-1. After a year, who had gone to explore the "royal racing", the Russian did not have anything else, like regular glasses and get to keep the number of errors to a minimum, otherwise the new ambitious team's presence will not be tolerated.
Williams (Rubens Barrichello, Pastor Maldonado)
Stable Sir Frank as usual went to the season with a bunch of problems, chief among which was financial. In this regard, the team refused services "beggar" Nico Hulkenberg, recognized as the best rookie last championship, and took its place the new GP2 victor Pastor Maldonado, who brought a bag of Venezuelan petrodollars. Last year, Williams made a very bad, and if the mechanical KERS will not fail - then the British will again qualify for points.
Earn the same they will be seen the more vertical Lenin's Rubens Barrichello, while nurturing with the Brazilian under his wing, another fledgling chick. Potential Maldonado is still too early to say anything concrete. It is clear that GP2 just do not win, but whether the Venezuelan even repeat last year's results Hülkenberg? Questions and doubts ...
"Force India" (Adrian Sutil, Paul di Resta)
In 2008, over Egypt, the Indian force laughing the whole racing world, the statute considered beskonchenye gatherings "buckets of nuts, rewind the tape." In 2009, a team imbued with respect - just two finish in the points, but the pole position at Spa (!) And second in the race where Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari's only because of KERS has successfully fought off the attacks of Giancarlo Fisichella. Last season, VJM03 again like a "bucket", but 68 managed to gather up a few points. Before the start of the 2011 World Cup from the team left a lot of employees that can roll back the "Force India" in the state in 2008.
In this regard, do not envy the pilots of Indian stables. Adrian Sutil is clearly capable of producing good results, but that level fireball racing up until it falls short. As for Paul di Resta, the worse Vitantonio Liuzzi young Scot is unlikely to speak (it's just impossible), but spend some part of the season to adapt to the "F-1, DTM champion just have to.
"Sauber" (Kamui Kobayashi, Sergio Perez)
Peter Sauber team, which has during the season and did not appear the title sponsor, in some races of the last championship gave a light more powerful and wealthy opponents. Most likely, the periodic bursts in the performance of C30, we will see in the new season, but wait for something more from the still "white" cars do not have to.
Even with a full season behind him, Kamui Kobayashi is still a newcomer in the "royal racing" which, however, most Japanese did not care. Dashing attack, superb overtaking and as a result of the national style of driving errors and crashes - all these will remain in place. But Mexico's Sergio Perez, who took second last year in GP2, so far looks like a complete mystery. What do the experiment will Sauber with two young pilots - learn only at the end of the season.
Toro Rosso (Sebastien Buemi, Jaime Alguersuari)
Younger Scuderia after a brilliant 2009 shedding those to whom ahead of Red Bull, and rolled to the bottom of the peloton. No development is not stable - the Italians are forced to continue wearing it, from what has already increased the Austrians. In such a situation is not surprising that by the end of last year's rear hoof "calves started knurl progressive" Lotus ". We can assume that in the new season, "Toro Rosso" wither away completely satisfied and will be ahead of "Marousi and HRT.
Once a year to shoot and Buemi Algersuari, so for a couple of points Italians count still can. And Sebastian, and Jaime for the manifestation of the best qualities you need a car faster than STR6. While the stubborn Swiss opponents can spoil the blood and at a car.
"Lotus" (Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen)
Last season for the team Mike Gascoyne, as well as for the other two newcomers, started for the peace, but ended well for the health of yourself. Malaysians are developing by leaps and bounds and has set sights on a place in the middle of the peloton. In addition, only the "Lotus" from the new team has announced that during the season will put on their cars KERS.
An experienced pair of drivers Trulli - Kovalainen should continue to help "Lotus" to develop, and you never know, claim one or two points.
HRT (Narain Karthikeyan,?)
"Hispaniya" as she was, and remains the most problematic team. HRT - the only team that has not yet decided on the composition, announcing only that it has signed a contract with Narain Kartikeyanom. Progress here can not be expected from any team, no pilots, no matter who was the companion driver from India.
"MARUSYA Virgin" (Timo Glock, Jérôme D'Ambrosio)
Half-Russian team, according to an old Russian saying, doing everything slowly. "Virgin" sooo very slow last season and even managed to take last place in the Constructors' Championship with a marked advantage over the HRT. Merging with "Marusia" promises a good team, and an increase in the budget at least some step forward. Harnessed to a long, fast does not go exactly, but will grow slowly.
Assist in the new season experienced Timo Glock will Belgian Jérôme D'Ambrosio, replacing the very really does Lucas di Grassi. It is unclear what to expect from the debutant, who last year took part in Friday's tests, but after all, are not ready to VR-02 - a big surprise.
