What If?

[f1-gast]

im not sure they arleady had contacted Eric Comas and some other French guy Bouillion(?) they would have scored points at least probably even podiums.

[Faustus]

I'm not sure if we've done this one before, so please feel free to correct me if we have.

What if Super Aguri had survived through 2008?

[TomWazzleshaw]

I'm not sure if we've done this one before, so please feel free to correct me if we have.

What if Super Aguri had survived through 2008?

I don't think it's been asked either.

Anyways I personally don't think it would have made much of a difference in 2008 but if they had survived into 2009 then it would have been an entirely different ballgame.

[Faustus]

I'm not sure if we've done this one before, so please feel free to correct me if we have.

What if Super Aguri had survived through 2008?

I don't think it's been asked either.

Anyways I personally don't think it would have made much of a difference in 2008 but if they had survived into 2009 then it would have been an entirely different ballgame.

Personally I think that if Super Aguri had somehow survived through 2008, they would have been in deep shite for 2009, because Honda would still have pulled of Formula 1 at the end of 2008. Maybe Honda would have paid the bills for 2009, like they did with Brawn. Maybe Super Aguri would have been taken over by one of the new teams, maybe US F1.

[TomWazzleshaw]

I'm not sure if we've done this one before, so please feel free to correct me if we have.

What if Super Aguri had survived through 2008?

I don't think it's been asked either.

Anyways I personally don't think it would have made much of a difference in 2008 but if they had survived into 2009 then it would have been an entirely different ballgame.

Personally I think that if Super Aguri had somehow survived through 2008, they would have been in deep shite for 2009, because Honda would still have pulled of Formula 1 at the end of 2008. Maybe Honda would have paid the bills for 2009, like they did with Brawn. Maybe Super Aguri would have been taken over by one of the new teams, maybe US F1.

But remember it was Super Aguri who originally came up with the concept of the double diffuser.

[Faustus]

But remember it was Super Aguri who originally came up with the concept of the double diffuser.

Very true, Super Aguri and Williams came up with concept separately and some aerodynamicists went to Toyota and Brawn when the team folded.
They might have had a nice advance on the competition if they had survived into 2009, but then the question is which engine would they have used, since Honda was gone.

[DanielPT]

But remember it was Super Aguri who originally came up with the concept of the double diffuser.

Very true, Super Aguri and Williams came up with concept separately and some aerodynamicists went to Toyota and Brawn when the team folded.
They might have had a nice advance on the competition if they had survived into 2009, but then the question is which engine would they have used, since Honda was gone.

The easiest possibility is Cosworth, getting back a year earlier to help Super Aguri.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

What if Alex Zanardi had decided to stay on as Benetton's test driver after 1992 instead of going to Lotus?

Bare with me for one of my rubbish long posts...

Zanardi spends all of 1992 testing the Benetton, and is rarely seen at the race weekends. Both Schumacher and Brundle praise his efforts publicly. When Flavio Briatore fires Brundle, to the shock of mainstream media, he promotes Zanardi to the race seat. Riccardo Patrese retires. Zanardi struggles slightly in South Africa, and qualifies a few rows behind Schumacher, but as the race progresses, his pace improves, and he finishes in third position, in a race of attrition. In Brazil, his qualifying effort turns out even worse, but once again, his race pace is fantastic, and overtakes Schumacher for third on the last lap of the race. Obviously, Brazilian fans do not take note. Qualifying doesn't get better in Donington, but in the interesting conditions, he pushes up to second position, and is occasionally able to lap faster than Senna, but his gearbox fails, a whole 45 seconds behind the leader. At Imola, Zanardi still fails to get anywhere close Schumacher in quali, and unfortunately, this time he can't get anywhere in the race either, getting involved with Mark Blundell at the first corner. In Spain, Zanardi finally manages to equal Schumi in quali, starting in 5th, with Schumi in 4th. Zanardi gets a great start and jumps both Schumi and Senna. For the entire race he challenges Prost, but heartbreakingly, his engine gives up with 5 laps to go. At Monaco, he repeats his Spanish quali performance, with Schumi now on the front row with Prost. However, Prost and Schumi tangle at the first corner, with Senna romping to his 6th win on the streets here. Zanardi is easily the best of the rest, finishing second, but he is over half a minute behind Senna at the finish line. In Canada, he joins Schumacher on the second row, but fails to finish the race after a gearbox issue. Zanardi finally outqualifies Schumacher in France, but a blunder by his pitcrew costs him a whole bunch of places, and he finishes fifth. Zanardi is fifth on the grid in the UK, but after a bad start, is taken out by Michael Andretti at the first corner. Zanardi repeats his quali, and finishes third behind Schumacher in Germany, pushing the home hero to the very limit. Zanardi qualifies fifth.... again.... in Hungary. However, his race pace is poor, and he finishes second only after Schumacher, Prost and Andretti retire. In Belgium, despite repeating fifth in quali, he overtakes Schumacher at Eau Rouge of all places, and Prost at Blanchimont. All on the first lap. When Senna spins off, he inherits second, and proceeds to push Hill to the very limit. Hill breaks, and Zanardi takes the lead with 3 to go. Sadly, his engine starts coughing on the last lap, and Hill catches and passes him, meaning Benetton still go begging for a win in 1993. In Italy, he qualifies seventh, but his transmission fails after a single lap. In Portugal, he dominates the race, but is then taken out by Derek Warwick with 13 to go, in a repeat of Senna/Schlesser. Schumacher takes the victory for Benetton, with a frustrated Zanardi still able to keep a sense of humour, joking to reporters and keeping his spirits high. In Japan, he qualifies 3rd, his best effort all year, and this time, his Benetton survives to take it to Senna. An exciting duel begins, but once again, the Benetton pitcrew screw up his pitstop, meaning Zanardi remains stuck with a bunch of podiums and not a single win. In Australia, his gearbox fails after 7 laps, with Schumacher going out not too long later. 1993 ends with Prost winning. Senna second, Hill third, Schumi 4th and Zanardi 5th.

