2006 prognosis

After the first race of the season, I forecast the following (with a wee bit of wishful thinking thrown in here and there):

The champion will be one of those on the podium at Bahrain, probably Alonso or Raikkonen

Button will wish he had been driving a Williams by the end fo the season, he may win a race but the fact that the three main protagonists are all so strong and that there is another tranche of not quite as fast drivers (of which he is a member) and his own vulnerabilities will leave him down the order by the end of the year.

Nico Rosberg will become a serious competitor for Raikkonen and Alonso (perhaps not this year) beating Webber this season and in a top car within two seasons

Massa will make too many mistakes (although he is fast), like Montoya

Briatore will leave Renault (or buy the team)

It will be Coulthard and Villeneuve's last season in F1

It will be interesting to find out if:

Raikkonen will stay at Maclaren next year, he and Alonso in the same team would be great

Schumacher retires, (probably not)

Torro Rosso get to keep their V10 with it's current limits

Who gets sacked from Toyota

The emperor's new clothes

I have just witnessed the first qualifying session of 2006. M Schumacher has claimed his record equalling 65th pole position despite not having driven the fastest lap! I can understand the need to have cars on track throughout the hour from a viewer and sponsor point fo view; so I don't mind the three seperate sessions but the fuel complexities of the last part turned the event into a sham. Step back people and get your heads out of your arses......please.