2007 could well be the year when formula 1 makes the transition into a new era. Michael schumacher’s retirement has meant that the sport now has new heroes for benchmarking and new pretenders to the throne. Let’s look at some of them…

The Superstars

Fernando Alonso

Two consecutive world championships right under the noses of Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikonnen. One would think that should have settled the champion debate but Fernando still has as many doubters as there are supporters. If the championship in 2005 was attributed to lacklustre competition, the victory in 2006 was claimed to be the result of a singularly unlucky race for Schumacher in the Japanese grand prix. Agreed, Fernando has had the lady luck smiling on him the past two seasons but is that all there is to him? I don’t think so. In fact, I believe that the best driver won both the seasons and would rate Fernando above Kimi Raikonnen in any case. There is no way in the world that Kimi can match Alonso’s little salsa post victories. But that’s just my personal opinion. The truth of the matter is, Fernando came through with a steady hand and a calm head when the Schumachers and the Kimis were having some problem or the other. Fernando is fast - there is no doubt about that but he is not ‘Kimi fast’. Fernando is of the schumi variety. Moments of mad speed coupled with steady drives. I would call it ‘race control’. He isn’t the best at it but would figure quite closely behind Schumi in that aspect.

With Schumi gone, Fernando would become the new benchmark. The new look Fernando (did you see his close cropped head) begins a new era too. After shocking the F1 world and more importantly the mercurial Flavio with his defection announcement, Fernando has received mixed response for his decision from the paddocks. But If the testing sessions at valencia are anything to go by, Fernando has been having quite a nice time adapting to the MP4-22 apart from a little oil leak scare he had early on. Ever since Flavio decided to let his protege have an early go at a Mclaren machine ( his contract with renault was till new year), he has been setting up fairly good lap times but more importantly finding himself at home in his new silver car. One would have to wait for the new season to begin to see if Mclaren make a new beginning or just continue where they left off - raking up DNFs.

Kimi Raikonnen

Seeing Kimi in red is the single most shocking change of 2007. Given that Kimi in Mclaren was as much of a cult as schumi in red was, seeing him taking a shot at the world title in a Ferrari is so surreal. But it was coming. Kimi was going nowhere with the Mclaren. He’s had a little too many spontaneously combusting engines and unyeilding gear boxes. 2005 was the closest he came to the world title when he came a distant second to Alonso. If he had had any doubts about continuing in Mclaren, the 2006 season made the choice easy for him. A distant 5th behind the likes of Fisichella was not what Kimi was aspiring for this late in his career.

In many ways, this season in Ferrari is a test of Kimi as a driver. After years of attributing his failure to win titles to bad equipment (I would totally agree with that), he finally has an opportunity to do exactly that. Win a convincing drivers championship and show the world that all the noise surrounding him is real. If Kimi, infact, goes on to do that, it would also re-inforce the belief that F1 now is a two way fight between him and Alonso; at least for the moment. However, if Ferrari too suddenly becomes ‘unreliable’, then there would be serious doubters to Kimi as a driver. Kimi, so far, has been having a rather quiet induction to his new team. He started testing later than his chief rival but appears to have adapted well to his new Ferrari. His detractors would believe that his driving style is not suitable for Ferrari. His supporters would say that this is when Kimi shows what a great driver he is. One would have to wait and watch. Apart from all this, Kimi faces added pressure from his team mate - Felipe Massa, who put in some impressive performances last season.

Jenson Button

Within a span of few years Jenson button has transformed from a man who was aspiring to be a world champion to one who was making predictions on who the next world champion was. He is not doing a very good job; i mean, with the predictions. Midway through 2006, he said schumi would win the title and we all know what happened. So 2007 would be a good time for him to transform back into a guy who would look to win titles but again he is with Honda. It took him 113 races and some rain to claim a victory. If i had’nt seen some really sweet drives from the Briton I could have easily dismissed Jenson Button as the most overrated driver in Formula 1. But ‘Jense’ is indeed a good Formula 1 racer and with the right equipment he would consistently rake up the podiums. It’s an altogether different story whether he is champion material.

The big question now is whether Honda can deliver what button needs. Like kimi, time is running out for him too. 2007 could well decide whether he is ever gonna compete with the top contenders or just remain one of those drivers who flattered to deceive.

The up-comers

Lewis Hamilton

If you were reading a media article about F1 in the last few weeks and you didnt come across the name of Lewis hamilton, you would probably miss a huge flying saucer towering above your head with its tail lights flashing (yeah, my image of a flying saucer is slightly skewed). It all started when Kimi professed his love for Ferrari, Montoya agreed that he was no good at F1 and Alonso decided that he had had too many wins with Renault that it was time for a bigger challenge of driving a Mclaren to the finish. Mclaren had a bad math problem to solve – two drivers out and only one coming in. They panicked and so goes the story about Lewis Hamilton’s entry into the world of Formula 1. Without a single test stint on an F1 car, Mclaren dared to try out the talent they had groomed for all these years in the unforgiving world of F1.

Lewis has reason to be doubly nervous what with his team mate being the world champion that last two times. Let’s all agree that it is a huge gamble from Mclaren - expecting a driver who has never before driven an F1 car to come in and start racing straight away. Let’s not read too much into the 185 kmph crash that Lewis had on Jan 26 while testing at Valencia but the implication is that his testing time has now dwindled even further. Ron wouldn’t want a situation wherein the radio contact is broadcast live during the race and Lewis goes, ‘hey dudes,where’s this traction control button’. But Lewis re-start to the testing session at Jerez has gone beautifully where he set better lap times over his more illustrious mates in McLaren and Ferrari.

But I do hope he does well, not just for Mclaren but for F1 in general. If he really is as good as he is made out to be then F1 will only be all the more richer with better talent. At the same time nothing could ruin careers like a bad first season.

Heikki Kovalainen

The Finn comes in with very little hype but could very well be the surprise of the season. He has spent 23000 kms behind his Renault in 2006 alone as a test driver and that’s a lot of time to get used to a car. But as they say, you can drive in all the test tracks you want but nothing beats driving in a real race. Kovalainen has the advantage of starting in a team that has won the last two constructors and having a team mate who isnt gonna make you look like shit (Fisi fans excuse me!). Who knows, he will probably perform better than his team mate.

My wish list for 2007

1. A real clash for the title. A two or a three way battle between Alonso, Kimi and one of Massa, Button, or the rookies. The top two should rarely be seperated by more than 15 points.

2. Alonso proving to the world that Mclaren arent that bad. Kimi having a real shot at the title.

3. A solid season for Lewis. An ideal finish would be in the top 4.That would be a great first season.

4. Kovalnainen showing that Renault made a big mistake in retaining Fisi.

5. Button should get 2 wins. That would make a hat-trick of wins in his career. Some achievement, at least.

6. Barrichello realising that he would probably have been better off at the Ferrari, now with schumi gone and all..

7. Ferrari not favouring their lead driver and assuming that happens, Massa proving an equal match for Kimi.

8. Flavio should reach a new high and Fisi a new low when he gets slapped by the temperamental Renault boss after one really bad race performance.

9. Schumacher to make a special appearance for the German grand prix and see Kimi take a trip in his Ferrari over the gravels and into the barricades. Ouch! My dear Ferrari.

10. With the Adrian Newey magic, Red bull should become the third best team behind Mclaren and Ferrari.

11. An answer to the question: Who sucks more? Toyota or Ralf

Technorati Tags: F1,, Formula, 1,, Alonso,, Raikkonen,, Button,, Hamilton,, Kovalainen,, Ferrari,, Mclaren,, Renault,, Honda