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Formula One half term report
By By MARK PRYOR (Mirror)
Updated: 2005-07-04 10:05

With just over half the Formula One season gone who is doing better than expected in 2005 and which drivers and teams need to do better?

After the US GP fiasco it was good to see some racing again in France. With everyone blaming everyone else in Indy there was no easy solutions, but the easiest answer was to construct a chicane in the problem turn 13. But even this would have introduced new difficulties.

Renault driver Fernando Alonso of Spain (C) celebrates with Kimi Raikkonen (L) of Finland and Michael Schumacher (R) of Germany after winning the French Grand Prix at the Magny Cours circuit July 3, 2005. Alonso finished first ahead of Raikkonen and Schumacher who took third place.[Reuters]
An extra practice session would have had to have been run so the drivers could familiarise themselves with the new track layout, most likely to have been run on Sunday morning.

This would have implications on fuel loads, tyres and engine wear. But none of these issues were insurmountable.

All the Michelin teams have now been found guilty of two of the five charges the FIA brought against them, but a final decision on penalties will not be made until September.

Is this so that interest is maintained in the championship which may be destroyed by any race bans or points deductions?

Half Term Report

BAR
Stats: 5 points, 10th in Championship
Until the French Grand Prix, last years runners up in the Constructors' Championship had failed to score a point. With disqualifications and race bans not helping 2005 has so far been a year to forget. Need to do a lot better in the second half of the season.
Rating: D-

Ferrari
Stats: 69 points, 3rd in Championship, 1 "win", 3 fastest laps
The Indy farce has thrown Ferrari back into both Championship mixes, but by recent years' standards this has been a very poor year so far for the prancing horse. They don't look like they have the pace to take too many wins in the second half of the season either. Keep trying.
Rating: C-

Jordan
Stats: 11 points, 8th in Championship, 1 podium
On the face of it 11 points looks like a good season but there would have to be another race with fourteen "retirements" for Jordan to pick up another podium. Unspectacular, a long way from even catching the mid field runners.
Rating: C

AdvertisementAdvertisementMcLaren
Stats: 71 points, 2nd in Championship, 3 wins, 3 poles, 4 fastest laps
Slow starter but has improved markedly. Raikkonen has emerged as the only serious contender to Alonso. Montoya needs to lift his game.
Rating: B+

Minardi
Stats: 7 points, 9th in Championship
Seven points equals Minardi's most successful season ever, though Minardi won't be celebrating as such. The perennial back row boys have showed glimpses of reliability.
Rating: C+

Red Bull
Stats: 22 points, 6th in Championship
A good start to the year has begun to trail off. Perhaps its time to stop playing "swapsy" with the drivers and get on with it.
Rating: B

Renault
Stats: 89 points, 1st in Championship, 6 wins, 4 poles, 3 fastest laps
Head of the class. Alonso has been excellent, his only blemish was the mistake in Canada. Fisichella has been unlucky since Australia, but could do a little better.
Rating: A

Sauber
Stats: 13 points, 7th in Championship
A fairly typical up and down season from Sauber with some points finishes mixed with some off the pace performances. Villeneuve has been on the whole disappointing, often out-qualified by his team mate. Need more consistency, could do better.
Rating: B-

Toyota
Stats: 53 points, 4th in Championship, 1 pole
Toyota's best season to date, with their first ever pole and podium finish. Ralf has been completely unspectacular with Trulli providing virtually all the highlights for the team. Still not where they want to be but heading in the right direction.
Rating: B+

Williams
Stats: 47 points, 5th in Championship, 1 pole 4 podiums
Just when you think Williams are starting to get it together they put in a dreadful performance like France. No where near where this team should be, probably why BMW has decided to start their own team. Not meeting expectations.
Rating: B-

French Grand Prix - THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE MEDIOCRITY.

Good
Renault (Alonso 1st, Fisichella 6th) - total dominance from Alonso, no luck for Fisichella. If Renault can bring Fisichella's performance up to match Alonso's, then they will be a truly mighty outfit.
BAR (Button 4th, Sato 11th) - by 2005 BAR standards this was a good race with their first championship points. They still trail both Jordan and Minardi in the Constructor's Championship though.
Toyota (Trulli 5th, Schumacher R 7th) - good qualifying with Trulli on the front row. Slightly disappointing race performance but two points finishes none the less.


Bad
Red Bull (Coulthard 10th, Klien DNF) - never really looked like scoring points.
Minardi (Albers DNF, Friesacher DNF) - disappointing race, looked like tyre failures.
Williams (Webber 12th, Heidfeld 14th) - first race apart from Indy which Williams has failed to score at. Complete lack of competitiveness.


Mediocre
Ferrari (Schumacher 3rd, Barrichello 9th) - Ferrari never looked like it had the pace to match Renault and McLaren, but Schumacher still managed a third placed finish.
Sauber (Villeneuve 8th, Massa DNF) - a well earned point from Villeneuve, coupled with a failure from Massa.
Jordan (Karthikeyan 15th, Monteiro 13th) - got both cars to the finish, though sometimes struggling to beat Minardi. No where near beating anyone else.
McLaren (Raikkonen 2nd, Montoya DNF) - excellent pace from Raikkonen to jump from 13th to second by first pit stops, Montoya continues to un-impress in what is obviously a very quick car.


Next race - British Grand Prix 10th July.



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