Formula 1 Racing 2010 Season – Drivers’ Horoscope
The 2010 Formula 1 Drivers’ List has finally assumed sufficient shape to send waves of excitement amongst racing fans. Almost the entire deck has been reshuffled, and new teams have been added.
Let us do a quick expectation management exercise before the beginning of the 2010 F1 Racing season.
Jenson Button – McLaren
Give Jenson a great car and he will give it back you with a podium finish. But if there is so much as a blade of grass in his radiator, he will do what he knows best – wave his car, warm his tires at racing speed and crib about why he finished 9th.
Trending
Lewis Hamilton – McLaren
This guy could probably make it to the top 3 even if you put him in a well-tuned road car. Button has picked the wrong team in my opinion; Hamilton will lap him all season.
Michael Schumacher – Mercedes GP
The seven-time champion is back; all I can say is – Wow! But it’s inexplicable why the German has shown symptoms of pride having gone right up to his scalp. The old race horse hasn’t even sampled the new Mercedes and he is already throwing ounces of premium talk on his title chances. Whoever said humility should be tied to success.
Nico Rosberg – Mercedes GP
Yet to win an F1 race & teamed up with Schumi. Phew! Finally the dude has a Mercedes under his belt. Now is the time to convert his blasting track speed into results. Unless Brawn & Schumi cook an unfair historical recipe, Rosberg is the German to watch out for in Mercedes GP.
Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull
It’s turning into a German speed article now. Another one of the flying kids on the block, Vettel is a sureshot title contender this year. But look for his performance to deteriorate rapidly if his Red Bull exhibits track-specific development issues. He probably needs to adapt better to cars that are not absolutely perfect.
Mark Webber – Red Bull
Not a penny less, not a penny more. If Red Bull has a good car then expect Webber in the Top 5 – that much is guaranteed! Or your money back in 15 days.
Felipe Massa – Ferrari
Hurray! Massa is back. Felipe has a lot of aggression performs well under pressure. He has already won a World Championship (for 5 seconds), only to see it stolen away from him when Timo Glock slowed down and let Hamilton take the cake.
Fernando Alonso – Ferrari
If Ferrari give him a trouble-free car this season, then Alonso is the first name that comes to mind as the potential 2010 World Champion. His overtaking skills are at par with those of Hamilton. His ability to produce results with an average car is tremendous. Entrada Fernando!
Rubens Barrichello – Williams
It seems that the luck fairy has refused to smile on the Brazilian ever since Senna left this planet. Braking, punctures, gear box failures – every possible problem seems to crop up at the exact race moment when Rubenio is closing in on the title contender. He just needs some average luck to finish in the Top 3 at the end of the season. His maiden F1 title win is also overdue.
Barrichello continues to be the most loved driver in the pit lane. The fun-loving Brawn mechanics clubbed together to buy Rubens Barrichello a farewell present in Nov’09 when he announced his move to Williams. He was given an Oyster Card and a folding bike, plus a paid-for display advert in ‘Sell Your Jet’ magazine.
Nico Hulkenberg –Williams
Promotion! From Williams’ test driver to the race driver’s seat. Nico Hulkenberg (or “The Incredible Hulk”, as I will address him in my future posts), has already had his share of fame – he’s the winner of the 2009 GP2 title. Another Hamilton in the making?
Robert Kubica – Renault
The fastest Pole needs no introduction. Kubica only needs to stop using his sticky hair oil and I think he would be fine. Must avoid useless aggression on the track with his teammate.
Vitaly Petrov – Renault
From Russia with love – the first Soviet F1 driver? He is second to none but the Incredible Hulk. Petrov is the GP2 runner-up for 2009. Nice pick by Renault.
Adrian Sutil – Force India
Probably the most accident-prone German driver in open wheel racing (in 5 decades). He is superfast but his driving style can best be compared to that of a New York cabbie.
Vitantonio Liuzzi – Force India
Foolish Fissichella and Lucky Liuzzi. Don’t expect too much from him & you’ll be happy when the season ends.
Sebastien Buemi – Toro Rosso
Torro Rosso has the perfect recipe for disaster. Buemi often has trouble remembering the right track direction after a spin (he probably has the record for most spins in 2009). His only chance of being mentioned as a race winner lies in the fact that he shares a first name with Vettel.
Jaime Alguersuari – Toro Rosso
It took me 3 attempts to write his name down correctly. But that’s not the issue that affects his nervous driving. He has often shown confidence to go for the kill. Perhaps some squeeze stress balls on the steering wheel for Jaime would do the trick?
Jarno Trulli – Lotus
Ok fine! You can push Sutil with both your hands, even if you can’t push your car to win. Deport him to Italy, ask him to get that driving license renewed & then make him go sit in a corner. If it were Montoya instead of Sutil that fateful day, Juan Pablo would have shoved Jarno’s Toyota right up where it belongs. Jarno is Trulli lucky to be driving this year.
Heikki Kovalainen – Lotus
No fuss driver. Nobody ever heard him complain about any driver or car. Is this the year when he shows that he should be watched?
Bruno Senna – Campos
A year late into F1 – thanks to one of his compatriots. Senna was the sole claimant to the Brawn GP driver seat no-2 last year, minutes before Barrichello took it back. Bernie has high hopes for Bruno, if not anyone else. Campos may not be the best team to start with, but then he is a “Senna”. Fingers crossed.
Jose Maria Lopez – US F1
I have just one question – who the heck is he?
López was a test driver for Renault F1 during the 2006 season, and was also a part of their driver development program in the 2004-2006 period. His deal with the new US F1 Team to race in the 2010 Formula One season was conditional, based on whether he secured an eight million-dollar sponsorship package. Rumour has it that López claims he already has eighty percent of the funds needed to secure his place in the team.
Timo Glock – Virgin
His only noticeable achievement till date is his contribution to Hamilton’s F1 title win. If he hadn’t slowed down like a dumb pinto, Massa would have won a well-deserved title. A surefire contender for the 15th spot in each race.
Lucas di Grassi – Virgin
Another Brazilian, GP2 runner-up, but a good one. When Jenson Button tested the 2009 Honda around Circuit de Catalunya, Senna was just 0.3 seconds off and Di Grassi was 0.5 seconds off. Let’s see him better that a little on the race track.
Pedro de la Rosa – Sauber BMW
This Spaniard is really quick. He replaced Montoya when Juan Pablo broke his shoulder in 2006. Pedro finished 6th in the race and also recorded the fastest lap of the race. Prior to the BMW deal in 2010, he stayed with McLaren for 6 years as a test driver. His re-entry on the track promises fireworks in every race result.
Kamui Kobayashi – Sauber BMW
Japs have a reason to celebrate. This one is extremely talented and supersonic. In just 2 races, he over shadowed his compatriot Nakajima’s entire 2009 performance. Even if BMW is not the best car in 2010, I bet that this Jap will end up amongst the top 10 drivers by the end of the season.
