Prost - Need To Be Reliable
by Julie Gates
The Team: Even though they have only completed a few race distances, scoring two World Championship points so far, they have performed reasonably well. Qualifying has been satisfactory for the team, averaging places in the mid-field. Jarno Trulli put in a meteoric performance to qualify a very impressive seventh at Monaco, and Panis' second spot in France was a dream come true. Again, mechanical problems have pestered the team and the gearbox is making for the biggest concern. Driver errors have played a part on several cost and have undoubtedly cost the team potential points. However, they have improved since last season and their form in qualifying has been encouraging. If a little more speed and luck was to go their way, we could see a Prost in the points a few more occasions this year.
What can be done: The team have recently been working on a new chassis, and aerodynamics. They have long term plans that could see them completing with the current top four teams... but in all likelihood, that's something to look forward to next year.
Driver - Oliver Panis: Scored the team's first points of the season at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but that is the only thing to get excited about. He hasn't really performed to the standard that we know he is capable of achieving. He has lacked drive and spark since the accident at the Canadian Grand Prix in 1997, and has yet to prove to us that he can deliver as he used to. He has retired from several races as the victim of mechanical failures. Apart from the French Grand Prix, qualifying has been a disappointment, and he started on the last row of the grid at Australia when he failed to pass a standard FIA Safety Test. He could do better, but he can't be expected to deliver when his car can barely reach the finish line.
Driver - Jarno Trulli: Has held the slight advantage over his team-mate this season. He has generally out-qualified Panis. Suffered some mechanical failures this season, though also retired from driver mistakes. This is where he could easily improve. He raced too hard in Australia, colliding with Damon Hill and then with Marc Gene's Minardi. He is obviously a quick driver who is capable of delivering, but when he behaves irrationally, he damages this reputation. He has finished in the points once, and if he can calm down slightly, he should be there again at least another one or two times this season.
Conclusion: Performed pretty much as people expected and have shown they do have potential. However, more work needs to be done on reliability, particularly the gearbox, before they can compete for regular positions in the top eight and the points.
Rating: 4/10
Article is written by and copyright © 1999-2001 Julie Gates and The F1 Rumors Site
Julie Gates is happiest watching F1 and writing. Also interested in singing, cars, cinema, reading and going to concerts, she has little spare time to relax, but this is the way she likes it - rather being busy than idle as she can't stand still for five minutes! Totally committed to her career as a Formula One journalist, she is determined to succeed.
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