Part three of the 2010 Formula 1 season preview finishes off my driver round-up, looking at the main championship contenders from the four leading teams on the grid. Any of these eight have realistic ambitions to be king of the sport when the final chequered flag flies in Abu Dhabi in November.
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
In four years at Williams, Nico Rosberg largely disappointed and he knows that more than anyone. Now, he has moved to Mercedes, a race-winning team, with ambition to do even better. With Nick Heidfeld, a consistent and quick racer signed up as third driver, the pressure is already on for Nico to perform right from the beginning of the championship. To have Michael Schumacher as a team-mate is no easy feat either. He can’t win in that situation, because many will expect him to come out on top, but if Schumacher wipes the floor with him, Rosberg faces his F1 career ending up in the doldrums. Race victories and podium are expected, this is a make-or-break campaign for Nico Rosberg.
Mark Webber (Red Bull)
In November 2008, Mark Webber was lying in a Tanzania hospital with his leg broken and other serious injuries following a cycling accident. Many would have written him off, but Mark came back last season and in a car that finally gave him the chance to maximise his potential, produced the best season of his career to date. His maiden victory at the Nurburgring last July was the drive of his life and recording another impressive success in Brazil showed it was no fluke either. Only a dreadful run in late summer which saw five consecutive non-scores cost the Aussie a shot at the ultimate prize and with the competition having got even harder this time around, has his best chance passed? At 32, this is probably Mark’s final chance to become a World Champion. It will be tough to achieve that, but I think he should still be winning races this season at the bare minimum.
Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
Many feared for Felipe Massa’s life, let alone his racing career, after he was hit on the head by a spring from Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix last year. It was such a freak incident, which ended his season prematurely, but thankfully he pulled through and testing suggests he is as quick as ever before. Only when we get to Bahrain we will know whether he still has the mettle to deliver and having overcome a strong challenge from Kimi Raikkonen, Massa now must deliver against fellow Latino Fernando Alonso. The battle for supremacy at Ferrari promises to be one of the tightest in this year’s championship. I just hope Felipe can deliver and produce some stunning wins at least, to show his accident has no long-time effects.
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes)
So, the greatest driver of all-time has returned in what could be the greatest comeback in sporting history. Many have questioned Michael Schumacher’s wisdom, some even his brain for returning, especially after retiring at the top in 2006, with seven world championships and 91 GP wins to his name. However, the competitive desire and fire will always remain in the German maestro, quite clearly, three years was long enough and he was fed up of sitting at home, watching the races on TV. Against the young guns, Hamilton and Vettel, as well racing against close friend Massa and old adversaries Alonso and Barrichello, no-one can wait to see how he does. I’d fully expect Schumi to be winning races by mid-season and he should play a significant role in the title battle, though unless Mercedes give him a winning motor, I doubt those chances. However, never write off the genius that is Michael Schumacher.
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
The heir to Schumacher’s crown in the eyes of many and Sebastian Vettel could well be a champion already. Foolish errors in Australia, Monaco and Singapore, combined with poor reliability at Hungary and Valencia cost him the championship in 2009. However, he was peerless in the wet in China and blew away the opposition at two challenging circuits, Silverstone and Suzuka. Doubts remain over whether Vettel can keep his cool and race to victory when he doesn’t qualify at the front of the grid. Can he win over these critics? Germany has a great shot at a championship this season, but I see the established coming more from the young, speedy Vettel, over the wily fox that is Schumacher. He starts as a massive title favourite.
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
At times in his first two years in the sport, Lewis Hamilton acted childish and very arrogant and didn’t win many fans. However, you had to feel for him in 2009, having a car that was so far off the pace. When McLaren got their act together, Hamilton reminded us what he could do, with dominant victories in Hungary and Singapore. He could have had more, had it not been for a brake failure in Abu Dhabi and a strategy cock-up in Valencia. After ‘Liargate,’ he was tempted to walkaway, but Lewis kept his head down and drove through the many problems, winning the respect for many for the never-say-die attitude he produces. I make Lewis Hamilton as the early 2010 title favourite, but he will have some serious competition to beat, in order to achieve what would be a second world championship.
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
When Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton produced a thrilling scrap for the fans at last year’s British Grand Prix, it was such a highlight for everyone, even though amazingly for 17th place. Now at Ferrari, Alonso has the car again and the unity to deliver that third world championship. At Renault in the last two seasons, his attitude to the cause was always admirable and he would never give up either. However, his head did dip towards the end of last campaign, clearly ending fed-up and miserable by the team’s lack of consistent performance, plus the ‘Crashgate’ scandal. Up against Felipe Massa this season, this could be Alonso’s toughest test and there is no No.1 status either. I reckon he might just shade Massa and if he does don’t be surprised to see Fernando with the No.1 on his car come 2011.
Jenson Button (McLaren)
The world champion benefited from Brawn’s monster of a car at the start of last season, to build such a commanding championship lead that it was untouchable to his rivals. A champion’s drive in Brazil to clinch the title reminded us what he is capable of, after a patchy and scrappy mid-season. Button though elected for a new challenge, and walking into Lewis Hamilton’s backyard could turn into one of the biggest mistakes he has ever made. You must admire his bravery and courage for taking up this challenge, and not staying in the security of Mercedes, but he will need to come up to speed very quickly if he is going to make a successful title defence. I think Lewis Hamilton will wipe the smirk off Jenson’s face this season; the defending champion could be in for a very sticky and frustrating season.
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