F1 2011 - Computer Game Review

By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

WHEN Codemasters released F1 2010 this time last year, it quickly received wide praise and applause as it was really the first game that actually captured the imagination of the sport.  This therefore put a lot of pressure on Codies, a company with a rich history of producing award-winning racing games, to deliver and most importantly, take it up to the next level with F1 2011.

     To start with, the essence of the game remains the same, built again upon the Career mode with its tagline, “Be the Driver, Live the Life, Go Compete.”  Starting with the standard pre-season interview with a member of the world’s press (David ‘Crofty’ Croft from BBC Radio 5 Live is used again on the UK version), the player has a much wider choice of teams to start their life in the sport with.  Obviously, all the options are midfield/backmarker teams, including the three ‘B’ teams, Team Lotus, Virgin Racing and HRT but it does gives the option to either begin the path to the front of the field quicker or longer for those new to the game.

     Essentially, the pit garage design remains the same from F1 2010, with constant reports from your race engineer both in the garage and on the track.  Team to driver reactions after qualifying and race are now implemented to give more a feel as to whether the chemistry within the team setup is strong or crumbling massively.  The agent that was featured in F1 2010 has been unceremoniously and thankfully, dumped.

     In game modes, two new modes have joined the setup this year.  Multiplayer returns after a year away, in a classic split-screen format.  Most exciting is the introduction of a co-op championship which allows 2 players to race as team-mates, so finally, an equal way to battle it out and see who the best is.  Online mode is also enhanced with it now being able to hold up to 16 players in one game session at a time.

     In the game itself, all of the 2011 rule changes in real life have been adapted into the game.  KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and DRS (Drag Reduction System) give the player a boost to improve their performance.  Also the new Pirelli tyres are featured and have modelled to act in realistic form with a set of tyres only lasting 10 to 15 laps, depending on the circuit, until they “fall off the cliff.”  Although a promise was made to reintroduce mechanical retirements on the game, no evidence has been shown yet so it’s hard to prove whether it is possible.

WELCOME: The Safety Car makes a much anticipated return

     However one aspect that has been welcomed by many is the return of the Safety Car, which was last featured in an F1 game back in 2001.  It is not known yet if it can be deployed for any AI incidents on track but it can be deployed during heavy rain conditions.  In addition, red flags have returned for the first time in an F1 game since 1998 for instances when a crash is so severe, the Safety Car can’t get round the track.

     Another new feature is ‘Race Director.’  Accessed via the pause menu during a race, it allows the player to not only look at the latest race standings but browse through each driver’s lap times and see whether they are performing upto standard or starting to drop off the pace.

GUARANTEE: More wheel-to-wheel combat is expected

     Finally, not just Singapore and Abu Dhabi (in its day-night element) can be played in night conditions as some circuits are also playable as night races.  The new Indian GP circuit is also featured but not the cancelled Bahrain GP despite rumours that it may still feature on the game despite its axing earlier in the season.  Improved modelling in the AI has also promised to make the game more challenging for experienced racers.  The blogger founder Simon Wright asked John Boden for his thoughts on the game via Twitter; “It’s very good, but very hard at the same time.  They’ve tried to make it as close to life as possible.  It is quite rewarding though and I’d go as far as to say it’s the best ‘pure racing,’ game I’ve played.”

     Overall, my verdict of F1 2011 is that there is plenty more to offer for the next edition.  It beats F1 2010 quite comfortably in terms of the game style but it still hasn’t quite made the next leap forward in gaming levels.  Nevertheless, this is definitely another hit F1 title for both the sport and Codies in general.

     F1 2011 is available now for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows. Handheld editions for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation’s new Vita handheld console will be released at a later date.

2011 Autosport International Show Review - Back to its best

AFTER last year’s disappointing and lacklustre affair, the Autosport International Show returned to its action-packed and breathtaking best.  The exhibition, held at the newly renamed LG Arena (the NEC) in Birmingham on 15 – 16 January produced plenty of thrills and spills, that would whet the appetite of anyone motor racing fan.  I went to experience the event on Saturday, and came away delighted with the whole day.

