Stephen Bailey
Executive member
Welcome to my first ever story thread, based on the 2007 Formula One World Championship. For this I will be using F1 Challenge 99-02 and a 2007 mod (strangely!).
Michael Schumacher
For the first time since 1990, Formula One's most successful ever driver, Michael Schumacher, will not be on the grid when this years championship kicks off in Melbourne, Australia. Schumacher retired with a mammoth 91 career wins (the most in the history of the sport) from 250 starts. He averaged 5.5 points a race.
At the end of 2006, Schumacher had 30 different F1 records to his name, including most world titles (7), most points scored in a season (148 out of a possible 180) and most pole positions (68).
Whether you loved him or hated him, no one can deny he was one of the finest drivers to ever grace the race track and Formula One will never quite be the same without him.
The New Season: the Year of the Young Guns.
Now, onto the 2007 World Championship
With 14 of this years drivers being under 30, the 2007 grid is set to be one of the youngest in the history of the sport. Indeed, the average of the drivers in F1's top 3 teams will be just 26. F1 rookies Heikki Kovalainen (Renault) and Stephen Bailey (McLaren), will be looking to repay the faith shown in them by their team bosses.
The Calender
There are a couple of changes to the calender from recent seasons. Imola (San Marino GP) has lost its place on the calender, and the Herman Tilke re-designed Fuji has replaced Suzuka as the host of the Japanese GP, a move that has proved unpopular with fans. Germany has also lost one of its two grand prix, with Hockenheim suffering from financial problems. However, the Nurburgring and Hockenheim will alternate hosting the German GP for the next few seasons. Spa-Francorchamps makes a return to the calender after missing last year due to the facilities not being up to the FIA's standards.
Australia, Melbourne
Malaysia, Sepang
Bahrain, Sakhir
Spain, Barcelona
Monaco, Monte Carlo
Canada, Montreal
USA, Indianapolis
France, Magny-Cours
Great Britain, Silverstone
Germany, Nurburgring
Hungary, Budapest
Turkey, Istanbul
Italy, Monza
Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
Japan, Fuji
China, Shanghai
Brazil, Interlagos
Rule Changes
2007 sees the introduction of several new rules, the following are just a selection:
The Teams and Drivers:
There has been plenty of chopping and changing since the end of 2006, so here are the runners and riders for this years championship.
1 Fernando Alonso (ESP)
2 Stephen Bailey (GBR)
McLaren will be looking for a change in fortunes after going winless through the 2006 season and not having won either championship since 1999. The addition of double world champion Fernando Alonso from Renault, should offer them all the motivation they need to make a car capable of mounting a championship challenge in 2007.
The signing of youngster Stephen Bailey is seen as something of a risk, but there is no doubting the rookie's speed. He has a number of karting and national single seater titles (including the British F3 championship) to his name already and should be a force to be reckoned with as the season progresses.
3 Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA)
4 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN)
World Champions Renault, will be looking to the experienced Giancarlo Fisichella to step up, following the departure of Fernano Alonso to McLaren. If Fisichella fails to shine against his new team mate, he may well find himself struggling to hold onto his seat for next season.
Heikki Kovalainen is another rapid Finn, following in the footsteps of former Finnish world champions, Keke Rosberg and most recently, Mika Hakkinen into Formula One. Kovalainen could well be a dark horse this season, having proved he has a serious turn of speed. He won the the World Series by Nissan in 2004 and the Race of Champions. In the process of winning the RoC, he defeated Michael Schumacher in the semi-final and then went one better and beat the World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb, in a rally car in the final. Kovalainen had never sat in a rally car before this event in his life.
The biggest issue for Renault this season could be adjusting to Bridgestone tyres, having used Michelin rubber in recent seasons.
5 Felipe Massa (BRA)
6 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)
Despite a number of personnel changes, Ferrari go into this years championship as favourites. Despite narrowly missing out to Alonso and Renault to both championships in 2006, the momentum they carry into this year could prove to be the decisive factor.
At the start of last season, it looked like Felipe Massa was the same, erratic driver that came into F1 in 2002. But towards the end of 2006, Massa visibly grew in stature and claimed a deserved win at the Turkish GP, holding off Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. He also won an emotional home race in Brazil to finish the season on a real high.
Kimi Raikkonen is the man charged with filling the huge boots of Michael Schumacher. There is no doubt about the Finn's speed, some believe he is the fastest man on the grid, but to be successful from the off, he will need to cut out silly mistakes and will require a far more reliable car than he had during his time at McLaren.
___________________________________________________________________________
I will continue tomorrow, as I'm bloody knackered now!!
I'm not sure how regularly I'll be able to update this, what with work on Wednesday's, Thursday's and Friday's and then Cricket on Saturday's and Sunday's, but I shall endeavour to do as much as I can.
Michael Schumacher
For the first time since 1990, Formula One's most successful ever driver, Michael Schumacher, will not be on the grid when this years championship kicks off in Melbourne, Australia. Schumacher retired with a mammoth 91 career wins (the most in the history of the sport) from 250 starts. He averaged 5.5 points a race.
