2006 is best defined as a year of transition for most of the whos who of Formula One. Think about it: many of them are changing their surroundings and teams over the winter and will arrive on the grid in March next year wearing different overalls. In this column, I preview who’s moving from where to where in F1 and what can be expected of teams in 2007.
THE DRIVERS
1. FERNANDO ALONSO (Spain)
Fernando Alonso drove his Renault to a first-ever driver’s world championship in 2005. Everyone in the paddock believed that Renault and Alonso would become like Ferrari and Schumi- inseparable from each other. But in the winter of 2005, Alonso surprised everyone in the paddock by declaring a year early that he had signed for McLaren-Mercedes in 2007. Therefore, Alonso shifts from yellow-blue overalls to the whitish grey of McLaren for 2007. Will Fernando fly in the Silver Arrow cars is a question to which only time has the answer.............
- GIANCARLO FISICHELLA (Italy)
Alonso’s team-mate for the last one and a half years will stay at Renault for 2007 primarily because Renault did not want an all-new driver line up for next year. He will most definitely be pitted against his new teammate, who will either be Raikkonen or Kolvaleinen. Expect this Italian to be locked in a season long battle to prove to Renault that he is a driver for the long term and not just a stop-gap arrangement.
- KIMI RAIKKONEN (Finland)
Where exactlyis this guy going to be in 2007? Which car will he be drivingh when the five lights go out to signal the start of the Grand Prix at the first round of the season? A real speculation & gossip affair Raikkonen’s plans are turning out to be. While he has been linked to a move to Ferrari for five years now, Renault are intrerested in his services and McLaren are eager to keep him. Wherever he goes, expect him to be driving a very, very fast car.
- JUAN PABLO MONTOYA (Colombia)
It is strange how time affects us all. Just 18 months ago, he was a hot driver who was expected to challenge for a win in every Grand Prix. Now, media speculation has it that Montoya will struggle to get a top seat next year owing to poor performances, especially when compared to that of teammate Raikkonen. Most probably, expect him to be driving a Newey designed Red Bull or a BMW engined Sauber in 2007.
- MICHAEL SCHUMACHER (Germany)
Probably the biggest name in the industry, Schumacher’s supremacy within the Ferrari team has scaled new heights after he has repeatedly thrashed the young turk Felippe Massa in 2006. If Schumacher decides to stay in F1 next year (retiremenmt is an option), he will stay at Ferarri 90%. The team revolves around him, so why should he leave it?
- Rubens Barrichello (Brazil)
Ex-Ferrari driver that he is, it should be expected that he will get a top drive for the rest of his career. But a poor start to the season in a struggling Honda car means that Rubens’ stock is falling- and falling fast. Expect him to remain at Honda for 2007 , though. But Barrichello has got a rude wake-up call and his competitiveness has been questioned.
- RALF SCHUMACHER (Germany)
Toyota might just have made a big mistake when they signed him in 2004 for two years at an astronomical $50 million. He has been largely undemonstrative and the half-paid Trulli has beaten him on track more often than is acceptable. Where does Schumacher Jr. go from here? No other team is showing a lot of interest in his services and Ralf really needs to button down and put in some excellent performances to persuade Toyota to hire him.
- JARNO TRULLI (Italy)
Toyota have been impressed with this driver and the way he has performed in their japanese car has been more than satisfactory. Excellent qualifying skills and a cool head should mean that current employers Toyota will re-hire him for 2007.
- MARK WEBBER (Australlia)
Earlier linked with a Renault deal for 2007, Webber will most probably stay at Williams for 2007. But Mark Webber isn’t considered a top driver anymore in the upper echelons of F1, a drastic step backwards for the Australlian, who was hot property 2 years ago. But then again, Williams aren’t considered a top team anymore either.........
- NICK HEIDFELD (Germany)
Quick Nick has lived under the gigantic shadow of the Scumi brothers, who are Germans as well, for the most part of his F1 career. A jump to BMW in 2006 from Willaims was, in hindsight, a good move. He showed enjoy the fruit of his troubles in 2007 as he continues to drive for BMW into 2007........ and probably beyond that as well.
- JENSON BUTTON (England)
Oh, dear. Poor old Jenson seems to have lost it completely. A lot of pre-season PR talk initiated by Button himself indicated that he was the driver to watch out for in 2006. But the Honda he is currently driving seems to be hopelessly off the pace and uncompetitive. The only solace? He has beaten Rubens thus far and this fact should go a long way in Honda keeping him for 2007.
- TAKUMA SATO (Japan)
Claimed to be Japan’s best ever F1 driver, Sato was beaten into oblivion by Button in 2005 and is currently driving the slowest car on the racetrack, the Super Aguri. The small-budget team is built around Sato and he should relish the oppurtunity to be team leader, even though there are no points to fight for. Super Aguri it is for Sato in 2007.
- DAVID COULTHARD (Scotland)
If his current employers Red Bull sack him at the end of the year, he will most probably retire at the end of the year. If he stays at Red Bull, however, there are fun times and points to be had. Adrian Newey’s design should propel the car to more competitiveness and more points. Let’s see what happens to DC in 2007.......