In 1994, Schumacher and Zanardi gear up for a full assault on the world championships. With Senna at Williams, however, it doesn't look easy. In Brazil, Senna and Schumacher fill the first row, with Zanardi and Alesi on the second. The first three stick together for pretty much the whole race. Zanardi overtakes Schumacher on lap 53, but when Senna spins off two laps later, Zanardi has to take extreme avoiding action, and Schumacher takes the lead, making it impossible for Zanardi to pass in the laps following. A Benetton 1-2 suffices. Zanardi outqualifies Schumacher in Aida, but he gets involved with the Senna/Larini/Hakkinen accident, and although he rejoins the track, he has suffered fatal suspension damage to the car. Schumacher romps to victory. In San Marino, it is Zanardi who qualifies alongside Senna, but the mood is dark, with a death and near-fatal accident in two days. It turns worse when Schumacher stalls on the grid and is ploughed at the back by Pedro Lamy. The flying tyre injures several people in the grandstand, and injures both Lamy and Schumacher badly. Zanardi keeps his cool, and almost takes the lead from Senna at the restart. However, Senna uses the Renault power to push ahead, and in less than a lap, is gone from sight. 2 laps later, and it doesn't seem so funny anymore... Zanardi, as the others, are not informed of his death, and it is only after the race, where Zanardi emerges victorious, where his tears of joy, turn to tears of pain and sadness. It's a bitter-sweet victory for Zanardi. He dedicates the victory to Senna. In Monaco, Senna's former hunting ground, he takes the Grand Chelem. At this race, Benetton run Jos Verstappen in the other car, but his engine gives up chase at half distance. Zanardi dedicates this victory to Ratzenberger. Zanardi looks set for a third win in a row, when his brakes start acting funny. Having to lift off much earlier than anyone else, he loses the lead to Hill, and nearly loses second to Mark Blundell in the Tyrrell. Zanardi is beaten by Hill to the pole in Canada but beaches it with 8 laps left. In France, Mansell returns to replace Coulthard, and looks set for a shock victory, until his gearbox fails. Hill inherits the win, but Zanardi has a comparatively anonymous race, finishing third behind Gerhard Berger. In the UK, it's all action with Zanardi spinning off on the parade lap! Hill dominates the race, but hits a kurb to quickly, and spins off. Alesi then takes the lead, but his V12 fails with 4 laps to go. Mika Hakkinen inherits a popular victory. Germany? Well, to save space, nothing new. Zanardi's engine fails after 22 laps, with Berger winning and the two Ligiers taking the fluke podiums. In Hungary, Schumacher returns, and promptly takes pole, putting Zanardi's place at the team in doubt. In the race, he finishes second after a dominant win for Schumi. In Belgium however, Zanardi responds to the pressure, charging from his 11th position on the grid up to first in 5 laps, taking a dominant win. Schumacher finishes second, but is disqualified for barging Brundle off the road. In Italy, however, it turns upside down when Zanardi gets involved in a massive accident in qualifying, when his rear wing collapses. Any claims of favouritism within the team take a blow when Schumacher suffers from the same issue, breaking his legs. The two Benettons are withdrawn from the race, citing safety issues, though in reality, Flavio Briatore just couldn't find a driver, the two test drivers JJ Lehto and Jos Verstappen rallying in Finland and driving for Lotus respectively. With both their main drivers out for the whole season, Benetton suffer in the last few races, and Hill wins the title, dedicating it to Senna.

(I know I'm wasting your time now, so I'll cut things short)

In 1995, Schumacher and Zanardi return, but they complain of balance issues with the B195, which has been hastily redesigned to fit a Renault V10, stolen from Ligier, who in turn steal Minardi's Mugen motors. Zanardi hunts Schumacher to Australia, but Schumacher secures the title by a single point, when both of them retire with gearbox problems in the race of attrition. Hill takes a popular victory after a rather dismal championship-defending season.

In 1996, it's all change, with Schumacher leaving for Ferrari and Jacques Villeneuve entering F1, replacing David Coulthard at Williams. At Benetton, Jean Alesi replaces Schumacher, making Benetton the most popular and hated team. Popular because of their drivers (perhaps the most popular lineup of all time), but hated because of their controversial bosses (Briatore and Walkinshaw). Zanardi starts the season strongly, winning the first three races with ease. But when the teams return to Europe, Benetton struggle. Keep in mind Rory Byrne has retired, with Nick Wirth not proving, his, well, worth. Byrne's B196 is now outdone without proper development, but Zanardi persists, still manages to challenge the Williams for the next few races, winning in Spain in the torrential rain. After Canada, however, the car is totally outdone, with even the Ferrari beginning to outdo the Benetton. Still, onto Japan, and it's a three way battle. In Japan, it's Hill (87), Zanardi (79) and Villeneuve (78). Villeneuve retires when his wheel flies off. Zanardi tries his total best, but the Benetton is totally hopeless on raw pace compared to the Williams. He finishes second, but in good sportsmanship, congratulates Hill and pours the champagne on him all-smiles.

1997 however is a hopeless struggle. Nick Wirth pens a ridiculous B197, which is all 'revolution'. As it turns out, nothing works. Zanardi still wins 3 times, at San Marino, Monaco and Belgium, but in the end, decides to end his F1 career.

Despite the popular belief being that he could not stand staying at a dieing Benetton team, the truth remains that he did not like the new regulations coming into place. He leaves for CART, hired by Chip Ganassi, and wins the 1998 and 1999 seasons, paired with Jimmy Vasser. They make a good team, and get along extremely well. In 2000, the Lola-Toyota is a fast package but unfortunately is extremely unrealiable. Zanardi is fast, but often DNF's. He wins whenever he finishes, which, to be precise, is 7 times. He does however triumph at the Indy 500, in an extremely popular victory. In 2001, the plan is for CGR to leave for the IRL series, but Zanardi persuades the team to stay in CART... a little longer. As it is, Zanardi leads the championship by 39 points over Gil de Ferran and Kenny Brack as they go to the Lausitzring.

....and it all comes to pieces.

[mario]

What if Rubens Barrichello told Ferrari to f*** off after being given instructions to pull over in Austria 2002?

