2008 Pre-Season Predictions

[DinanM3_S2]

First race is about two months away and I'm starting to get that F1 itch again. Last season I think I picked Jenson Button to win it all... hopefully I'll do better this season.

Champion- Kimi Raikkonen: Ferrari will just be too good this season to lose it. Their only competition last season was McLaren and they will be way short on cash after Stepneygate, under strict scrutiny from the FIA, and are without Fernando Alonso, who I think might be the best driver for setting up and developing a car. I believe McLaren will fall back on the grid.

Runner Up- Fernando Alonso: I think Renault is going to make a major comeback. They spent most of last season developing a 2008 car and now have their old champion back. They have also had plenty of time adjusting to the new Bridgestones. I think 2008 will be the opposite of 2005. Kimi will start the season strong, Alonso will come on strong about half way though the season, but it won't be enough.

WCC- Ferrari: Ferrari has two experienced drivers in a very good car. McLaren will be impared as mentioned before, Piquet will be good, but not good enought to beat Massa or Hamilton, the BMW drivers won't take enough risks to win it.

WDC-
1) Kimi Raikkonen- Ferrari
2) Fernando Alonso- Renault
3) Lewis Hamilton- McLaren
4) Felipe Massa- Ferrari
5) Nick Heidfeld- BMW-Sauber
6) Heikki Kovalainen- McLaren
7) Jenson Button- Honda
8) Robert Kubica- BMW-Sauber
9) Nelson Piquet Jr.- Renault
10) Rubens Barrichello- Honda
11) Nico Rosberg- Williams
12) Timo Glock- Toyota
13) Kaz Nakajima- Williams
14) Mark Webber- RBR
15) Jarno Trulli- Toyota
16) Sebastian Vettel- STR
17) David Coulthard- RBR
18) Sebastian Bourdais- STR
19) Anthony Davidson- SA
20) Giancarlo Fisichella- FA
21) Adrian Sutil- FA
22) Takuma Sato- SA


WCC-
1) Ferrari
2) McLaren
3) Renault
4) BMW-Sauber
5) Honda
6) Williams
7) Toyota
8) Red Bull
9) Toro Rosso
10) Super Aguri
11) Force India

Lack of traction control will cause more crashes and more people spinning off, the drivers that have been better with less traction (Alonso, Raikkonen, Button) will benefit. More DNFs will mean more chances for drivers that might not be quite as fast to win. I predict wins from Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, and possibly one from BMW-Sauber. The great rivalry will not be Hamilton vs. Alonso, but Kimi vs. Alonso. The two have always been very civil towards each other and have shown each other a great deal of respect and I think this will continue. It will be like Hakkinen vs. Schumacher.

Suprise of the season other then Renault's return to power will be a Honda comeback and a podium for Button at a rain race.

[NSX-R-SSJ20K]

I thought button would be good. Honda has been rubbish and won't be good for a while. Give them a little time.

It'll probably be Ferrari of some sort but i still hold out for a win for a Brit even if he does live in Switzerland and is a complete sell out and drives a diesel.