John,
Mika Hakkinen retired at the end of the 2001 season and that was the great turning point I think for the team. They lost their focus with their World Champion retiring as well as Paragon, their huge new facility just outside of Woking. It obviously came to a peak with the aborted MP4-18 of 2003, the car that never saw the race track in anger and was the basis for the failed MP4-19A at the beginning of last season.
They finally got their ducks lined up mid-season with the 19B and I think they are finally on the right page - and all on the same page!
McLaren should win races this year. Kimi has got to prove his is championship material and that 2003 wasn't a one-off. Juan Pablo wants to put the screws to Sir Frank at Williams and has something to prove as well.
BAR also has to prove 2004 wasn't a one-off and I think they may have trouble doing it. They won't have the benefit of the 3rd car on Fridays and with their removal of David Richards and Buttongate at the end of last year, I think they have lost focus. Plus, looking at pre-season testing, they are creating an awful lot of detonated engines already.
Williams is in trouble for a lot of reasons. They are going to be doing good to finish mid-pack in my view. No solid driver lineup
(Mark Webber and who?
) and the FW27 is still in production. That spells trouble.
37 days to Melbourne!