He potentially would have been thrown out of the team after the race - he did initially refuse to pull over, but the senior management lost their patience pretty quickly and threatened to tear up his contract, and only at that point did he finally move over.

But remember it was Super Aguri who originally came up with the concept of the double diffuser.

Very true, Super Aguri and Williams came up with concept separately and some aerodynamicists went to Toyota and Brawn when the team folded.
They might have had a nice advance on the competition if they had survived into 2009, but then the question is which engine would they have used, since Honda was gone.

The easiest possibility is Cosworth, getting back a year earlier to help Super Aguri.

That is the most likely scenario if they'd survived that long - the Cosworth engine would probably have been about the only available engine at the time, since I doubt that Mercedes would have been quite as keen on selling their engines to a potentially unstable team as they were to Brawn, which at least had moderately large savings thanks to Honda.

That said, whilst it might have been Super Aguri that spotted the double diffuser loop hole, firstly, could they have scraped enough resources to have refined the idea as well as Brawn did? Toyota and Williams might have come across the idea (through the transfer of key personnel), but their concepts were not as polished as Brawn's design, so you have to wonder whether Super Aguri could have polished it to the same extent. And could they have developed the design during the season? We saw how the other teams progressively caught and passed Brawn, after all.
You also wonder what impact a late change in engine supplies might have had - after all, it wasn't trivial for Brawn to reverse engineer the car so they could fit the Mercedes engine in, since, even with the standardisation of many parts, there were quite a few differences between the Mercedes and Honda engines (lubrication requirements, oil tank placement etc.). And it has to be said that part of Brawn's good fortune was in forming that partnership with Mercedes, since the positive aspects of the engine offset some of the installation issues, but the Cosworth engine, say, would probably have been a less favourable combination.

[Faustus]

But remember it was Super Aguri who originally came up with the concept of the double diffuser.

Very true, Super Aguri and Williams came up with concept separately and some aerodynamicists went to Toyota and Brawn when the team folded.
They might have had a nice advance on the competition if they had survived into 2009, but then the question is which engine would they have used, since Honda was gone.

The easiest possibility is Cosworth, getting back a year earlier to help Super Aguri.

That is the most likely scenario if they'd survived that long - the Cosworth engine would probably have been about the only available engine at the time, since I doubt that Mercedes would have been quite as keen on selling their engines to a potentially unstable team as they were to Brawn, which at least had moderately large savings thanks to Honda.

That said, whilst it might have been Super Aguri that spotted the double diffuser loop hole, firstly, could they have scraped enough resources to have refined the idea as well as Brawn did? Toyota and Williams might have come across the idea (through the transfer of key personnel), but their concepts were not as polished as Brawn's design, so you have to wonder whether Super Aguri could have polished it to the same extent. And could they have developed the design during the season? We saw how the other teams progressively caught and passed Brawn, after all.
You also wonder what impact a late change in engine supplies might have had - after all, it wasn't trivial for Brawn to reverse engineer the car so they could fit the Mercedes engine in, since, even with the standardisation of many parts, there were quite a few differences between the Mercedes and Honda engines (lubrication requirements, oil tank placement etc.). And it has to be said that part of Brawn's good fortune was in forming that partnership with Mercedes, since the positive aspects of the engine offset some of the installation issues, but the Cosworth engine, say, would probably have been a less favourable combination.

I think that even if the proposal from the Magma Group had been accepted and considering the worldwide financial situation at the time, I think Super Aguri would have struggled badly to complete 2008 and be able to raise enough finance to invest in the design of an effective 2009 car. Certainly the double diffuser concept that they had developed would not have been refined to the same extent as Brawn's.
Mercedes couldn't have supplied another team, so maybe either Toyota or Ferrari might have stepped up, possibly in exchange for Super Aguri placing Kobayashi in the car. BMW was always averse to supplying other teams. I certainly don't think Sato would have had a drive after Honda pulled out.

[TomWazzleshaw]

What if Alan Jones had done more than one race in IndyCars?

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

What if Alan Jones had done more than one race in IndyCars?

Another waste of time:

In 1985, Alan Jones debuts in IndyCar, replacing the injured Mario Andretti. Jones impresses by scoring a podium place at the superb Road America circuit. Still, he is not picked up for 1986 or 1987, and Jones spends his time racing in Australia and commentating for Australian TV coverage of F1. Unexpectedly, in 1988, Porsche announce their return to the American scene, and they hire Jones to race the March-built chassis. In Phoenix, Jones impresses many by taking a top 10 qualifying result. His race is a steady one, and after a few passes and some clever strategy from Derrick Walker, he finishes fifth in his first oval race. At Long Beach, a street circuit, Jones shocks many by putting it on the front row, alongside Danny Sullivan. Unfortunately, Jones loses a whole bunch of places during the rolling start, but he manages to fight his way back to third. At Indy, Jones struggles with a non-cooperative March, but he manages to scrape it through, qualifying 31st and on the last row. He doesn't survive for a long time, though, and is the 3rd retirement after 9 laps after whacking the wall. At Milwaukee, he returns to the top 10 in quali, netting 7th on the grid, and then finishing 4th, proving a power on 1 mile ovals. At Portland, he runs fifth for most of the race before binning it just after his first pitstop on cold tyres. In Cleveland, his engine lasts just a single lap before blowing up; the first Porsche failure of the year. In Toronto, he qualifies 4th, and stays there throughout the race, struggling with a misfiring engine for the last 3 laps. The next to races at Meadowlands and Michigan are frustrating, with mechanical failures putting him out before the halfway mark. However, at the 500-miler at Pocono, Jones bags 4th position after an exciting duel with Roberto Guerrero for 3rd. Mid-Ohio is a solid race, with Jones finishing 6th. At Road America, Jones lines up on the front row again, but totally misjudges the space he has, and takes out polesitter Danny Sullivan at the first corner. Sullivan would return and charge up to 4th, but Jones was out before a lap was gone. At Nazareth, he lines up 2nd again, and takes the lead at the first corner, narrowly missing Sullivan. However, Jones uses up his tyres too quickly, and Sullivan passes him as the white flag waves. Still, Jones finishes 2nd, but that would be his last finish of 1988, with Porsche's engines blowing up in Laguna Seca and Miami. Jones finishes 8th in the championship with 84 points, behind Emerson Fittipaldi with 109. Jones is also crowned the Rookie of the Year, at 42 years of age.

