I thought i'll start the topic for new Formula 1 season which starts in Australia on the 16th March.

Drivers:


Ferrari
Kimi Räikkönen
Felipe Massa

BMW Sauber
Nick Heidfeld
Robert Kubica

Renault
Fernando Alonso
Nelsinho Piquet

Williams
Nico Rosberg
Kazuki Nakajima

Red Bull
David Coulthard
Mark Webber

Toyota
Jarno Trulli
Timo Glock

Toro Rosso
Sebastien Bourdais
Sebastian Vettel

Honda
Jenson Button
Rubens Barrichello

Super Aguri
Takuma Sato
Anthony Davidson

Force India
Adrian Sutil
Giancarlo Fisichella

McLaren
Lewis Hamilton
Heikki Kovalainen


Race Calender:


2008 FIA Formula One World Championship Race Calendar

01 2008 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne) 14 - 16 Mar

02 2008 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur) 21 - 23 Mar

03 2008 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Bahrain) 04 - 06 Apr

04 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPANA TELEFONICA 2008 (Catalunya) 25 - 27 Apr

05 2008 FORMULA 1 PETROL OFISI TURKISH GRAND PRIX (Istanbul) 09 - 11 May

06 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2008 (Monte Carlo) 22 - 25 May

07 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2008 (Montreal) 06 - 08 Jun

08 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE 2008 (Magny-Cours) 20 - 22 Jun

09 2008 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone) 04 - 06 Jul

10 FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2008 (Hockenheim) 18 - 20 Jul

11 FORMULA 1 ING MAGYAR NAGYDIJ 2008 (Budapest) 01 - 03 Aug

12 2008 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE (Valencia) 22 - 24 Aug

13 2008 FORMULA 1 ING BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps) 05 - 07 Sep

14 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO SANTANDER D'ITALIA 2008 (Monza) 12 - 14 Sep

15 2008 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore) 26 - 28 Sep

16 2008 FORMULA 1 FUJI TELEVISION JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Fuji Speedway) 10 - 12 Oct

17 2008 FORMULA 1 SINOPEC CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai) 17 - 19 Oct

18 FORMULA 1 GRANDE PREMIO DO BRASIL 2008 (Sao Paulo) 31 Oct - 02 Nov


Driver Standings

01 Lewis Hamilton 14
02 Kimi Räikkönen 11
03 Nick Heidfeld 11
04 Heikki Kovalainen 10
05 Robert Kubica 8
06 Nico Rosberg 6
07 Fernando Alonso 6
08 Jarno Trulli 5

Constructors Standings:

01 McLaren-Mercedes 24
02 BMW 19
03 Ferrari 11
04 Williams-Toyota 9
05 Renault 6
06 Toyota 5
07 Red Bull-Renault 2
08 STR-Ferrari 2

I think Räikkönen has got best chances to win the title this year. The pressures are all on Hamilton, Ferrari's car is right now much faster than McLaren's. But there are 4 potential drivers fighting of the places 2 and 3, Hamilton is quite clearly the biggest favourite to challenge Kimi. Alonso, Massa, Kovalainen and maybe Rosberg (?) are all pretty even right now, impossible to say who is the strongest of them.

If Honda can get their arses sorted out with the car then Jensen could be in for a good season. Im hoping to see a lot from Kubica as well, he impressed me a lot last year and I was hoping that Mclaren would sign him. As mentioned Hamilton will have a lot of pressure on him this year but at the same time he wont have to deal with the same games as last season.


Also no traction control this year, those who have recent history is less advanced cars (ie Kubia, Hamilton et al who have recent Kart and 3000 exp) may have a slight upper hand.

I know most of you probably think Alonso is a real twat and i wont disagree with you there but i just have a soft spot for him. I hope he does well this season again, obviously all depends if the Renault is upto scratch again. Im a Ferrari supporter so im obviously rooting for Kimi as well. Should be a good season, will be probably be the same 3 drivers fighting it out again this year.

Same here It was quality watching him fight with Hamilton last year, can't wait for the rematch.

Kimi won me £520 last season, so I gotta root for him again!

I loved that smirk on his face after Hamilton lost the championship. Classic

If the Renault is a half decent motor then he should do well, he is after all a great driver. I also think that he has handled himself very well with the British press in recent weeks. Every second question has been about Hamilton and I would have been inclined to tell them to poke it if i were him.

I actually agree, although the papers over here were slating him and all that I still like him for some reason, I don't know whether I'd prefer him to win it over Hamilton but I wouldn't be too fussed, Hamilton gets on me tits.

Alonso has that arrogance that all great drivers have, Schumi had it as well. I rate him very highly, higher than Kimi also.

I think the new Red Bull will be suprisingly fast. IMO it looks so good that you know it'll go fast. Just check the aerodynamic update.