CHAMPION: Lewis Hamilton's winning 2008 car was on show

First stop was the exhibition of world championship winning cars by the McLaren Formula One team.  From the early days of Bruce McLaren, all the cars were shown to the public in stunning detail.  Amongst them were the first winning world championship car, driven by Emerson Fittipaldi in 1974, the beasts that were designed which saw Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost dominant the late 80’s, all the way through to Lewis Hamilton’s world championship winning car in 2008.  The public were allowed to get fairly close and personal to these monsters, and all credit has to go to McLaren for allowing fans to experience the intensity of what a winning Grand Prix racing car looks like.

SEXY: Lotus Renault's new F1 challenger looks stunning

McLaren may be a championship frontrunner for the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship, but it will take something special to overhaul Renault for the title of F1’s sexiest car of the year.  With official backing from Lotus, the cracking black and gold colour, synonymous with the Lotus team in the 1980’s is back for the new season.  It will be driven by Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov, and although it wasn’t the official launch, Lotus Renault showed off its new model, which looks stunning and breathtaking.  As this was a new car, access was limited – but the breathtaking pictures suggest that it will be one to watch – in many different ways.  In Kubica’s talented hands, I predict it will be a winner too.

DEMONSTRATION: The Virgin Racing pitwall was a starring spectacle

Last year’s dismal Autosport show was lifted by the appearance of the Formula One world champion, Jenson Button.  This year, motorsport stars were few and far between.  BBC F1’s anchorman Jake Humphrey and new main commentator Martin Brundle were in attendance.  Martin was quick to deny the media reports of a personality clash with Jonathan Legard, which led to Legard’s departure from the BBC team in midweek.  BTCC champion Jason Plato, 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter and sportscar aces Tom Kristensten and Allan McNish were the other picks.  Virgin Racing also allowed fans the chance to sit on their pitwall, play with some of the technical buttons and experience what the engineers go through during an everyday F1 race weekend.  I spoke to an employee from the team, who gave me a lot of useful information.  I asked him the validity of the pitwall, which he confirmed; “After the show, we will take down the wall, change the electrics and give the screens a dust and then, it is off to Valencia for the first pre-season test in three weeks time.”

SPONSORED: Fifth Gear put on a great show at the Live Action Arena

Plato went onto present the action from the Live Action Arena.  Sponsored by Channel Five, it was a show for those who are fans of Fifth Gear.  Plato was alongside the boring, useless Tiff Needell, with the glamour girl Vicky Butler-Henderson setting a series of challenges for the male stars to compete in.  In the show I went to, which I got front row seats for!  Needell got the better of Plato 2-1 in the challenges, but that sounded like a fluke, as people had been telling me that Plato had thrashed him all day.  This proved why Jason Plato stars on the British Touring Car circuit and why Tiff Needell is only a clueless TV presenter.  Sadly, he is nowhere near the class of Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.  Nevertheless, the banter between the pair was well worth the entrance fee.  Once they disappeared, the crowd were treated to stunts from Terry Grant, and three-wheel racing from the likes of ‘Walliams,’ ‘McLauren’ and ‘Red Ball!’  By far, it was the best live action arena experience I’ve ever had.

LETDOWN: The F1 Racing Grid was the main disappointment

In previous years, there has been a lot of content at the LG Arena, but a lot of half-hearted attempts from manufacturers.  This year, the only main letdown was the F1 Racing Grid.  The cars of Ferrari, Sauber and Hispania were missing, making in half incomplete and by being sealed off, it made the exhibit very difficult for fans to take photographs of.  The F1 Racing Grid has been a dismal letdown for many years now, and I don’t think it will meet the highs of cars hanging from the walls, like they did in 2007.  Maybe they should do like the World Rally Championship, and scrap this display, because it isn’t getting any better.

That aside, it was a great day and a great event.  Last year, I left feeling very short changed and disappointed.  This year, it was totally value for money and a great experience.  I will be back in 2012 to visit again, but first – here’s to a classic motorsport season in 2011! 

© HappyDude88 2011 (All pictures and text is copyrighted under the name of HappyDude88 2011)

2010 Australian Grand Prix - The Conclusions

In this piece, I will be assessing ten key features from each Grand Prix weekend from the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.  Seconds out, round two then, as the 2010 Australian Grand Prix is examined more in-depth.  After all the caution and lack of action in Bahrain, Melbourne reminded of how much we love F1, as it produced another belter of a Grand Prix.  So, this is the round-up of the second weekend as Formula 1 went Down Under.