1989 looks promising. Porsche has given up on sports cars and is now concentrating all their resources on the Indy project, now building the chassis instead of March. Rothmans has also continued their sponsorship, but now label the CART car instead of the WSC car. In Phoenix, Jones takes 2nd on the grid, and stays there, challenging Rick Mears for the early stages of the race, but then once again destroying his tyres. In Long Beach, it all comes together, and Jones reaps in all the prizes; pole, fastest lap, most laps led and of course, the race. 22 points in the bag. At Indy however, Porsche struggle once again, and Jones qualifies back on row 9, and this time becomes the first retirement of the race after his engine blows. At Milwaukee, Jones qualifies 3rd and finishes 2nd after Michael Andretti retires from the race. At Detroit, he repeats his Long Beach feat, and Jones is firmly in the championship hunt. In Portland, Jones takes pole, but is punted off by Mario Andretti at the Festival Curves on the first lap, with the two getting into a short fist-fight shortly after. In Cleveland, Jones qualifies 4th, but retires with 6 to go with engine failure. He bounces back, however, and takes the win and all the bonus points in Meadowlands, and then the Toronto race that follows. Michigan and Pocono, the two 500-milers, reap in no award, but at Mid-Ohio, Jones wins from the pole, on a track which the Porsche feels most comfortable with. Jones does it again in Road America, and at Nazareth, contends for his very first oval victory until both Rick Mears and Emerson Fittipaldi catch him sleeping at the restart. Jones finishes third. Come Laguna Seca, a road course, and Jones is one of three championship contenders. The other two being his Nazareth opponents, Mears and Fittipaldi. Fittipaldi leads the way with 186 points. Jones is second with 179 points, and Mears has 166 points. Jones qualifies third, and takes the lead at the first turn. However, his gearbox starts failing, and after 22 laps, it gives up, shortly after his first pitstop. Mears takes all the awards, except the championship, which goes to Emmo, despite finishing only fifth. So, the 1989 PPG IndyCar World Series is decided in the Brazilian's favour, finishing the year with 196 points. Mears is second with 188 points, and Jones is third with 179.

In 1990, Porsche take a gamble, and ask CART for permission to build a brand new carbon-fibre chassis. CART approves, but after intense lobbying by Team Penske and other teams, CART makes it illegal, leaving Porsche dangling on the cliff. They now have to redesign their car in a space of just over a month. What comes of it, is a bulky, inefficient car, and Jones voices his doubts publicly. At Phoenix, the car is horrendously slow, and qualifies on the last row, with Jones losing control of the car after 20 laps. Despite his calls for the 1989 car to be reused, it doesn't allow the new Porsche V6T any room, and any redesign would probably end in catastrophe. Long Beach therefore comes and goes with Jones struggling in the 1990 car, this time, the car gives up after 21 laps. Jones demands that the team get something done, but there is no way Porsche can do anything in a short space of time. So Indy comes and goes with the same thing occuring. This time, Jones qualifies 32nd, and crashes after 28 laps. Jones is extremely frustrated, and quits the team, getting replaced by Teo Fabi.

The end of Jonesy in Indy? Of course not! In 1991, despite considering permanent retirement, Jones hitches a ride with Chip Ganassi Racing for a few races. Contesting the inaugural Gold Coast Indy 300, Long Beach, the two Canadian races in Toronto and Vancouver along with Laguna Seca, Jones starts off the season in the best possible fashion, blitzing the field on home turf, to the delight of the Australian crowd who turn out in hordes to see their hero. Long Beach doesn't turn out so, erm, successful. He takes pole, but loses it at the hairpin after just 9 laps. Fast forward to Toronto, and Jones announces that from 1992 onwards, he will contest only Surfers Paradise, should there be any interest from Indy teams. Perhaps the announcement was a bit of a distraction, as Jones struggled in qualifying. Still, he manages to make up in the race, and finish a good fifth. In Vancouver, he goes one better, and finishes fourth. Finally, in Laguna Seca, he ends the year on a high in third. 59 points and 11th in the championship after racing just 5 times out of 16 championship races. One wonders what would have been if Jones decided on a full year.

For the 1992 Daikyo IndyCar Grand Prix, Jonesy hitches a ride with his former boss, Derrick Walker, now running his own team after the Porsche shutdown in 1990. He qualifies tenth in a year-old Lola, and charges up the field to finish fifth, challenging Al Unser Jr in the late stages of the race. 10 points equals to 19th place in the championship.

Again driving for Walker, Jones gets the T92/00 from last year, and qualifies 7th. In an exciting race, Jones charges up to 3rd place, and dices with both Emerson Fittipaldi and newboy Nigel Mansell, before settling for 4th place. 12 points = 18th DC.

Walker Racing are unable to give Jones a ride in 1994 due to some sponsorship agreements. Bettenhausen Motorsports comes to the rescue, fielding their regular driver Stefan Johansson along with Jones and Gary Brabham in year-old Penskes. Johansson qualifies 8th, Jones in 17th and Brabham dead-last. Brabham would get involved in the first lap accident, while Johansson misses out on a podium with pit stop issues. A combination of good strategy and good-old driving skill earns Jones third place in the exciting race. The First Night Race Without Lights, as it would become known as.

In 1995, Jones announces that the 1995 IndyCar Australia will be his final race before his full retirement. Bettenhausen hire him again alongside Johansson. David Brabham had been lined up for a drive, but a sponsorship agreement failed to pull through. In his final race, Jones would come home in third place, a good 7 tenths behind second-placed Bobby Rahal.

And so ends Alan Jones' career. Now off to the commentating booth!

[TomWazzleshaw]

You know what? We need you at the F1 Rejects Alternative Universe Wiki.

