2008 - Team by team

Skysports.com offers a team-by-team guide to the 2008 Formula One season.

Formula One being what it is - a high-stakes competition fuelled by vast amounts of money and feeding egos to match - it's hardly a surprise when controversy is found lurking right around the next corner. That's usually the case most seasons, and was certainly the case last year when not only was one of the most intriguing driver battles in years played out in the harsh glare of the spotlight, but the sport also found its murky underbelly being prodded after its two main protagonists, Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes, found themselves embroiled in an espionage scandal. Although the FIA have drawn a line under the latter saga, it still rumbles on - principally in the shape of an investigation by Italian authorities which could, perhaps, have a bearing on McLaren's 2008 season. Although any link between the two seems little more than conjecture, it was the case that, having been thrown out of last year's constructors' championship, the team then made vital errors - particularly in China - which cost Lewis Hamilton the drivers' championship. Propelled by a late season burst of form, Kimi Raikkonen therefore swept to the title. With Ferrari and McLaren again setting the pace pre-season - the former currently quicker over a race distance but the latter on top over a single lap - a Raikkonen v Hamilton battle is on the cards once again in 2008. Many argue that the Finn's title was overdue, and he will doubtless be looking to back it up with a repeat success to put him on a par with contemporary Fernando Alonso. And, after a rookie season in which he surprised everyone by displaying the pace and consistency of a veteran - and offered a glimpse of the ruthlessness he's going to need to win titles - Hamilton, of course, is looking to go one better. Meanwhile, heading back to Renault after a solitary season at McLaren during which he played a starring role in both of 2007's central plotlines, Alonso has already ruled out victories. Indeed, such is the current gap between Ferrari, McLaren and the rest - and such is the reliability of a modern F1 car - that most other teams have already done the same. However, one, BMW Sauber, could be in with a shout as the season progresses. In short, the best bet for most other teams is the hope that the weather might intervene, levelling the playing field and bringing driver skill to the fore. The latter will be called upon more in 2008 as this season sees the introduction of a much-heralded ban of driver aids such as traction control. Whether or not they have an appreciable effect on 'the show' remains to be seen. In the meantime, Skysports.com offers a guide as to how the teams shape up ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 16th... Ferrari (#1 Kimi Raikkonen, #2 Felipe Massa) Another year, another title double for F1's most established and charismatic team. One might argue that both were was handed to them on a plate: McLaren being thrown out of the 2007 constructors' championship following the 'spying' controversy and then making mistakes in the final two races of the season that allowed Raikkonen to pounce. But the success also helped silence the doubters who thought that, with Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne no longer lynchpins of the Maranello operation, the team might struggle to make the transition. Arriving from McLaren, Raikkonen eventually came on strong and also had the beating of a much more established a team-mate in Massa. Expect more of the same now traction control has gone and, with the team's new F2008 looking the car to beat, expect Raikkonen not to give up his world champion mantle without a real fight. BMW Sauber (#3 Nick Heidfeld, #4 Robert Kubica) 'Best of the rest' behind Ferrari and McLaren last year, BMW Sauber hope to reach the top step of the podium in 2008 - new territory for the team and both its drivers. And, in the shape of the new F1.08 car, they could well have the machinery to make it happen. With BMW Sauber adopting an aggressive approach to the car's design in an effort to realise their stated aim, initial handling problems have been worked on, with none other than Fernando Alonso recently stating his admiration for the car's pace over longer distances. Having made such progress since the start of the year, it does suggest that the potential might be there, reliability permitting, for BMW Sauber to continue to improve throughout the season. Kubica has voiced the opinion that the car is still difficult to set up and drive - further evidence that F1.08 might be something of a temperamental beast. A lot will depend on the team's ability to unlock its potential. Renault (#5 Fernando Alonso, #6 Nelson Piquet Jr.) Both parties suffered downturns in fortunes and, in Alonso's case, a reputation in their year apart, so a successful reunion will doubtless add credence to the argument that each makes the other complete. Of course, this also begs the question: Will the reunion be successful? It certainly seems the case that the two-times world champion will have the environment he needs to rebuild an ego which took more than one hit last year: team boss Flavio Briatore has, more or less, hinted Alonso's number one status over rookie team-mate Piquet. A lot then depends on the performance of Renault's R28 chassis. Alonso pronounced it better than last year's effort - although that's not saying an awful lot - but has already ruled out even podium finishes. There could be an element of sandbagging here - after all, if anyone has the commitment to drive every lap of a race like he's trying to qualify, it's Alonso. But what if he does, in his own words, "have to fight for seventh place" week in, week out? Will the vaunted reunion merely become a staging post? Williams (#7 Nico Rosberg, #8 Kazuki Nakajima) The team who appear to have made the biggest inroads pre-season: their Toyota-powered FW30 has looked strong everywhere it has appeared and now team co-founder Patrick Head has come out said he expects the team to be regularly challenging for podiums in 2008. A lot will depend on the rather inexperienced-looking driver line-up of Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, with the former opting to stay with the Grove team both this year and next after a strong 2007 season saw McLaren come knocking. Nakajima, meanwhile, has also shown plenty of pace pre-season but, having made only one grand prix start - colliding with two mechanics during his first