In the first of a three-part series, I will be counting down the start of the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. It promises to be one of the most competitive and intriguing season’s ever in history, with at least four teams and eight, possibly more drivers with a decent shot of being World Champion. There will be nineteen races over eight months, across five continents – which team and driver will end up on top. These are my verdicts on all twenty-four drivers.
Karun Chandok (Hispania F1)
India has its 2nd driver in Formula One, but I get the feeling that this season is going to be a real baptism of fire for Karun Chandok. Five years after Narain Karthikeyan failed miserably in F1 with Jordan, Chandok has got a point to prove to his devoted country and his new team, Hispania Racing. Karun did a solid job in GP2, but Grand Prix racing is a different kettle of fish. He is going to see a load of blue flags this season and timing data, with his name on the bottom of the leaderboard.
Jaime Alguesuari (Toro Rosso)
Jaime Alguesuari made F1 history in Hungary last season by becoming the youngest driver ever to start in a Formula 1 race. Considering his lack of testing mileage, he did a solid job at the back end of last season with Toro Rosso, particularly at the quicker circuits such as Spa and Suzuka. However, the final stages of the season saw Jaime making basic mistakes, such as stopping at the wrong garage in Abu Dhabi, and consequently running out of fuel shortly afterwards. He doubled up on championships last year, this year; his focus is firmly on F1. He has been given a second chance and probably deserves it, but Alguesuari has got to give his team-mate Sebastian Buemi more of a run for his money this campaign. He will do very well just to see the season out, in a team that has a reputation for firing driver’s mid-season.
Lucas di Grassi (Virgin Racing)
Four years in GP2 yielded a number of wins and consistent performances, but no championship for Brazilian Lucas di Grassi. This season, he makes the jump up to the motorsport pinnacle, in new racing team, Virgin Racing. Potentially, he has the capabilities to give his team-mate, Timo Glock some very sleepless nights. Ultimately, a new team with a rookie driver is more than likely to be making up the numbers. I think if di Grassi managed to notch a couple of points finishes between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, then he can be very satisfied with a decent rookie season.
Bruno Senna (Hispania F1)
For the first time since that fateful day in May 1994, when his uncle lost his life in that horrific crash at the San Marino Grand Prix, the name Senna returns to Formula One. Despite his family’s understandable reluctance, Bruno was determined to follow in Ayrton’s footsteps and has a solid track record in junior formulae, without setting alight the world. What is clear is that he has strong belief and the potential talent to deliver. Bruno Senna lacks race-craft, but he could turn out to be one of the biggest surprises of the season with Hispania Racing.
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus)
He may have had a decent rookie season at Renault in 2007, but in two seasons at McLaren, Heikki Kovalainen was destroyed, both mentally and physically by Lewis Hamilton. He never got a look in at the Woking based team, probably was happy to be fired actually, come the end of the 2009 season. 2010 is a make-or-break season for Finland’s finest, now that Kimi Raikkonen has moved onto pastures new. Can Lotus bring the best out of Kovalainen, well if they can’t, then no-one can!
Vitaly Petrov (Renault)
Russia has its first driver on the F1 grid in its long and established history, in the form of Vitaly Petrov. Runner-up to runaway GP2 champion Nico Hulkenberg last season, Petrov did well enough to win a few races, even though he wasn’t a serious title threat to the talented Hulkenberg. He brings a massive amount of investment to the Renault team, and I can’t help thinking that Renault has given him a drive because of the much-needed cash rather than his individual talents. I hope in this situation, I’m proven wrong.
Timo Glock (Virgin Racing)
German driver Timo Glock produced some starring performances for the underachieving Toyota team in the last two seasons, but he still may be one of the most under-rated drivers in F1. On his day, Timo can give many drivers a real problem, but on others, he goes completely missing into oblivion. Glock’s last race was 2nd in the Singapore Grand Prix last, he has been ruled out since breaking his vertebrae in a major crash during qualifying for the race at Suzuka last October. He is carrying the Virgin Racing team as No.1 driver and has to give the team some much-needed leadership if they are going to be a sustainable force in Grand Prix racing. Glock could well be the pick of the drivers from the new teams.
Jarno Trulli (Lotus)
One win in over 200 races is a poor track-record for Jarno Trulli, but what Lotus needs is a load of experience and the ability to set-up a Grand Prix car perfectly and Trulli has got those qualities in abundance. Still one of the best qualifiers on a Saturday, Jarno has a constant habit for going completely backwards on a Sunday. So much so, some have factored the ‘Trulli Train’ into their race strategies. Having worked closely with Mike Gascoigne at Renault and Toyota, Lotus is the perfect home for Jarno Trulli and it might finally bring the best out of this veteran Italian.
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