[ADx_Wales]

What if a 13th F1 team was formed NOW , and ready for the next GP. (Barring all the concractual Bernie nonsense)

Who would be the team boss?
What engineers and cheif mechanics would be involved?
Who would be responsible for designing the car?
Who would be the drivers?
What engine would they be using?
Would they get below 107% in Q1?

(I also failed to realise that the next GP is the Magyar Nagadij, so anyone saying HWNSNBM is just doing so out of mere coincidence)

[Aerospeed]

What if a 13th F1 team was formed NOW , and ready for the next GP. (Barring all the concractual Bernie nonsense)

Who would be the team boss?
What engineers and cheif mechanics would be involved?
Who would be responsible for designing the car?
Who would be the drivers?
What engine would they be using?
Would they get below 107% in Q1?

As an F1Reject I would say anything to do with HWNSNBM, but I'm gonna be creative.

Team Boss: Zoran Stefanovic
Engineers + Chief Mechanics: ???
Designer: Pascal Vasselon
Drivers: Jacques Villeneuve, Kazuki Nakajima
Engine: Toyota
Chassis: Toyota TF110 remodelled for 2011 regulations
Below 107%?: Yes! Though Villeneuve gets eliminated in Q1...

[cretoxyrhina]

In 1990, Porsche take a gamble, and ask CART for permission to build a brand new carbon-fibre chassis. CART approves, but after intense lobbying by Team Penske and other teams, CART makes it illegal, leaving Porsche dangling on the cliff. They now have to redesign their car in a space of just over a month. What comes of it, is a bulky, inefficient car, and Jones voices his doubts publicly. At Phoenix, the car is horrendously slow, and qualifies on the last row, with Jones losing control of the car after 20 laps. Despite his calls for the 1989 car to be reused, it doesn't allow the new Porsche V6T any room, and any redesign would probably end in catastrophe. Long Beach therefore comes and goes with Jones struggling in the 1990 car, this time, the car gives up after 21 laps. Jones demands that the team get something done, but there is no way Porsche can do anything in a short space of time. So Indy comes and goes with the same thing occuring. This time, Jones qualifies 32nd, and crashes after 28 laps. Jones is extremely frustrated, and quits the team, getting replaced by Teo Fabi.

I don't think the March-Porsche cockpit large enough to accommodate Jones

[dr-baker]

What if a 13th F1 team was formed NOW , and ready for the next GP. (Barring all the concractual Bernie nonsense)

Who would be the team boss?
What engineers and cheif mechanics would be involved?
Who would be responsible for designing the car?
Who would be the drivers?
What engine would they be using?
Would they get below 107% in Q1?

As an F1Reject I would say anything to do with HWNSNBM, but I'm gonna be creative.

Team Boss: Zoran Stefanovic
Engineers + Chief Mechanics: Faustus and Mario, of course!
Designer: Pascal Vasselon
Drivers: Jacques Villeneuve, Kazuki Nakajima
Engine: Toyota
Chassis: Toyota TF110 remodelled for 2011 regulations
Below 107%?: Yes! Though Villeneuve gets eliminated in Q1...

Just filled in your question marks with my suggestions....

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

You know what? We need you at the F1 Rejects Alternative Universe Wiki.

Thank you. That is the biggest compliment I have received in more than a month.

What if McLaren went with Gary Paffert or Pedro De La Rosa over Lewis Hamilton for the 2007 season.

I select Paffett for my next waste of time;

With both Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya gone, it's all new at McLaren. The team take headlines as they announce the signing of reigning and double world champion Fernando Alonso. The second seat, however, remains a mystery for a very long time. Rumours include Pedro de la Rosa, long time tester for the team who replaced Montoya for the second half of the 2006 season, Gary Paffett, 2005 DTM champion and 2006 tester, and 2006 GP2 champion Nelson Piquet jr (assume in this world Lewis does not exist). Piquet is soon ruled out as he signs a test contract with Renault, which comes as a big surprise as he was the front runner for the seat. Just a month before Australia, Ron Dennis announces that Paffett has the seat.