pit stop - the Japanese youngster already has a reputation for exuberance that will need to be tempered. Red Bull (#9 David Coulthard, #10 Mark Webber) For a team whose existence is based upon using Formula One as a marketing tool, Red Bull have been approaching the 2008 season somewhat 'under the radar'. Nevertheless, that could be construed as quiet confidence as they have shown well in testing - Coulthardand Webber both showing a turn of pace and both men also hopeful that Adrian Newey's RB4 chassis is rather more reliable than last year's car. Staying in the race proved the team's problem last season with a number of possible points-paying finishes going begging. Assuming the appointment of former Honda technical director Geoff Willis - responsible for improving the team's manufacturing processes and, hence, reliability - reaps its dividend then Red Bull could find themselves consistently scoring points this year. Toyota (#11 Jarno Trulli, #12 Timo Glock) So often bracketed with Honda under the 'Japanese manufacturer that doesn't really know how to do F1' category, Toyota have enjoyed just one season of genuine promise since they took the plunge six seasons ago. That was back in 2005 when Mike Gascoyne (now of Force India) was at the technical helm. If the general consensus is to be believed, then Honda's decision to take the same 'big name' route and hire Ross Brawn will stand them in better stead in the long-run. However, in the absence of such star names on the pitwall - though with veteran engineer Frank Dernie on board as a consultant - it's been Toyota who have shown much the better form pre-season, with both Trulli and GP2 champion Glock each topping the timesheets. The Italian veteran has even been moved to suggest they can challenge for podiums this year. Whatever, Toyota's tenure in F1 has thus far been notable for its 'making up the numbers' mediocrity - not, presumably, the reason they got involved in the first place. Toro Rosso (#14 Sebastien Bourdais, #15 Sebastian Vettel) Everybody loved Minardi - the F1 team who, reputedly, only led their peers in terms of the quality of coffee they served. Doubtless a different stimulant is on ready offer now Red Bull own a 50 percent share of the team, with their backing also starting to reap its reward at the end of last season when Vettel and then driver Vitantonio Liuzzi finished fourth and sixth in the Chinese Grand Prix. Vettel - a 20-year-old who deserves to be a star as much for his clear love of his job as his obvious talent - is retained, with four-time Champ Car title winner Sebastien Bourdais making an overdue F1 bow. For those who like their internecine driver battles, Sebastien v Sebastian promises to be as intriguing as Lewis v Heikki. The team start the season with an updated version of last year's STR02, but Vettel - who topped the times in a recent test in Barcelona - has suggested that continuity might not be a bad thing. Honda (#16 Jenson Button, #17 Rubens Barrichello) Button, who managed to wring a grand total of six points out of last season's recalcitrant RA107 chassis, subsequently labelled the car "a dog". When told about that quote, team-mate Barrichello - a nine times grand prix winner who scored a grand total of zero points last season - said it couldn't be right. After all, the Brazilian "likes dogs". Things got so bad last season that perhaps humour was the only answer - nothing else seemed to work. The bad news for Honda is that their latest RA108 car has been propping up the timesheets pre-season - although a step appears to have been made after a recent private test at Jerez. The good news is that new team principal Ross Brawn had nothing to do with its inception and can only take them forward. The 2008 season has yet to get underway, but here is a team who must already be looking forward to 2009. Super Aguri (#18 Takuma Sato, #19 Anthony Davidson) Financial problems (the team's principal sponsor for last season not having paid up) leaves Super Aguri looking for new backing and possible ownership ahead of the new season. Nothing has been finalised at the time of writing, although members of the Honda-supported team are confident they will make the grid in Melbourne with their new SA08 chassis. Of course, last year's SA07 - itself a development of Honda F1's 2006 car - made quite an impact in Albert Park 12 months ago, with Sato reaching the top-10 qualifying shoot out. Given their lack of pre-season testing, it's highly unlikely such fireworks will be on display this time around; nevertheless, given their difficult winter, just being there will doubtless be seen as an achievement of sorts. Force India (#20 Adrian Sutil, #21 Giancarlo Fisichella) Three changes of ownership in as many seasons will never allow an independent team the sort of basis which allows improvement. The former Jordan/Midland/Spyker team have been struggling to even tread water for the most part of the 21st century; however, following the team's latest buyout last autumn, new owner Vijay Mallya (also owner of the Bangalore Royal Challengers franchise in cricket's all-new IPL extravaganza) is promising the sort of investment that can, perhaps, give them the chance to approach what was so fleetingly displayed back in 1999. Then as now, Mike Gascoyne is the team's technical director, with drivers Sutil and Fisichella bringing the obligatory 'youth and experience' combination favoured by all sporting outfits looking to pick themselves up and dust themselves down. McLaren Mercedes (#22 Lewis Hamilton, #23 Heikki Kovalainen) One thing's for certain: after the battle of wills that developed between upstart Hamilton and double world champion Fernando Alonso last season, McLaren can expect a more harmonious driver pairing in 2008. Kovalainen brings little ego from Renault, only an infectious personality and a willingness to make the most of such a guilt-edged opportunity. Of course, he also wants to beat his fellow 2007 rookie and become world champion, but recognises that certain milestones - such as a maiden grand prix win - have to be reached first. The Finn has, by and large, matched his team-mate for pace in pre-season testing, and of all the 2008 driver pairings, this is the one likely to bear the most scrutiny during the course of the year. It goes without saying that Hamilton proved a phenomenon last year and can only improve this. Given what he's likely to be up against, simply running his team-mate close over the course of the season will see Kovalainen's stock rise considerably. But perhaps he can do more?