All set to vroom-vroom

Expect more twists and turns as Formula One gets ready to herald a new era in motorsport.

The last two seasons in Formula One have seen the bitter rivalry between Ferrari and Mclaren rearing its head. If in 2007 it was Kimi Raikkonen who sneaked in to win the driver’s championship for Ferrari at the last race, then Lewis Hamilton went a few steps ahead and snatched the title from right under Felipe Massa’s nose at the last corner of the season. Apart from seeing these two motorsport giants go head to head this season, there are a lot of other things to look forward to in the 2009 season.

A host of new rules have been introduced — like slick tyres being used, or engine power being reduced from 19,000 rpm to 18,000 rpm — to make the sport rely more on driver quality than mere mechanical efficiency. Other major rules which would come into place from March 29 are the new aerodynamic regulations which should encourage more wheel-to-wheel stuff.

So, if most of the regulations look to have given more power to driving excellence, how do the drivers stack up, and how will the teams cope with the new regulations?

Of course, after becoming the youngest-ever champion, Lewis Hamilton justifies the tag of being the favourite to win the title. He came close to scuppering his hopes of becoming world champion, but then Hamilton showed why he is considered one of the hottest properties in the world of sport by performing under intense situations.

He already has nine wins and 13 pole positions to his name, and he would be looking to add to his kitty. Going by his pre-season testing and form, it would take a lot from the competition to budge him from his throne.

Ferrari, on the other hand, will be celebrating their 60th anniversary in the sport and nothing would be sweeter than winning the championship. They came close last season, very close, and know that there isn’t much separating the two rivals. In Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, they have two world-class drivers, both equally capable of winning the title. Raikkonen, often considered the better driver of the two, would be hoping for a better slice of luck. And Massa, if he performs just like he did last season, could easily end up being the world champion.

Among the others, former champion Fernando Alonso showed glimpses of his ability at the fag end of last season. With the Renault team, he will be out there to prove that the last two seasons were a blip. The Renault team have been working hard to give him a competitive car. But it’s tough to look past Ferrari or Mclaren for the championships.

People at BMW Sauber, however, may have different ideas. They were a revelation last season under Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld, and finished third. Both drivers surprised many when they finished one-two at the Canadian Grand Prix. They managed five podium finishes by the end of the season, and Kubica had an outside chance of winning the drivers’ championships right until the penultimate race.

This season will be a huge test for them in terms of bettering last season’s performance. Kubica is being touted as the dark horse and although its difficult to look beyond Hamilton, Raikkonen or Massa, you never know, because Formula One has a history of throwing up surprises.

With Honda pulling out due to financial constraints, the team has been rechristened Brawn GP, with Ferrari’s former technical director Ross Brawn at the helm of its affairs. They endured a disappointing season last year, and drivers Mark Webber and Reubens Barrichello will be looking to set the record straight. Some experts argued that they needed to inject fresh blood when it comes to drivers. However, Brawn GP have paid more importance to experience when it comes to drivers.

Vijay Mallya’s Force India have made an impressive start with some great results in pre-testing and unveiled a faster car this year. And Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella, too, will be looking to put the disappointments of the previous campaign aside. A podium finish looks far from certain, but getting some points on board first will be a good start for Mallya’s team.

There will be only one fresh face this season, with Swiss driver Sebastian Buemi making his debut with Toro Rosso. The only other change being Sebastian Vettel replacing David Coulthard in the Red Bull team.

It will be an intense battle for the constructors’ as well as driver championships. And it will also be interesting to see how the teams cope with the new regulations that have been introduced. Get ready for one hell of a ride, starting on March 29.