2010 Start in Bahrain

The 2010 Formula 1 Season is about to start, and this year it is in Bahrain. A great course with a decent amount of difficulty, speed, and limited passing areas. With a much greater fuel load and pit stops expected to take place in less than 3 seconds, or at least that is the goal set by Renault this year. Entering this grand prix however, who is in the best position to win.

The early front runners are: Ferrari, McClaren, and Red Bull, all of which posting incredible results throughout all of testing. Then at the opposite spectrum, with HRT (formerly Campos Meta) entering the ring last minute and not completing a single practice lap are the destined to finish in last, a spot last year held by both Torro Rosso for most of the season. Then consider the difficulty Virgin had during testing, will their car stay together during the race or will it fall apart like in Jerez and Barcelona. While Lotus managed to complete a successful testing session at both Jerez and Barcelona, they look to be the front-runners for the new entries. In case you are wondering about US F1, they did not make the deadline and will not be competing in this years Formula 1 world championship.

So it is now time for me to make my 2010 season predictions for the top 5 teams and drivers.

Teams:
1: McClaren
2: Ferrari
3: Mercedes GP
4: Red Bull
5:Renault

Drivers:
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Michael Schumacher
3. Felipe Massa
4. Jenson Button
5. Sebastion Vettel

Jerez Testing

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jerez.svg

Testing in Jerez Spain has marked now marked 8 days of total driving over 2 separate sessions. Unlike in Valencia where Ferrari dominated the whole testing period, in both sessions this time out the winners were spread far and wide between last year's world champion driver (Jenson Button) and one of last year's bottom ranking ranking drivers (Jaime Alguersuari). The track that all this has taken place on is Circuito Permanente de Jerez, a 13 turn circuit.

On the first set of testing in Jerez there has been a wide variety of winners, with one day of testing taking place in the rain. Throughout the course of the weekend the only team or driver to remain consistant in the top three was Jaime Algersuari and Torro Rosso. Here are the top times for session 1:
Day 1: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, 1:20.927, 57 Laps
Day 2: Kamui Kobayashi, BMW Sauber, 1:19.950, 103 Laps
Day 3: Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, 1:19.919, 76 Laps
Day 4: Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:19.583, 113 Laps


The second session of driving was dominated by last years runner-up in the constructors championship (Red Bull Racing). With the other two top drivers being last years one and two for the World Championship who now race for seperate teams (Rubens Barrichello, Jenson Button). Making this second and final session of testing in Jerez to appear more as a review of last year's top drivers. Here are the top times for session 2:
Day 1:Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:22.593, 104 Laps
Day 2:Rubens Barrichello, Williams, 1:27.145, 98 Laps
Day 3:Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:19.299, 115 Laps
Day 4:Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:18.871, 108 Laps

Valencia Testing

The first set of multi-team test have been completed in Valencia this week. It is the first official set of testing on the Formula 1 calender and it did provide some very interesting fore shadowing as to what may happen in the upcoming season. Granted that not all teams were present at this race, it did provide hope for one team.


Ricardo Tormo Track in Valencia. Image source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Valencia_%28Ricardo_Tormo%29_track_map.svg


That team being,Ferrari. A team that finished fourth overall last year and 100 points behind Brawn GP in the constructors championship. Also having to endure the injury of their number one drive (Felipe Masa) last year as well. But with the rehabilitation complete and a new driver and former World Champion (Fernando Alonso) added to the mix, Ferrari posted some very impressive times.

Day 1: 1:12.574 (Masa)
Day 2: 1:11.722 (Masa)
Day 3: 1:11.470 (Alonso)

Ferrari finished as the fastest overall for the whole weekend on this track, and shows that they can still get it done. Other notable teams are McLaren and Mercedes who also put up impressive numbers this weekend. In the first preview of Formula 1 testing here in Valencia

Formula 1 2010 season

The Formula 1 2010 season is only 39 days away from its first race. With the return of Canada to the calender and the addition of Korea this season will provide more chances for great exciting racing. With legendary tracks in Spa (Belgium Grand Prix), Monaco (Monaco Grand Prix), and Silverstone (British Grand Prix) remaining on the ticket, it helps us to forget that the Japanese Grand Prix is moving for the second time away from Suzuka and to the Fuji Speedway.

With McLaren signing reigning World Champion Jenson Button to pair with the 2008 World Champion (my favorite driver) Lewis Hamilton, the seem to be back as one of the teams to beat. But with Mercedes (formerly Brawn GP) latest move it could be a challenge to topple the reiging winner of the constructors Championship. Especially considering Mercedes GP have managed to secure the services of 7 time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher. Who is without a doubt the greatest F1 driver of all time.


Here is a quick look at drivers with something to prove this year.



The grid this year will be different however, with Kimi Räikkönen leaving the sport and new faces filling in vacant spots there is one thing that makes the biggest change. The addition of four new teams: US F1, Virgin Racing, Lotus, and Campos it should prove to be very eventful. With all four teams using Cosworth engines they are probably going to run near the back, but will any be able to have a break out season and possibly push past existing team Toro Rosso who continually run young and inexperienced drivers.

All in all with 5 teams already debuting their cars ( Renault, McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW Sauber) it will be interesting to see what the other teams have in store. Will there be anything as revolutionary as the double defuser from one year ago? With lots of fancy aero packages on the front wing of both the Renault and Mercedes car, it will be tough to tell whose changes will mean the most in terms of points and wins.

With the Formula 1 2010 season just over a month away from starting, it will surely be a season to remember.