Formula 1
Preview
Last year, Formula 1 was thrust into the international spotlight like never before for two very different reasons. So ahead of the 2008 World campaign, we thought we’d give you an early insight into the runners and riders of the planet’s highest octane sport.
The 2007 Formula 1 season was one of the most dramatic to date, yet unfortunately, it was one where the majority of the action took place away from the track. The long running spying saga between Ferrari and McLaren, which culminated in the latter being thrown out of the Constructors Championship, marred a season that was so nearly a sensational deification of a rookie driver from Stevenage.
Lewis Hamilton had been widely tipped for good things early in his career, and it was no surprise when he was announced as McLaren’s second driver at the start of the season, to play what was supposed to be ‘second fiddle’ to reigning World Champion Fernando Alonso. What was surprising was what unfolded from the first day of the first race weekend down at Melbourne’s Albert Park, when Hamilton defied all reasonable sporting logic and mixed it with the big boys.
Of course, on the track the season had much more to it than Hamilton’s individual achievements, and at the end of the day, we must acknowledge the brilliance of Kimi Raikkonen’s performance, particularly during the second half of the season, to atone for such a deficit and wrestle the Driver’s Championship from under Hamilton’s nose. Indeed, he started the season in imperious fashion by storming the Australian Grand Prix in an ominously fast Ferrari, quelling the ghost of a certain Michael Schumacher in the process. Not that his is a ghost that will be quelled—his regular attendance at race weekends an obvious irk to the single minded Finn. Ferrari are set to have another strong season and will be the team to beat once again.
Away from the passionate Tifosi, McLaren had a nightmare season that they will be keen to forget, despite Hamilton’s heroics. The ‘spygate’ scandal hit them hard and very much where it hurts in terms of the Constructors Championship, and the feud between their two drivers had reached such a level that the team became the biggest media circus in town, for all the wrong reasons. What will have pleased the Gadgrind-esque Ron Dennis was the consistent performance of the car, regardless of whose specifications it was based upon. The McLaren had good straight line speed, was arguably better in the slower corners than the Ferrari, due to the Ferrari’s long wheel base, and had two drivers who were pushing it to the absolute limit. As long as next year’s McLaren isn’t longer and painted red, they should once again have the package to challenge and probably better the Ferrari. Their new driver line up also has the exuberance of youth, with Hamilton taking the main driver berth alongside a very gifted Heikke Kovalainen. This could potentially spell danger in terms of experience, but both drivers have shown enough to rubbish such suggestions.
So what of Renault with the return of their prodigal son? They fell off the map last season, which was a surprise even without Alonso at the helm. Giancarlo Fisichella struggled with the car all season long and has suffered because of it. Kovalainen on the other hand did his credentials no harm whatsoever, hence his move to McLaren, but the race performance of the car was way off the pace, with BMW surpassing their 2007 achievements. Alonso is sure to take the car forward, and though he may not challenge as he did last season, he may well be amongst the top three or four. That said, he is a double world champion and that doesn’t happen by accident.
BMW were very impressive last season, and will hope that the combination of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld will ensure a continued progression this term. They are, however, still a fair way off challenging the big two for honours, but the impressive reliability of last season won’t have been a fluke and they will feel that they can make even more of an impression this time around. If they can match their race pace with some improved qualification sessions, then they could well upset the apple cart…every now and again.
Honda. (Long exhalation of air). I feel genuinely sorry for Jenson Button as he is a driver of proven quality, who has done all the things Lewis Hamilton has done in terms of karting, and winning things at an early age, but had, for last season anyway, a car that was stuck in reverse. Rubens Barrichello, former teammate of the Red Baron himself, has also found it difficult to get anything out of a car that promised so much in 2006. Its sister car, Super Aguri (Honda’s 2006 model), outperformed its more established sibling on many occasions, giving rise to much scratching of the head throughout the pit lane. Both drivers will hope for a more productive 2008, but until then I’m afraid we won’t know exactly where they are.
Finally, we finish off with Red Bull, and our man David Coulthard. According to the ‘Great Scot’, the team are aiming for a 4th placed finish overall, which is rational thought considering their esteemed counterparts. Reliability issues plagued the team throughout last season, but with a new car due in January, Messrs Coulthard and Webber will look forward to the season with renewed optimism.
The new campaign is sure to throw up the odd surprise, but don’t expect too many podiums outside the top two and, say, BMW and Renault. Expect Alonso to win a race; expect Coulthard to do well at Monaco; and expect Hamilton to be just where he was last season, in amongst it, and challenging once again to make Formula 1 history.
The Teams
Ferrari
Base Maranello—Italy
Drivers K Räikkönen, F Massa
Test Drivers L Badoer, M Gene
Engine Ferrari
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 1950
World Championships 14
Highest race finish 1 (x201)
Pole Positions 195
Fastest Laps 205
McLaren
Base Woking, UK
Drivers L Hamilton, H Kovalainen
Test Drivers P de la Rosa, G Paffett
Engine Mercedes-Benz
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 1966
World Championships 8
Highest race finish 1 (x156)
Pole Positions 133
Fastest Laps 133
BMW Sauber
Base Munich, Germany / Hinwil, Switzerland
Drivers N Heidfeld, R Kubica
Engine BMW
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 1993
World Championships 0
Highest race finish 2 (x1)
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Renault
Base Enstone, UK
Drivers F Alonso, N Piquet
Test Drivers R Grosjean
Engine Renault
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 1977
World Championships 2
Highest race finish 1 (x33)
Pole Positions 50
Fastest Laps 27
Williams
Base Grove, UK
Drivers N Rosberg, K Nakajima
Test Drivers N Hulkenberg, N Karthikeyan
Engine Toyota
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 1975
World Championships 9
Highest race finish 1 (x113)
Pole Positions 125
Fastest Laps 129
Red Bull
Base Milton Keynes, UK
Drivers D Coulthard, M Webber
Test Drivers M Ammermuller, R Doornbos
Engine Renault
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 2005
World Championships 0
Highest race finish 3 (x2)
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Toyota
Base Koln, Germany
Drivers J Trulli, T Glock
Test Drivers K Kobayashi
Engine Toyota
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 2002
World Championships 0
Highest race finish 2 (x2)
Pole Positions 2
Fastest Laps 1
Toro Rosso
Base Faenza, Italy
Drivers S Vettel, S Bourdais
Engine Ferrari
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 2006
World Championships 0
Highest race finish 4 (x1)
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Honda
Base Brackley, UK
Drivers J Button, R Barrichello
Test Drivers M Conway
Engine Honda
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza First Season1964
World Championships 0
Highest race finish 1 (x3)
Pole Positions 2
Fastest Laps 2
Super Aguri
Base Leafield, UK
Drivers T Sato, A Davidson
Test Drivers J Rossiter
Engine Honda
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 2006
World Championships 0
Highest race finish 6 (x1)
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Force India
Base Silverstone, UK
Drivers A Sutil
Test Drivers R Rodriguez, G van der Garde
Engine Ferrari
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
First Season 2008
World Championships 0
Highest race finish 0 (x0)
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Be the first to comment on this
If you are a Gambling.com member, please login at the top left of this page.
If you are not a Gambling.com member, please complete our sign up form—membership is free and it takes just a minute or two to sign up.
Bookmark this page: (What are these?)