Formula 1: Teammate war predictions for the British GP
The rule of thumb for motorsports has always been to beat your teammate first. This year has seen a number of teammate battles raging on quite dramatically at the forefront. From teammates taking each other out, to overtaking moves on the field, 2010 has provided so much entertainment to auto sports fans that often ‘team orders’ have been put on the backseat in the past. So as we approach the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, let’s have a look at who might have the edge over their counterparts.
McLarens-Mercedes:
After his controversial season with Alonso in 2007, Hamilton seems to have gotten over his rookie mannerism and now enjoys quite a close relationship with his teammate Button. Although he now has the lead in the championship, Button is only 6 points behind him and with the new points system in place this year, it could be anyone’s race. In terms of the Constructors Championship, we can see the positive impact of this friendly relationship between teammates. For Silverstone, the prediction has to be that Hamilton will have the pace for qualifying but considering how well Jenson nurses his tyres, chances are that he will have the better race pace. But will he be able to find his way past his teammate on the track - that question seems to be hard to answer. So in terms of getting a better qualifying position, good money has to be put on Hamilton beating Button at the British GP.
Red Bull Racing – Renault:
With the incident at Turkey almost forgotten, it seems that the Red Bull team has a chance to make things work in their favour. Vettel has two wins under his belt and so does Mark Webber but in terms of the Championship, it’s Vettel who now has a 12 point advantage over his teammate. The problem with them has been that the two have not been able to perform well in tandem which is putting a strain on their Constructors championship charge. As for Silverstone, it has often been regarded as a driver’s circuit who relies on finding lines and that will ensure a smooth sailing for the Red Bull team. Push over the limit and you can find yourself beached through the high and medium speed corners. In terms of driving style, the advantage has to lie with Vettel as Webber is notorious for throwing the car around in order to get a hot lap.
Ferrari:
In a season that saw Ferraris leading both the Championships after the first round, they have struggled to get their pace on track in order to compete with the McLaren and Red Bull team. Alonso already enjoys a 31 point lead over Massa and to be honest, Alonso seems to be out performing the cars ability. This has been a habit of his and was clearly visible with his time at Renault last year. It would be no surprise to see him eclipse his teammate once again in Britain. But will Ferrari be able to make a charge at the Red Bulls and the McLarens? This has to be the best chance that Alonso has to show his full potential of driving skills and actually mix it up with them. This track has always favoured the skill of the drivers as compared to the quality of the car and knowing Alonso, he will be itching to take to the track.
Mercedes GP:
Well here’s the surprise pick: Schumacher will outshine Nico Rosberg at Silverstone. Any other season of Formula 1 and that statement would be the norm. But Schumacher’s return has been far from what was predicted. In a car that seems to constantly moving backwards, this is the best chance for Schumacher to bring some momentum to his return. He has always been notorious for pulling out amazing performances at Suzuka, Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone - all tracks that have a reputation for giving talented drivers the extra pace.
Renault:
It will be no surprise to see Robert Kubica have a three position gap over his rookie teammate. Like Alonso last year, he is outshining his teammate by huge margins. His performance alone is responsible for giving the Renault the fifth place in the championship. It wouldn’t even be a surprise if he somehow manages to get a podium this year. He might not have the top car this year, but there is no doubt that he is still a top driver as he is the first to be involved in transfer rumours for next year. But considering his performance, it comes as no surprise.
Now that we have an in-depth look at the top five teams in the Constructors championship here are the predictions for the rest of the teams:
Force India: A Sutil to beat V Liuzzi
Williams: R Barrichello to beat N Hulkenberg
Toro Rosso: S Buemi to beat J Alguersuari
BMW Sauber: K Kobayashi to beat P de la Rosa
HRT: B Senna to beat K Chandhok
Virgin Racing: T Glock to beat L di Grassi
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