Despite limited running with the MP4-22, Paffett causes a stir when he manages to qualify his car in 3rd place for the season opener in Australia, just over a tenth behind his teammate Fernando Alonso in second. At the start, Paffett squeezes past Alonso at the first corner, and challenges Raikkonen for the lead going into turn 2. However, a risky strategy does not pay off, and this means he loses out to Alonso. Paffett is also passed by Nick Heidfeld for third in the closing stages of the race after spinning at Clark turn. Still, a solid fourth for Paffett's debut. In Malaysia, he qualifies fifth, and finishes fourth. In Bahrain, he repeats his qualifying effort, just a spot behind Alonso. At the start, he repeats his Australian heroics, and passes Alonso at the first corner, sparking frustration from the Spaniard. Despite a slightly sloppy pit stop, Paffett is able to retain fourth, and hold back Alonso for the whole race. Alonso is visibly upset, and voices his frustrations publicly. Paffett rebuts, saying that McLaren is 'not a one car team'. The atmosphere within the team becomes tense, and the two don't see eye to eye again. In Spain, Paffett can only manage a seventh quali spot, to the happiness of the Spanish crowd. He doesn't go much further in the race, retiring due to a gearbox problem. In Monaco, Paffett qualifies seventh again, and finishes sixth only because of Mark Webber's retirement. After the race, in which Alonso laps the entire field at least once, cries of bias within the team begin, but Dennis is quick to deny these claims. Paffett, however, keeps silent. And perhaps rightly so, as he qualifies in third place in Canada, and totally outclasses his teammate Alonso for the entire race, finally coming second behind the first time race winner, Nick Heidfeld, who enjoys the champagne, and thereafter shaves off his beard due to a bet between himself and teammate Robert Kubica. Alonso is frustrated, and rightly so, as he is overtaken by Takuma Sato in the Super Aguri, to the absolute joy to fans worldwide, erm, except in Spain, that is. In the US, tension simply explodes in the McLaren team, as the McLaren boys dominate the race, only for Alonso to spear Paffett out of the lead with 19 to go. Paffett retires on the spot, and Alonso has to pit for lengthy repairs, coming out behind Heidfeld, who storms to his second win in succession. Paffett goes public, and slams Alonso for 'ridiculous driving', while Alonso claims Paffett left him 'no room'. From replays, it is evident that it was an overly-optimistic move that wrecked both men's races. In France, it goes from bad to worse for the team, as Paffett qualifies back in seventh, while Alonso only manages 10th with gearbox issues. In the race, Paffett clambers up to fifth, while Alonso manages seventh. It goes from bad to worse for Paffett, as he qualifies only 9th on home turf, and finishes sixth. Alonso meanwhile challenges for the win. At the Nurburgring, Paffett qualifies fourth, but then drops to sixth during the rain storm. Alonso emerges victorious. A delighted Alonso thanks the team for the victory, and announces that he is 'committed' and 'devoted' to McLaren. This all changes in Hungary. Alonso qualifies on pole, with Paffett in third. Paffett makes an excellent getaway, and passes Alonso going into turn 1, proceeding to pull a huge gap by the first pitstops. However, Paffett oversteps it in the pits for his final stop, and damages his nose. The sudden damage takes the McLaren crew aback, and it takes forever to get the new nosecone ready for duty. Paffett comes out just behind Alonso, but then takes the spot from Fernando at turn 15. Alonso is furious, and tells to the team to make Paffett move. With team orders illegal, it would be madness to tell Paffett to step by. Therefore, Paffett and Alonso come home third and fourth. Alonso is not a happy bunny, and promptly announces that staying at McLaren is 'out of the question'. Paffett proceeds to call Alonso a 'coward', saying that Alonso 'cannot thrive in a competitive environment'. The points after Hungary are Alonso (73), Heidfeld (70), Massa (69), Raikkonen (60) and Paffett (42). The situation at McLaren only gets worse, when the FIA announce that it would be stripping the team of all its points for the Spygate scandal. Alonso says that he cannot stand the 'insane problems' within McLaren, and announces his return to Renault, to incredible fanfare. Paffett's seat, however, isn't any safer, and Ron Dennis says that Paffett must 'step up his game considerably' in order to stay at Macca. Paffett finishes fourth in Turkey, but Alonso does one better. In Italy, Alonso wins while Paffett finishes fourth again. Right before Belgium, McLaren announce the sigining of four time Champ Car World Series champion, Sebastien Bourdais. This leaves Paffett in the lurch, with rumours that either Jenson Button or Anthony Davidson will be signed. Paffett seemingly fails to respond, qualifying sixth and finishing fifth. However, in Fuji, Japan, Paffett finally steps up to the plate, as he takes pole, fastest lap and the win in the torrential rain. Paffett thanks the team for its patience and understanding, and announces his intention to stay with the team for another season. In China, Paffett takes pole again and leads the race until suspension issues occur. The team manage to fix it, but it nearly puts him a lap down, and he finishes seventh. In Brazil, he is unspectacular, and finishes an anonymous sixth position. 71 points is good enough for fifth in the championship, but McLaren don't say anything regarding the second seat, and Paffett publicly states his worry.

As it turns out, Paffett's late charge was not enough for him to not get his contract renewed. He is offered a testing role, but with the upcoming restrictions on testing, the option doesn't seem like a good one, and Paffett says no. Anthony Davidson gets the McLaren seat. With little option left, Paffett takes Davidson's seat at fan favourite Super Aguri. Despite SA's excellent results in the early part of 2007, Honda did not like the idea of its other team beating its works team, and taking the headlines. The solution? Take away all resources and facilities from Super Aguri. This, coupled with several sponsors defaulting on payments, most noticeably SS United, means Super Aguri end the 2007 season with no cash, no facilities, no car and really, no future. Honda go a step further, and cut off all their ties with SA, with the exception being a free supply of engines. The team buy the previous year's Spyker car, and with newly hired Jason Somerville leading the design team, set to work reworking the car's aerodynamics.

The Super Aguri team turn up in Australia with no testing whatsoever. Still, Paffett and Sato manage to outqualify some cars. Paffett puts the SA08 in 19th spot with Sato behind him. Nelson Piquet and Adrian Sutil fill the last row. Unfortunately, all is lost when Paffett is taken out in the first turn collision, writing off the chassis. Sato looks set for a solid 11th place, but loses it with over 20 laps to go. This leaves Super Aguri with hefty repair bills. Still, Paffett surprises many by putting the SA08 in 17th spot in Malaysia, after a banzai lap. Sato manages 20th. The race is a heroic one, with Paffett gaining from others misfortune, and holding off Rubens Barrichello in the works Honda car and Nico Rosberg's Williams for the last few laps. Honda are, quite obviously, unimpressed. In Bahrain, Paffett qualifies 18th, with Sato dead last. It turns out to be another eye-catching race, with Paffett holding off Sebastien Bourdais in the McLaren in the final stages of the race, after Bourdais spun and damaged his car. Still, Honda then announce that it would be cutting its free supply of engines to Super Aguri. Now, it would be pay and get engines, or don't pay and get nothing. Super Aguri pull together the money for one race, but one race only. Paffett qualifies 19th with Sato behind him, but it would not be such an eye-catching performance from the team this time around. Paffett retires after just 8 laps with suspension damage, while Sato is hopelessly outpaced by the Force Indias, which turn out to have better race pace. Shortly after the race, Super Aguri announce their bankruptcy and closure, to the sadness of two Australian psychos and a few other people.

With seemingly no other choice left, Paffett returns to McLaren as a test driver, but with Bourdais and Davidson at the front, there is no chance that he will be getting a race seat. Bourdais triumphs in the championship, succeeding Jacques Villeneuve in proving that success in America can mean success in Europe. 2009 is not so successful for the outfit, but despite Davidson's departure, it is Jenson Button who takes the seat as reigning world champion. Paffett's prospects look rather bleak at the moment, to put it modestly.

[TomWazzleshaw]

The bet between Heidfeld and Kubica

And who ended up winning 2007?

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

The bet between Heidfeld and Kubica

And who ended up winning 2007?

Still Raikkonen

[shinji]

What if Alex Zanardi had decided to stay on as Benetton's test driver after 1992 instead of going to Lotus?