At the end of 2006, Schumacher had 30 different F1 records to his name, including most world titles (7), most points scored in a season (148 out of a possible 180) and most pole positions (68).
Whether you loved him or hated him, no one can deny he was one of the finest drivers to ever grace the race track and Formula One will never quite be the same without him.
The New Season: the Year of the Young Guns.
Now, onto the 2007 World Championship
With 14 of this years drivers being under 30, the 2007 grid is set to be one of the youngest in the history of the sport. Indeed, the average of the drivers in F1's top 3 teams will be just 26. F1 rookies Heikki Kovalainen (Renault) and Stephen Bailey (McLaren), will be looking to repay the faith shown in them by their team bosses.
The Calender
There are a couple of changes to the calender from recent seasons. Imola (San Marino GP) has lost its place on the calender, and the Herman Tilke re-designed Fuji has replaced Suzuka as the host of the Japanese GP, a move that has proved unpopular with fans. Germany has also lost one of its two grand prix, with Hockenheim suffering from financial problems. However, the Nurburgring and Hockenheim will alternate hosting the German GP for the next few seasons. Spa-Francorchamps makes a return to the calender after missing last year due to the facilities not being up to the FIA's standards.
Australia, Melbourne
Malaysia, Sepang
Bahrain, Sakhir
Spain, Barcelona
Monaco, Monte Carlo
Canada, Montreal
USA, Indianapolis
France, Magny-Cours
Great Britain, Silverstone
Germany, Nurburgring
Hungary, Budapest
Turkey, Istanbul
Italy, Monza
Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
Japan, Fuji
China, Shanghai
Brazil, Interlagos
Rule Changes
2007 sees the introduction of several new rules, the following are just a selection:
- Although the FIA had planned to introduce a regulation single tyre manufacturer from 2008, there will be a sole supplier (Bridgestone) from 2007 to 2010, since Bridgestone's only rival, Michelin, ended their participation in Formula 1 after the 2006 season.
- The two Friday practice sessions will expand from 60 minutes to 90 minutes. Any team will be allowed to use two cars, which may be driven by either the two race drivers or a nominated third driver.
- Engine development will be frozen from the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix, with these engines being used for the whole of 2007 and 2008. This is described as engine "homologation" by the FIA. It was previously set to be introduced in 2008.
The Teams and Drivers:
There has been plenty of chopping and changing since the end of 2006, so here are the runners and riders for this years championship.
1 Fernando Alonso (ESP)
2 Stephen Bailey (GBR)
McLaren will be looking for a change in fortunes after going winless through the 2006 season and not having won either championship since 1999. The addition of double world champion Fernando Alonso from Renault, should offer them all the motivation they need to make a car capable of mounting a championship challenge in 2007.
The signing of youngster Stephen Bailey is seen as something of a risk, but there is no doubting the rookie's speed. He has a number of karting and national single seater titles (including the British F3 championship) to his name already and should be a force to be reckoned with as the season progresses.
3 Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA)
4 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN)
World Champions Renault, will be looking to the experienced Giancarlo Fisichella to step up, following the departure of Fernano Alonso to McLaren. If Fisichella fails to shine against his new team mate, he may well find himself struggling to hold onto his seat for next season.
Heikki Kovalainen is another rapid Finn, following in the footsteps of former Finnish world champions, Keke Rosberg and most recently, Mika Hakkinen into Formula One. Kovalainen could well be a dark horse this season, having proved he has a serious turn of speed. He won the the World Series by Nissan in 2004 and the Race of Champions. In the process of winning the RoC, he defeated Michael Schumacher in the semi-final and then went one better and beat the World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb, in a rally car in the final. Kovalainen had never sat in a rally car before this event in his life.
The biggest issue for Renault this season could be adjusting to Bridgestone tyres, having used Michelin rubber in recent seasons.
5 Felipe Massa (BRA)
6 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)
Despite a number of personnel changes, Ferrari go into this years championship as favourites. Despite narrowly missing out to Alonso and Renault to both championships in 2006, the momentum they carry into this year could prove to be the decisive factor.
At the start of last season, it looked like Felipe Massa was the same, erratic driver that came into F1 in 2002. But towards the end of 2006, Massa visibly grew in stature and claimed a deserved win at the Turkish GP, holding off Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. He also won an emotional home race in Brazil to finish the season on a real high.
Kimi Raikkonen is the man charged with filling the huge boots of Michael Schumacher. There is no doubt about the Finn's speed, some believe he is the fastest man on the grid, but to be successful from the off, he will need to cut out silly mistakes and will require a far more reliable car than he had during his time at McLaren.
___________________________________________________________________________
I will continue tomorrow, as I'm bloody knackered now!!
I'm not sure how regularly I'll be able to update this, what with work on Wednesday's, Thursday's and Friday's and then Cricket on Saturday's and Sunday's, but I shall endeavour to do as much as I can.
Last edited:
Gud luck again!
