Murray Walker tips Kubica for 2009 title

[John S]

         Murray may be heaping praise on Kubica, BMW, Ferd and Renault; but he also lays into Kimi with comments that some of us have already aired. 


Murray Walker has tipped Robert Kubica to win the 2009 Formula One World Championship.

Speaking at the Autosport International Show today, the legendary commentator said the changes to the regulations next season could change the order at the front and expects Kubica and BMW to shine through.

"Nobody has got the faintest idea what's going to be happening in 2009," Walker said on the Autosport Central Stage. "They've thrown all the balls up in the air, we've got KERS, we've got slick tyres - thank God - all sorts of different things happening next year. It's going to be very different.

"Ask me who will win the championship this year," he added. "Robert Kubica in the BMW.

"They're a mighty switched on organisation, BMW, they make cracking road cars and I am full of admiration and respect for what they've done. And they will get better."

He also expects Renault to be able to challenge for victories on a regular basis this year following their renaissance with Fernando Alonso in 2008.

"They got it wrong by not stretching the rules as much as some of the other teams may have done in the engine department last year, but now that's being put right," Walker said.

"I think Renault are going to be a big threat, particularly with Fernando Alonso at the wheel because he has still got something to prove."

Walker criticised outgoing world champion Kimi Raikkonen for not finding a way to get the best out of the F2008.

"He was on a roll after 2007 when he was world champion in his first year with a new team," said Walker. "The conventional wisdom is that Raikkonen lost the championship because he couldn't handle the understeering characteristic of the Ferrari, but that's his job.

"It's his job to master it and he's paid £20 million a year or something like that. Well, I'm very sorry for him, but it is his job and he didn't come up to snuff. (Felipe) Massa grasped the opportunity and blew him away, all credit to him."


By Steven English on Autosport.com

[Steven Roy]

It was quite amazing watching Murray being interviewed on the Autosport stage.  They have a VIP area upstairs and normally you don't see anyone up there.  When Murray was on quite a few people were hanging over the edge watching him.  At first I thought these were just guests then I noticed David Coulthard, David Brabham and Frank Biela all hanging over the edge in different areas listening.  I didn't see anyone remotely famous listening to any of the drivers who were interviewed.

Star of the show for me though was Emmanuele Pirro.  He is a driver I have been aware of for a very long time but this was the first time I heard him speak and he was brilliant.  He should be doing commentary.  He is funny and just wouldn't shut up.  He was on with Biela and Allan McNish.  Normally McNish can't be shut up but he couldn't get a word in.

It is rare to hear a driver go overboard about another but Pirro comes across like the biggest McNish fan in the world which he can't be because I am.  He was raving about McNish's drive at Petit LeMans.  I watched the race and it was the highlight of the year.  Event better than Brazil.

[AJM]

have to agree with Murray. Was at Autosport (met the great man at the Motors TV stand) but looked at the BMW sitting in the F1 display and thought 'there's the danger team (I'm a McLaren fan) right there"

Will be interesting to see as they had a head start in Ferrari/McLaren after their win in Canada ad Dr Mario Thiessen is a very clever man

[Thor]

I would also tipped Robert Kubica to win the 2009 Formula One World Championship
If he was a McLaren Driver,I tip on Heiiki this year

[Dare]

I look for Kimi to come back with a
bang this year.And I wouldn't count
Alonso out either

[Ian]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but, my money is on Alonso to deliver.

[johnbull]

There are so many new things this year that we could easily end up with a few surprises.

That would actually be quite a good thing..............

How do you fancy Ferrari and Mc Laren spending the season chasing Red Bull or Toyota, or even better ..... Williams. It would certainly make a change ........ but I suppose I'm dreaming again.

[Dare]

It wouldn't surprise me to see Toyota finally
win a race.To see Williams near the top would
shock me.

Personally I'm not expecting much out of Red
Bull team 1 or 2

[Scott]

Wow Dare, I'm surprised.  I rate Williams above Toyota, especially with the new rules...they will respond to problems way faster than Toyota, and will likely dial it in, even if they have money issues.  Toyota will be a month between diagnosis and fix, if not more.

Also, I rate Vettel highly, regardless of what car he is in.  He will definitely be a hard charger this year, with his Monza confidence on board.

As Rom would say - it's just my opinion and I could be wrong...

[cosworth151]

With the aero changes, slicks and KERS, this could be the year for a major shake-up at the front. I don't expect much from Williams or Toy, since they will both have the same boat anchor in their engine rooms. BMW should be a contender, and I expect both Red Bull teams to challenge. With McLaren input, FIF1 should leap frog past the two Toy teams.

I just hope the former Honda team will make the grid.

[Dare]

It always seemed to me Williams had their
best part of the season early.After that
with their lack of money they then fell
behind,with the new rules maybe this
won't be the case

We'll have to wait and see what sort of
impact Berger's absence will play at STR

[Steven Roy]

I struggle to make any sense of where the season will go.  I want to see what Adrian Newey does with the new regs especially now that Geoff Willis is there to mitigate against Newey's excesses and that should guarantee reliability and make the car easier to use.

I think McLaren will have the edge on Ferrari but beyond that I think it will take four or five races before any clear picture appears.

[J.Clark]

I think the playing field will be a bit more level this season in many respects, but Ferrari power is still Ferrari power.

I also put almost no money on what Murry Walker says about anything.

Robert is a capable driver, of that there is no question.  I do not think him as good as Lewis and he may not be as good as Massa.  It is difficult to say how he stacks up against Kimi after 2008, and then there is Freddy Alonso who is (while I don't like him) arguably the best driver in the current field.  There is no doubt that each of these will have something to say about who the 2009 WDC will be, not to mention Vettel, who showed himself to be a top competitor who may or may not be in the running, depending upon the RBR entry.

My bottom line however is that Kubica will not be the WDC for 2009, in a Williams.

[Dare]

I doubt if Kubicia will be WDC in a Williams
seeing how he drives for Sauber BMW

[Scott]

I wonder if John is trying to say that there will be a driver swap between Sauber and Williams before the year is out...always a possibility.