Bare with me for one of my rubbish long posts...

Hardly rubbish - in fact I genuinely enjoyed reading that.

Edit: Hadn't seen this next page - the sentiment still holds.

[Aerospeed]

Jeroen, your marathon post was excellent. So Bourdais and Davidson are the next best thing??

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Thanks shinji & Jeremy, really appreciate it.

What if Minardi had got the Mugen Honda engine deal in 1995?

http://f1alternate.wikkii.com/wiki/Mugen_Power

[shinji]

Jeroen, PARAGRAPHS! PARAGRAPHS!

[Pointrox]

Jeroen, PARAGRAPHS! PARAGRAPHS!

This and it would be much easier to read if it was divided into chapters

[stupot94]

What if Wolfgang von Trips hadn't slid up the side of the road at Monza '61?
What if Jim Clark hadn't decided to race in an F2 race at Hockenheim in '68?

They would have both lived. Maybe even to today.

What if Roger Williamson had held that slide at Zandvoort?

He would have signed for a good team in the future, having a sort of Jean Alesi career.

What if Nigel Mansell hadn't taken pain killers in a test for Lotus?

He would have had a bad back during the test

What if the '84 Monaco GP hadn't been stopped?

Senna would have caught Prost, but couldnt overtake. Senna has the same career he had.

What if Stefan Bellof hadn't tried to overtake Ickx at Eau Rouge?

He would have overtook him on the straight after Eau Rouge. He got an F1 deal with Ferrari and became the first German champion

What if Nigel Mansell's wheel hadn't burst at Australia '86?

He would be a two times world champion after Hungary 92

What if Bertrand Gachot hadn't attacked a taxi driver?

Schumacher wouldnt have had his debut, but would have made it to Formula one anyway

What if Timo Glock had 'accidentally' slid in to Hamilton as he passed him at Brazil last year?

Does depend on what kind of force he was hit.

AND FINALLY What if Honda hadn't been bought, and Button and Barrichello's careers were effectively over?

Brawn GP never happened, and Kovalainen stayed at McLaren

[Klon]

What if Nigel Mansell hadn't taken pain killers in a test for Lotus?

He would have had a bad back during the test

Beautiful answer.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Jeroen, PARAGRAPHS! PARAGRAPHS!

This and it would be much easier to read if it was divided into chapters

I knew something was terribly wrong. Sorry. I'll try and do something now.

EDIT: There, is that okay? And would any of you like me to go into detail for 1999-2005? I personally think I could end up with different endings, but if I've caused enough pain to your eyes, that's okay as well.

[Aerospeed]

Jeroen, your last post was probably the longest I've ever seen!

---

What if the 2000 Jordan had been more reliable?

What if Heikki Kovalainen hadn't been sacked from McLaren after 2009? (OK, he did race dismally.. then again so did David Coulthard and he lasted a long time)

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Jeroen, your last post was probably the longest I've ever seen!

That's all the persuasion I need...

[Cynon]

Jeroen, your last post was probably the longest I've ever seen!

That's all the persuasion I need...

Okay. I'll throw one at you that I know you of all people would be able to answer.

What if the Ford-Cosworth pairup never happened in 1992 in CART?

Yes, I am being a serious ass with that one. Take as much time as you need to.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Anyone interested in tearing their eyes out are invited to read the full 1999 part of my Minardi story here. I will update it at least once each week.

Jeroen, your last post was probably the longest I've ever seen!

That's all the persuasion I need...

Okay. I'll throw one at you that I know you of all people would be able to answer.

What if the Ford-Cosworth pairup never happened in 1992 in CART?

Yes, I am being a serious ass with that one. Take as much time as you need to.

I'll get to it after I'm done with the Minardi one, which may be some time!

[stupot94]

What if Nigel Mansell hadn't taken pain killers in a test for Lotus?

He would have had a bad back during the test

Beautiful answer.

Thank you

[stupot94]

What if Eddie Irvine won the championship in 99?

What if Jacques Villeneuves wheel didnt fall off at Suzuka 96?

What if Ross Brawn stayed in Sports Cars?

What if Hakkinen had to retire after his crash in Adelaide 95?

What if when they started the 2005 US GP with the chicane implementated?

[ADx_Wales]

What if Ross Brawn stayed in Sports Cars???

There wasnt much left of Group C once Jaguar left in 1991.
Possibly working on the GT Effort made by TWR in the XJ22J0, maybe they would have won the class at Le Mans legitimately.
Which would have meant the XJ220 could have been a fearsome competitor in the first BPR Global GT Series in 1994.
Would have had McLaren F1s as a front-running rival in the 1995 GT Season.
The Media Coverage would have been bigger for sportscar racing. Especially at Le Mans.
The Jaguar F1 effort may have started sooner with Ross Brawn and TWR involved together.

[Aerospeed]

1. What if Eddie Irvine won the championship in 99?

2. What if Jacques Villeneuves wheel didnt fall off at Suzuka 96?

3. What if Ross Brawn stayed in Sports Cars?

4. What if Hakkinen had to retire after his crash in Adelaide 95?

5. What if when they started the 2005 US GP with the chicane implementated?

1. Irvine still leaves Ferrari seeking permanent #1 status, but joins Jordan instead of Jaguar, forcing Trulli to go into Jaguar. Irvine fades into obscurity. Trulli, obscured by the bad machinery, is picked up by McLaren after Hakkinen goes into "sabbatical" mode after 2001, and Trulli wins his first race in 2002. Coulthard is sacked a year later and Raikkonen is picked up. Trulli doesn't come close to winning a championship and is sacked by McLaren after 2005, replaced by Juan Pablo Montoya. Trulli then fades into obscurity.

2. Villeneuve places 3rd, Hill wins the race and the championship. Nothing changes.

4. His McLaren seat is replaced by Eddie Irvine. Irvine becomes world champion in 1998, but loses to Mika Salo in 1999 after Schumacher breaks his legs in Silverstone and is replaced by Luca Badoer (who scores a wack of points!)

