[50%] 
The fairest way to make the annual predictions about who will be competetive and who won't that year is before the car launches and pre-season testing begins! So here we go: who do you think will be competetive in 2009?
I've added a poll but please reply and add your constructors tip and who you think will falter!
Here is my prediction: I think Renault will be back in form after a relatively successful winter testing, and a great end to 2008. My tip for the championship is Fernando Alonso.
This is the man that remains the most successful driver on the grid, and he will be desperate for some success and, with it, revenge on McLaren. And after an incredible season last season, arguably one of his best ever, he is the man to beat, only for his car to have been too uncompetetive for him.
Having said that, no disrespect to Renault, they did a great job last year, and their 2009-spec tests have been very promising.
However, don't expect the likes of BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, even Toro Rosso to be out of the picture, I reckon they will all be up there winning races.
We have also seen Red Bull very competetive, so I would be surprised if they weren't right up there scoring podiums all year too.
Of course Hamilton, Massa, Raikkonen and Kubica will all be hungry for some success for different reasons: Hamilton will be on top of the world and will want to defend his championship, Massa will want to go one further after coming so close in 2008, Raikkonen will want to quickly turn the page on the blotch in his copybook and return to form, and Kubica, after being hailed by Autosport as the best driver in the world, will want to prove that his Canadian GP win wasn't just a fluke.
Each of them will, at the same time, have their struggles, however: Unless Kovalainen improves, Hamilton will lack the support he needs on-track, as well as having to cope with the pressure of being the youngest ever champion. Massa and Raikkonen may end up sharing a problem: Ferrari traditionally do not cope well to new rule changes, and these are the biggest ever. And as for Robert Kubica - he has the biggest pressure on his shoulders of any driver, including Vettel.
So, if you thought that 2008 was open, 2009 will be even more unpredictable, and I would be surprised if we didn't see more than the seven winners we had last year.
I've added a poll but please reply and add your constructors tip and who you think will falter!
Here is my prediction: I think Renault will be back in form after a relatively successful winter testing, and a great end to 2008. My tip for the championship is Fernando Alonso.
This is the man that remains the most successful driver on the grid, and he will be desperate for some success and, with it, revenge on McLaren. And after an incredible season last season, arguably one of his best ever, he is the man to beat, only for his car to have been too uncompetetive for him.
Having said that, no disrespect to Renault, they did a great job last year, and their 2009-spec tests have been very promising.
However, don't expect the likes of BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, even Toro Rosso to be out of the picture, I reckon they will all be up there winning races.
We have also seen Red Bull very competetive, so I would be surprised if they weren't right up there scoring podiums all year too.
Of course Hamilton, Massa, Raikkonen and Kubica will all be hungry for some success for different reasons: Hamilton will be on top of the world and will want to defend his championship, Massa will want to go one further after coming so close in 2008, Raikkonen will want to quickly turn the page on the blotch in his copybook and return to form, and Kubica, after being hailed by Autosport as the best driver in the world, will want to prove that his Canadian GP win wasn't just a fluke.
Each of them will, at the same time, have their struggles, however: Unless Kovalainen improves, Hamilton will lack the support he needs on-track, as well as having to cope with the pressure of being the youngest ever champion. Massa and Raikkonen may end up sharing a problem: Ferrari traditionally do not cope well to new rule changes, and these are the biggest ever. And as for Robert Kubica - he has the biggest pressure on his shoulders of any driver, including Vettel.
So, if you thought that 2008 was open, 2009 will be even more unpredictable, and I would be surprised if we didn't see more than the seven winners we had last year.
