Honda
2007 Points: 6
Current Driver Lineup: Jenson Button & Rubens Barrichello
Chassis: RA108
Engine: Honda RA808E
After finishing fourth in 2006, Honda fell down the charts in 2007. The problems in 2007 were apparently due to aerodynamic calibrations early on, but either way that you look at it there was obviously a lot of confusion around the development of the RA107. Honda snatched some shiny new brains in Chief aerodynamicist Loic Bigois and assistant Fancois Martinet to hopefully develop the new car a little more thoroughly. The biggest news however, came with the announcement that Ross Brawn is Honda's new team principal. His reputation alone should improve what they had in 2007, so we are very excited to see what he can do with Honda Racing F1.
Scoring all six of their points in 2007, Jenson Button will be back to see what Brawn can squeeze out of the team as well. Jenson scored points in three of the seventeen races run. If he hadn't retired in six of the races, he quite possibly could have scored more. You really can't ask much more from someone driving something like the RA107. It was a complete pig. If his smooth driving style contributed quite a lot to masking out the problems inherent in a car with aero problems, Rubens' driving style ripped the mask right off. I love Rubino, but he is not what you want when you are trying to move a team up the grid. Nevertheless, they have chosen to bring both of them back for 2008 and seem to be confident in bringing them a competitive car. I would put my money on Brawn pulling it off.
Toro Rosso
2007 Points: 8
Current Driver Lineup: Sebastien Bourdais &
Sebastian Vettel
Chassis: STR2B
Engine: Ferrari 056
I can't help it, but I still think of them as our little Minardi Minnows. I always cheered on Minardi in the past and I will continue to cheer on Minardi...er...Toro Rosso to take on the big boys. Last year Toro Rosso provided us plenty of drama both on and off the track. When the cars weren't performing as rolling grenades on track the team were apparently beating the drivers with whips in the back of the garage. Scott Speed had enough after the team expected him to drive through the lake that was forming at the first turn at the Nurburgring. Tonio couldn't wait to get out of there as well and both claimed that the team were conspiring against them.
Now that's all out of the way and Toro Rosso have two new drivers in Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Vettel, maybe our little minnow can get on with it and give the big boys hell. I just hope they leave the whips at home this time.
Toyota
2007 Points: 13
Current Driver Lineup: Jarno Trulli & Timo Glock
Chassis: TF108
Engine: Toyota RVX-08
When you have the biggest budget in Formula One and still can't get anywhere with it, you may need to start asking yourself a few questions. Is it that we go through more drivers and mechanics than any other team in pit row? Is it the fact that we can't keep engineers because they keep getting caught stealing information from other teams? No, it's the simple fact that you cannot run an F1 team like a business. I don't care what people try to tell you. Yes, there are business components to F1 and it is more of a business now than it has ever been before. But, Formula One is about winning and the passion to win. As long as Toyota continues to run their team as a cold business venture, they will never move forward. They will have to build a culture for success in the mold of Ferrari or McLaren before they will ever move ahead.
I'm not a huge fan of Ralf Schumacher, but I also don't think that he was their problem either. Regardless, they have yet another new driver in Timo Glock. I like Timo, but he's no Schumi. He will struggle just as much as Ralfy boy did. All the while, the always friendly Jarno Trulli just keeps grinning ( and gritting) and goes on with his job for another year. For both of their futures, I hope Toyota can actually bring their team together and compete as a cohesive unit this time.
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