Red Bull have Mark Webber as well who for me is a phenomenal driver. He should be driving for a better team imo.

am i the only one who doesn't think Hamilton is all that? Sure he had a great season but it's not like he had agurri as his team....whatever

Agree with Carl here , it's just that stupid english press hype that people started to think he is better even then Schumi...

Did you know that all teams will use same ECUs make by McLaren-Mercedes?
I wont be surprised if Ferrari suddenly have electronics problem in race...

It'll be a close fight with no clear favourite. The Ferrari is no more than 4tenths quicker than the MCLaren. With no traction control this time around, this is nothing. Driver error will become more significant.Also the new ruleu that you must use your gear box for 4 races before changing it could be a real killer for some.




I like Kubica and the BMWs have a better chance than the Hondas. I think it's too early for Ross Braun to make the desired impact but he brings much needed experience.Sutil is another one to look out for.




It's all about reliability for Renault now as they will never match the Ferraris and McLarens for pace. I think they'd even struggle to keep up with the BMWs. Alonso won the championship without having the quickest car so they have a chance. If they can keep the car on the track, who knows?





Watch Hamilton in GP2 mate ( especially Turkey 2006) and tell me what ya think. He's an exceptional talent and for me he wasn't even driving at his full potential last year. We are yet to see some of the devilish moves he executed in GP2.



Same ECU for everyone mate. It's standardised across the baord. A problem for Ferrari would mean a problem for McLaren.

People last season tend to say Hamilton teaching Alonso a lesson on how to properly drive a F1 car, but you have to know Hamilton has Mclaren behind his back on his whole career. So actually the Mclaren F1 car isn't hard for him to drive, cause everything is already prepared for him. And like Alonso said: "It's me who made the car 2 seconds faster, but I don't get credit for it.

Alonso is the guy who works hard and brings a normal team like renault to the top, meanwhile Hamilton... Mclaren has to chew everything and he just has to swallow.

Oh I think I like you

Hamilton is a tosser just like 90% of english sportsmen

Why spoil a thread with such silly comments. Ignorance is bliss

Alonso ftw

I dont like Hamilton as well

Preparation 1st Round of 2008: Melbourne Park

This is the year of FORCE INDIA

We didnt get on that well in the qualifying

yaa, but neithr did i expect much more, may be a lucky podium somewhere down the line in the season, may make every Indians day.

I hope Hamilton will win this season's championship

they have hired Fisichella so theres hope.

BMW have a formidable line up they are one to watch imo

Shame for Kimi's problems, but hopefully Massa will make a good resultat for Ferrari...

Same.

Hamilton with the pole, Kovalainen 3rd. Looking good for McLaren.

Watch our for Kubica. If not for that little spin, i think he would've taken pole. The BMWs are super fast. Poor Alonso, I don't think he'll be looking forward to getting lapped by the front runners -The Renault is shyte and Pique didn't even make Q2.
Look forward to a great race.

Oops Alonso didn't even make the top ten
I thought he usually brings half a second to the car.

2 MIN away from the start... common u scarlet tifosis , nd obv our very own FORCE INDIA ...

COME ON LEWIS!

And the first lap has commenced. Hamilton got away fine and maintained his lead but the safety car going to come out already. Bloody Webber already has damage to his car which is no surprise! Massa is getting a bit of work done as well at the moment as he had some damage.

Kimi from 15th to 8th above Alonso in the first few corners

Safety car out on the first lap.

Kimi moves up to 7th but then drops back to 8th. Webber has retired along with 3 others already which is a shame in his home race. Unluckiest driver in F1

you think its still a case of being unlucky? i mean for me Webber has never convinced me hes a top 5 driver, hes always stuck in the 6-9 range and rarely delivers in the Aus GP.

Kaovelin followed by Hamilton and then Rakoinen as of 4.08pm

^Hamilton followed by Kovalainen, then Kimi as of 5:11.

Kimi upto 3rd ...

Haha Massa effectively takes Couthard out

Safety car out again

Was wondering where the action was.

Massa 'kapunts' DC

Safety car

Another advert break . ITV.

Miracle if Massa has no damage. DC's car looked pretty mangled.

Haha Kimi at the back of the pack, brakes way too late going in.

WTF is Raikonnen doing. Lucky boy. Kova that's my boy

Massa out?

Ferrari look out of sorts. Where is Kubica? He clearly didn't have race pace.

Shit. Race over for the Ferrari fans in 1 lap

Really?

Lewis is really a class apart

Wrong tyres Kubica. Alonso is all over him



I'd like to see more of the devlish moves he did in GP2. May be with traction control gone, we'll see some more crazy moves.

Fuk you ITV

Heidfield catching Kovalainen

Another mistake by Kimi, my ohmy.

. Ferrari have seen a lot of grass lately. There goes Kimi

Safety car