The PF1 crew has done our seasonal crystal ball gazing to bring you all the predictions (some expected, some not so) for the 2008 F1 season.
Pete Gill, Frank Hopkinson, Michelle Foster, Richard Ferraris and Skybet's F1 guru Dave Pilgrim give you the lowdown on the season before it even happens.
01. Who will win the 2008 Drivers' Championship title?
PG: Be silly to say anyone else but Kimi Raikkonen.
FH: Kimi Raikkonen. Raikkonen got off to a slow start last year and still won it. Now, without the shadow of Michael Schumacher looming over his shoulder quite so much he'll be able to take a greater leadership role in the team. If he can get a significant early lead over Felipe Massa then it might just be that Ferrari start to favour him (in terms of strategy) earlier in the season than 2007. Luca di Montezemolo has already said that he expects a boring season. Perhaps that's what he means. Last year Jean Todt let Massa compete right till the end, which was a break from the practice they established in 1996 with the arrival of Michael. And now Jean's out on his ear.
MF: I'm going for a Kimi Raikkonen repeat performance, although hopefully this season he won't leave it for the very last minute.
RF: Kimi Raikkonen.
DP: Kimi Raikkonen is Skybet's 5/4 favourite - The flying Finn almost left it too late to get his title bid on track last season, and will know any repeat of his early season inconsistencies could prove disastrous this time around. Early form suggest the new Ferrari will be the car to beat, and somehow I can't see Massa getting the better of Kimi.
02. Which team will win the Constructors' battle?
PG: McLaren. I like to be different.
FH: Ferrari, provided they can fix their oil leak.
MF: Ferrari. McLaren, I think, could still be reeling from the spy scandal, the money it cost them, the FIA searches, etc. So I think it already belongs to Ferrari.
RF: Ferrari.
DP: Ferrari - testing times suggest Ferrari will have the edge over McLaren at the majority of tracks, and I won't be arguing with the general consensus on this one. Ferrari are as short as 4/7 to end the season top of the pile.
03. Who will be the top rookie in 2008?
PG: The new lad at Williams - wild but fast.
FH: It depends what you mean by top, because there will be better drivers in slower cars, but in points terms, Nakajima.
MF: Nelson Piquet Jr on points. Kazuki Nakajima could actually be the most impressive of the rookies but still be beaten by Piquet Jr on points.
RF: Shahida Jacobs (PF1's newest recruit), perhaps Nelsinho.
DP: It's a tough question, but I'm going to push the boat out and suggest that Nakajima could be quickest of the new boys. Williams may be ready to take a step forward this season, although the midfield battle will be very close this season.
04. Will all 11 teams compete in the season finale in Brazil?
FH: Yes. Providing it's been a decent enough season to watch on TV. If it's another strollaway for Ferrari then that will put a lot of pressure on Super Aguri.
MF: I don't think all 11 teams compete even now... some just tour around at the back of the field. But anyway, yes I think all 11 teams will line-up on the grid for the Brazilian GP.
RF: All 11 will race, but only two teams will compete for the win.
DP: I certainly hope so, but it's still not 100% certain that we shall see all eleven in Australia, so I won't be making a bold prediction on this one just yet.
05. Hamilton or Kovalainen?
PG: Lewis. Comfortably.
FH: Hamilton. Not a difficult question.
MF: I'd love to say Kovalainen but I believe McLaren will favour Lewis Hamilton (even though Ron keeps insisting he treats his drivers equally) and therefore Hamilton will finish on top.
RF: Lewis Hamilton.
DP: Hamilton - after matching Alonso point for point in 2007, we know he has all the talent required to win the world title in the future. Kovalainen improved in leaps and bounds during the last campaign, but Lewis knows the team inside out and that has to give him the edge. At Skybet we offer 4/9 that Lewis outscores Heikki, and 13/8 about the Finn.
06. Who will be the first driver to be dropped?
PG: Hopefully Rubens Barrichello. More likely Anthony Davidson on grounds of nationality.
FH: Coulthard. He won't be dropped, but without a deal for 2009 he'll say his farewells early. Barrichello might be tempted, too, but as Brazil is his home race he has an incentive to stay till the end.
MF: If anyone is dropped it will be Rubens Barrichello or Giancarlo Fisichella - but I don't think it's going to happen.
RF: Rubens Barrichello, surely?
DP: Sadly I would have to say Anthony Davidson, as money may become more important than talent for his seat if enough factory backing cannot be found.
07. Will Ron Dennis still be McLaren boss at the end of the season?
PG: He's perceived as a dull man but F1 would be a duller place without him. If McLaren compete, he'll stay.
FH: Yes, but more in the sense that Frank Williams is the boss of Williams, but doesn't go to all the races.
MF: Yes. Ron has a stake in that team, they can't just fire him.
RF: No, I have faith in the Times' prediction.
DP: Yes. Ron may become less involved, but I think he still has unsettled scores, and will be determined to put 2007 behind him and the team.
08. Will Button finish on the podium?
PG: Ha ha ha. The question-compiler has a wicked sense of humour.
FH: Only if he loses his way walking out of parc ferme.
MF: Depends on whether there's a three-car only race - and even though I don't think he'll make it.
RF: Only in terms of the drivers' girlfriends.
DP: Michael Fish is probably the best placed man to answer this question. Button looks highly unlikely to threaten at the sharper end in dry races, so he will surely be hoping for the heavens to open a few times this season so he can really demonstrate his unique talents in the wet.
09. The biggest disappointment of the season will be...
PG: Honda. Then again, at least they will entertainingly bad. Toyota will just be tediously mediocre.
FH: Lack of a grand finale to the season. It will be cut and dried with something like two races to go. And Honda will have another 'mare.
MF: Not seeing Hamilton and Alonso having a punch-up in the pits! I'd buy a ring-side ticket for that one.
RF: It's tempting to say Alonso or that banning TC won't improve racing, but the night-race gimmick is likely to be a let-down.
DP: Giancarlo Fisichella. Outside of a competitive drive could leave Fisi looking rather ordinary - and I strongly suspect Sutil will outshine his more experienced team-mate.
10. Red Bull Racing or Toro Rosso?
PG: Red Bull.
FH: Red Bull. They have Newey and Willis - and god knows how much faster they'd be if they could have the Ferrari engines.
MF: Red Bull. Even though I love the two Sebs, Red Bull have a better technical crew and won't let their B-team get the jump on them.
RF: Always the underdogs - besides the fact that their lineup has serious potential.
DP: Red Bull - the bigger budgets and top class key players should ensure there are no embarrassments in this department.
Part Two due out Tuesday, 11 March