Proof that F1 Can Still Be Entertaining At Times

Formula One’s reputation took a significant battering, with its lack of action and creativity in Bahrain.  Many, including myself called for instant changes, otherwise all the promise that 2010 had, would be washed away by a lack of racing.  However, for anyone who set the alarm clocks for 7am to tune into the Australian Grand Prix, they got nearly 100 minutes of captivating drama and proof that F1 can still be entertaining at times.  Let’s not get too carried away, as the early Safety Car and the inclement weather certainly did its bit to shake up the order.  We probably need another bone-dry race to realise where we stand on the show and how good it really is, but creditability has been well and truly restored.  So, hats off to all the competitors and the weather gods for giving us such a brilliant spectacle.

Jenson’s Gamble Pays off, with Maximum Results

Having started an encouraging 4^th, Jenson Button’s start was bad, and then he clobbered Fernando Alonso, and following the Safety Car, was relegated to 7^th by Lewis Hamilton.  Jenson was in trouble, really struggling with the balance of his car, as the intermediate tyres clearly did not suit the McLaren, or his driving style.  Consequently, the world champion made a brave and decisive gamble, by being the first to try the slick tyres.  At the time, it looked like a mad, even a decision on borderline stupid, especially when he visited the gravel at Turn three on his outlap.  However, he soon triggered everyone else to pit, with purple sector times and a gigantic leap up to 2^nd spot.  True, he earned some luck from Vettel’s DNF, but he deserved that luck.  It was his call and it paid off, with maximum results.  Button has silenced his critics and in stunning style, can he keep it up as the momentum in McLaren has totally swayed, heading for Kuala Lumpur. 

McLaren: It Is Not A One-Man Team!

For years, Lewis Hamilton has had it his way at McLaren, as Fernando Alonso found out to his expensive cost in their stormy 2007 partnership.  Heikki Kovalainen was no match for Hamilton, but Jenson Button has come into the team, been given equal status and shown that McLaren is not a one-man team.  Hamilton may have edged him easily in Bahrain, but for the second successive year in Australia, he had a weekend to forget.  A retirement quirky comment, aimed at Mark Webber backfired and then, followed the infamous incident with the Australian police on Friday night, skidding his wheels on a public road!  Saturday’s qualifying turned into a nightmare, with Lewis failing to make Q3 and although his endeavour and aggression shone through yesterday, the strategy went against him.  To such an extent, he questioned it and started losing his cool over the radio, broadcast to millions of TV viewers across the world.  Hamilton is a rattled person, Button has the measure and Lewis doesn’t like it.  Now, he needs to rise above this threat, in what could well be the biggest challenge of his dramatic F1 career so far.  Have cracks already appeared in this burdening relationship….

Red Bull Racing – A Story of Frustration and Failure

On Saturday afternoon, Red Bull Racing showed they have the quickest car in F1 and by some margin.  Adrian Newey has built a monster of a car, and everything seems to be place for the Milton Keynes based team to hit the jackpot in 2010…or will they?  Having destroyed the competition in qualifying, to get a front row, a solitary 9^th placed finish for Mark Webber highlights a day full of frustration and failure.  Webber has a very scrappy day, possibly the occasion of his home Grand Prix got to him.  He wasn’t helped by a late switch to dry tyres, which put him on the back foot, and despite some bold passing, he looked like he was an accident just waiting to happen.  True enough, with three laps to go, he misjudged his braking point, smashed into the back of Hamilton, and needed repairs.  A reprimand from stewards was a fair call; Mark will need to curb his aggression if he wants to be successful.  For Sebastian Vettel, what does he have to do to change his fortunes?  A stunning pole position and though Button kept him honest, he had him comfortably covered, until a front brake disc failure sent him spinning into the kitty litter at half distance.  He hid his frustration fairly well, but he only has 12 points, when he should have 50 from the opening outings.  Once again, dire reliability could well shoot down Red Bull’s championship challenge.

Kobayashi, Buemi & Hulkenberg Have a Lucky Escape – Safety Rules!

