Sky Sports F1's Mike Wise gives us his predictions for the 2012 Drivers' Championship.
Sky Sports F1's Mike Wise was trackside for every day of pre-season testing in Jerez and Barcelona so who better to give us his predictions for the finishing order of the 2012 Drivers' Championship.
Mike's a modest guy and had to be press-ganged into putting his money where his mouth is - but we know you're not ones to shy away from making predictions so we're inviting you to send in your top ten for the title. We'd also like to know the reasoning for your selections
Please use the form below: we'll publish the best and reveal the results in the
Sky Sportzine on Friday.
And just to prove Mike didn't pluck a series of names out of the air, see below the thought process behind his choices.
1: Sebastian Vettel
If a sportsman is going to succeed then the attribute he needs above all else is confidence. Having won back-to-back titles, the second of which was claimed in such dominant fashion, Vettel is nothing if not sure of his ability; you could tell as much observing his demeanour in pre-season testing. I think 2012 will be a much closer season, but Red Bull's car will be good enough - and their star driver certainly will be.
2: Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton was beaten by a team-mate for the first time in 2011, so expect a response this year. Also, I think McLaren's car will be able to mount a stronger challenge to Red Bull's in 2012 but having two 'number one' drivers will work to Vettel's advantage.
3: Jenson Button
I think the 2009 champion will be able to ruffle Hamilton's feathers again this year and use his racecraft to full advantage. However, it's clear that Hamilton is the faster driver and assuming he can perform well in qualifying, I don't think Lewis will make as many mistakes in races.
4: Fernando Alonso
I anticipate a close season along the lines of 2010, with Ferrari coming on strong after a slow start. However, having been forced to make up ground yet again, I can only see them as outsiders for title honours. Like Vettel, Alonso is their 'number one' and I think he will win races. However, the strength of Red Bull and McLaren means they will find it difficult to get a look in.
5: Mark Webber
If Webber is able to challenge Vettel after the 2011 season he had, then it would certainly make for a good story. The Australian is nothing if not resilient and he will be better able to deal with Vettel's emergence than most. Yet the young German now seems destined to become one of the sport's greats and with Red Bull Racing increasingly geared towards his needs, it's difficult to see how Webber might respond.
6: Felipe Massa
Like Webber has with Vettel, the Brazilian has struggled in the shadow of Fernando Alonso and could well find himself moved on at the end of the season. Also like Webber, you sense that his one real chance of world title success (2008 in the case of Massa) has been and gone.
7: Nico Rosberg
Mercedes gave no indication during pre-season testing that they might challenge F1's 'big three' this coming season, and must therefore be seen once again as the 'best of the rest'. Rosberg has topped Michael Schumacher in both the last two seasons and I see no reason why this will change in 2012.
8: Michael Schumacher
The seven-times World Champion has edged closer to his young team-mate in 2010 and 2011. The work ethic remains and the competitive juices flow as readily as ever but, unlike at Benetton and Ferrari, the team does not revolve around him. Rosberg has outqualified his team-mate consistently; I suspect both parties will be looking for a dignified separation come the end of the year.
9: Kimi Raikkonen
The word is that the former World Champion, who is returning to F1 this year after two years spent rallying, is having the same galvanising effect on the Lotus team as Robert Kubica did two years ago. Hopefully, then, we will see similar rousing cameos from Raikkonen and perhaps even the odd podium finish.
10: Paul di Resta
The low-key Scot enjoyed a fine rookie season at Force India and there is no reason why he shouldn't keep up the good work in 2012. His reputation would receive another boost if he was able to get the better of his similarly highly-rated team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. With the backing of Mercedes-Benz, Di Resta might then move to their factory team, perhaps in place of Schumacher.
Now it's your turn. We're inviting you to send in your top ten for the title. We'd also like to know the reasoning for your selections. Please use the form below: we'll publish the best.
