Early on Friday morning, probably before any of you have read this, the F1 2010 season officially kicks off in Bahrain. It promises to be a cracker of a year, with four big teams looking neck-and-neck – Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes. Testing seemed to suggest McLaren and Ferrari may have a slight edge, but it really looks like anything could happen this weekend. It will be fascinating.
World Champion Jenson Button lines up alongside Lewis Hamilton, who had the crown before him. Button feels he has a point to prove. Hamilton will be eyeing up Alonso, in the Ferrari, who himself will feel like he has a score to settle after a fractious year in 2007, and two lacklustre years since. Furthermore, he partners Massa, who will feel he has a point to prove following his accident in Hungary last year, and there is no reason why he can’t upset the pundits yet again, after being written off time and time before. As if that wasn’t enough, some guy called Michael Schumacher (ever heard of him?) leads the Mercedes challenge, partnering Nico Rosberg, who, althuogh never setting F1 on fire, is undoubtedly talented. Whether he can hold it together next to the surprise on a 7-times world champion next to him is up in the air.
It promises to be absolutely fascinating. As is always the case, the first race is bound to provide surprises, but only time will tell exactly what they may be. New rules are in place this year: low fuel qualifying, narrower front tyres, no race refuelling. How will drivers cope? Will Michael Schumcher be on the pace over a race distance? Can Webber consistently match and beat Vettel? Will Hamilton blow away Button? Will Massa fade into the shadow of Alonso? Here is my race prediction (cue very long editorial pause – choosing between first and second is incredibly tight):
- Fernando Alonso;
- Lewis Hamilton;
- Jenson Button.
I’ll be honest – it’s an incredibly tough choice. There seems to be nothing between McLaren and Ferrari, but I will shade it in Ferrari’s favour. After the last three seasons, I think Alonso will do anything win the opener in Bahrain. Not that everyone else won’t, but Alonso knows he needs to set a marker at Ferrari and he will loathe the sight of a McLaren in front of him. Alonso and Hamilton won’t be afraid of banging wheels, but I think Alonso, like Prost, has enough to pull a fast one over a rival like Hamilton. Past that, Massa doesn’t have a great record starting the season, and may struggle for racecraft at the first race. He’ll be fast, but will, I think, struggle for a podium at the first race. The same goes for Schumacher. Rosberg will, I think, be in the shade of the other 7 drivers.
Which leaves Red Bull. Where exactly are they? I can’t help but feel we’ve not quite seen everything they have to offer. It will be interesting to see what happens there. There are, of course, 16 others cars too, but please don’t expect me to tell you where they will be! I’ll wait until after free practice for that!