5. The race goes on as usual, Raikkonen wins, Button is second, Trulli is third. Fans are very peeved about the sudden change to the track. Nothing changes championship wise, as Alonso still wins the championship by 11 points. Renault barely win the constructors' trophy, mainly thanks to Giancarlo Fisichella.

[pablo_h]

I select Paffett for my next waste of time;...

I loved reading that.

[FullMetalJack]

Trulli then fades into obscurity.

So no change there.

[stupot94]

What if Taki Inoue actually was a good driver?


What if Ukyo Katayama didnt turn down that move to a front running team?


What if Senna won the Monaco GP 88?


What if Heidfelds car had a larger more catastrophic explosion?


What if Avon became the main tyre supplier for F1? (longshot I know but just wondering what people may think will happen)


What if Nigel Mansell didnt have that crash at Suzuka 87?


What if Jean Alesi won that race in Phoenix?


What if HWNSNBM scored more than the one point in the US Gp where he scored the one point?


What if Gerhard Berger had the injuries Lauda had when he crashed at Tamburello in 1989? (this is sort of asking would he do a comeback like Niki)


What if Christian Da Matta got a bigger break in F1

" " Ralph Firman " "

" " Antonio Pizzonia " "

[Aerospeed]

1. What if Taki Inoue actually was a good driver?


2. What if Ukyo Katayama didnt turn down that move to a front running team?


3. What if Senna won the Monaco GP 88?


4. What if Heidfelds car had a larger more catastrophic explosion?


5. What if Avon became the main tyre supplier for F1? (longshot I know but just wondering what people may think will happen)


6. What if Nigel Mansell didnt have that crash at Suzuka 87?


7. What if Jean Alesi won that race in Phoenix?


8. What if HWNSNBM scored more than the one point in the US Gp where he scored the one point?


9. What if Gerhard Berger had the injuries Lauda had when he crashed at Tamburello in 1989? (this is sort of asking would he do a comeback like Niki)


10. What if Christian Da Matta got a bigger break in F1

10a." " Ralph Firman " "

10b." " Antonio Pizzonia " "

1. Inoue doesn't score points with Footwork, but gets a drive with Ligier the next season. He scores occasionally and resigns with the new Prost team that takes over. He scores one podium (a third), and signs with Jordan in 1998 (instead of Damon Hill ) Inoue scores his first win in Belgium, and challenges for the championship in 1999 (losing by six or seven points). He signs with Ferrari in 2000. The team's constant bittering about team orders causes Inoue to leave the team after 2002. He joins McLaren with Rubens Barrichello. There, they win the constructors', and Inoue wins the drivers' championship. Peeved, Ferrari tries to build the fastest car for 2004. They do, but it's unreliable. So, McLaren repeats their constructors' title and Barrichello wins the championship.

2. Katayama signs for McLaren in 1995, since all the other teams are not vacant. He doesn't do too well, and is sacked mid-season.

3. Senna still wins the world championship. His seven straight Monaco GP wins are the most impressive anybody can remember.

4. Heidfeld manages to go out OK, but the marshals dive out of the exploding car. The Safety car is pulled out. At the restart, Vettel overtakes Button for the lead. Vettel goes on to win the race, and non-Vettel fans are displeased.

5. The tyres last so long that an entrant in the 24hrs of Le Mans decides to use Avon hard slicks in an experiment to see how long the tyres lasted. They last the whole race, and the team only stops to change drivers and to refuel. They go on to win the race, and immediately the FIA decides to use Goodyear tyres in 2012. The racing itself is OK, but many people are accusing KERS and DRS making F1 too artificial, and DRS is scrapped mid-season, while KERS is shown the door at the end of the season.

6. Mansell wins the race, the standings are Piquet 73, Mansell 71. In dumb fashion, Piquet takes out Mansell at the chicane in Australia, on lap 15. Mansell is out, Piquet wins the championship. Or does he? The FIA go into investigation mode and a week after the season ends Piquet is DSQ'd from the championship for his "dirty racing." Mansell wins the championship, and Piquet quits Williams.

7. After Alesi's win in Phoenix 1990, the French media goes berserk, and Alesi finishes 6th in the drivers' championship. He signs with Ferrari, but after 1992, he leaves to join Williams, beside countryman Alain Prost. Alesi doesn't do well, but wins once or twice, nearly wins the championship in 1994 before being taken out by Michael Schumacher in Adelaide, and finally wins the championship in 1996... before being replaced by Heinz-Harald Frentzen for 1997. Alesi drives for Prost in 1997, and points are scarce for him. He drives for Jordan in 1998, where his only podium finish is a second in Belgium. (Ralf Schumacher won the race). Alesi retired with the team.

8. HWNSNBM finishes fourth in the US GP, causing many fans to go berserk. He replaces Juan Pablo Montoya in 2005. Let's say... he wins five straight championships and is on his way to a sixth this year.

9. Comeback? No. But, Alesi comes in two years earlier. And Capelli comes in a year earlier, showing off his talent, thus not being sacked in 1992, but instead leaves for McLaren in 1993, and is right alongside Senna that year. He stays with McLaren until 1996, when he gets sacked and signs up for the Sauber seat. Capelli retires after 1997.

10. Cristiano da Matta nearly gets a podium with Toyota in 2004, and is resigned alongside Jarno Trulli in 2005. da Matta wins a race that year. After Montoya leaves McLaren in 2006, da Matta fills in the void that PDLR left behind when he took Montoya's empty seat. da Matta is now sulking at the media, seeing Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button ride to success, so he joins Sauber in 2010... and gets sacked mid-season.

10a. Firman scores a whack of points in an unreliable Jordan in 2003, and is signed with Sauber in 2004. He stays with the team, and in 2008, wins his first race, and contends for the drivers' championship. He gets an offer from Ferrari in 2009, takes it, and doesn't do much with it, getting sacked mid-season.

10b. Pizzonia does greatly with Williams in 2005. So he is resigned for 2006. He does very well, so he is resigned... to 2009. Three years and four podium finishes later, he joins Mercedes in 2010, hoping to win. 1 1/2 seasons and three podiums later, Pizzonia is looking to have what he had with Williams before...