On the F1 paddock cards for all VIP’s and members, there is a message on them saying ‘F1 is dangerous.’  This was highlighted again yesterday, with an accident that had chilling reminders of Nick Heidfeld and Takuma Sato’s shocking 2002 Austrian Grand Prix smash.  Kamur Kobayashi, Sebastian Buemi and Nico Hulkenberg all had a real lucky escape, as the safety of modern-day cars and technologies prevented themselves from worse injuries.  Approaching turn six on the opening cricuit, Kobayashi’s front wing failed, and this was the 3^rd time this incident struck him this weekend, and with no control, the Japanese driver hurled across the grass, launched off a kerb and t-boned into Buemi and Hulkenberg.  Kobayashi’s chassis was ruined, his Sauber almost completely squashed between the Toro Rosso and the Williams.  Formula 1 had a lucky escape, and questions must be asked at Sauber to why they have three front wing failures on the same weekend!

Michael Schumacher – Still Struggling With the New Formula

Initially, Michael Schumacher looked in far better shape at Albert Park, more than matching Nico Rosberg, after being soundly beaten by Rosberg in Bahrain.  However, he was outqualified again and despite a positive start, became a victim of the Button/Alonso incident at Turn One, meaning he required a new front wing.  After that, we barely saw Schumacher, as he struggled to get the better of Virgin’s Lucas di Grassi, and then spent most of the rest of the race bottled up behind the Toro Rosso of Jaime Alguesuari.  His race pace wasn’t great, nowhere near Rosberg and only a couple of late moves on Alguesuari and Pedro de la Rosa earned him a solitary championship point.  Nevertheless, he still enjoyed the fight, but it is clear that the seven-time world champion is still struggling with the new formula, and he probably needs a strong result in either Malaysia or China, otherwise some may get onto his back for regular poor performances. 

Virgin Racing – How to Design A Fuel Tank, The Shortcut Route!

Alarming news came out of the paddock on Friday night, when Virgin Racing admitted they didn’t have a chassis that held a big enough fuel tank to get to the end of races.  Technical director Nick Wirth indicated the blame came on the constant FIA regulation changes, when development had already begun, but why have Lotus and Hispania got it right then?  A new chassis is being designed, ready for Barcelona in May, following permission from the other teams, but shortcuts have been made, lessons needed on how to design a big enough fuel tanks required.  In the end, neither Timo Glock, nor Lucas di Grassi made the chequered flag, but it will be interesting to see if they get into a tricky situation with a finish in the next couple of races.  This is an embarrassing own goal from the new team, the FIA should give them a slapping for this.

Robert Kubica – Proof of His World-Class Talent

Robert Kubica had to put up with a stinker of a car in 2009, and I felt really sorry with him, considering that BMW Sauber abandoned his 2008 championship ambitions to concentrate on building such a pathetic and haplessly slow car.  At times, he didn’t seem too interested last year, but the move to Renault has done him wonders.  The Pole has rekindled his 2008 form and at Albert Park, lifted the spirits of the Renault team by producing a stunning drive to 2^nd spot.  It was his first finish in Melbourne, at the fourth attempt, deserved payback for last year’s cruel late shunt with Vettel, which cost him a possible victory.  Renault has said they have been very impressed with Kubica’s commitment to the cause, and with his world-class talent at the wheel, Robert has the ability to put the cat amongst the pigeons on many occasions this season.

Overtaking Ideas – We Don’t Need Any, There’s An Obvious Solution!

There have been numerous calls in recent weeks for how F1 can improve the show.  A reintroduction of refuelling and KERS look unlikely, the most popular suggestion is a switch to a mandatory two-stop rule in races.  Williams’s technical director Sam Michael has suggested the driver having a rear wing adjustable flap, in effort to cut down on the aerodynamic effect.  However, there is an obvious solution to this argument, even though it is so not practical.  Every track to have random sprinklers to be set off during the Grand Prix which would even turn the European Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit into a worthwhile sporting occasion, rather than a Tesco car park event!

Vitantonio Liuzzi & Rubens Barrichello – Going About Their Efforts with Minimum Fuss

Lastly, congratulations to Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi and Rubens Barrichello from Williams.  They have been barely mentioned so far in 2010, but both are putting in consistent and strong efforts with minimum fuss.  Liuzzi, under pressure to deliver on a career that hasn’t been very successful, is giving Adrian Sutil more headaches than he would have liked, and by staying out of trouble, unlike his crash-hobbled team-mate, is picking up the points for Force India.  As for Barrichello, the Williams are underperforming badly at the moment, but he is getting no sleepless nights from Hulkenberg and his Saturday qualifying effort was class.  An unspectacular race drive followed, but the Brazilian still bought his car home in 8^th spot, for more points, showing the guile and experience the veteran brings to the Grove outfit.  If both keep their performances up, they may get more of a deserved mention very soon. 

Formula 1 2010 Season Preview Part 1

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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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.  

F1 2010 - Are The New Teams Ready?

In seven days time, the roaring sound of V8 engines will exit the garages; the adrenaline buzz for millions of fans will begin again as the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship kicks into life in the Middle East.

The desert area of Bahrain will stage the first race of 19, equalling the 2005 season as the longest in the World Championship’s history.  The winter break has seen as many stories as a traditional Grand Prix season would, with Toyota pulling out of the sport, Renault electing to stay in F1 under new ownership and the sensational return of Michael Schumacher to Grand Prix racing.  However, quite a fair bit of attention in Sakhir, will be on the three new teams and whether they will be up to speed in time for the green light.

Last summer, F1 suffered bitter fallouts, which nearly led to a disastrous breakaway by the major manufacturers.  Former FIA president Max Mosley and the head of FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) Luca di Montzemolo clashed verbally on several occasions over budget caps, as the sport took desperate attempts to reduce costs in a global recession.  Eventually, peace was made, with Mosley departing the scene, but it was too late for BMW & Toyota, both electing to walkaway, due to the economic crisis.  Consequently, we have three new teams on the grid, boosting the number of cars up to 24.

Unfortunately, as widely anticipated, one team has failed to make it.  USF1, led by Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor, both very experienced, failed to stump up the materialised costs for their team to run.  This was largely down to a lack of sponsorship and staff.  Though, they claim they will be ready for 2011, the team’s base in Charlotte, USA is up for sale and its only driver, Jose Maria Lopez has been released from his contract.  The team looks like on the verge of collapse.  The FIA then rejected Serbian team Stefan GP’s entry, because it was too late.  Stefan GP had flown equipment out to Bahrain, bought Toyota’s cars which had been designed for 2010 before their pull-out and signed ex-Williams reject Kazuki Nakajima to drive.  It is disappointing that this entry has been rejected, but understandably so, with Bahrain just a week away and hopefully, they will be on the grid sooner rather than later.

This leaves Lotus, Virgin F1 and Hispania F1 to make their births into the sport next weekend.  Virgin F1 looks the quicker, from the winter testing, but have been plagued by reliability problems.  In promising Brazilian Lucas di Grassi and former Toyota pilot, Timo Glock, the team has got the strongest potential to surprise some of the established pack this season.  Especially Glock, who for many, is probably the most under-rated driver on the grid.  The team is strongly backed by Richard Branson, who after minimal support with last year’s Brawn GP car makes the big step into backing Formula 1 success.

Lotus will return to the Formula One circle in Bahrain, after an exile of sixteen years.  Past glories of Colin Chapman and champions in the form of Clark, Hill, Andretti and Fittipaldi may have been a long time ago, but everyone is urging the team to do a respectable and capable job.  In former Tyrrell, Jordan and Toyota chief designer Mike Gascoigne, they’ve got plenty of experience in backroom staff and a strong driver-line up consisting of Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen, both who have failed to deliver in their careers, but can steer the team out of trouble.  They may struggle initially, but an updated package for May’s Spanish Grand Prix will probably see the first sign of true competitiveness.

The final team making their bow is Hispania F1.  Taking over the initial Campos entry, the team are bringing in valuable money, through Indian Karun Chandok, the second driver only in India’s history to enter Formula One and Bruno Senna, nephew of the late great Brazilian, Ayrton.  Senna has been successful in most of the junior formulae and could be one of the surprise packages of the season.  However, considering the team’s perilous situation over the winter, plus no winter testing, they are more likely to be the whipping boys of 2010.

The record for new teams entering F1 is not great.  Simtek, Pacific, Forti, and Super Aguri all went bust within four years of existence, even Jaguar failed in their five year stint in Grand Prix racing.  The new teams are definitely ready for the challenge, but I’m predicting tough times ahead on the long road to F1 glory.