[Racer Duck]

From: The Official Formula 1 Website

Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari are the world champions, after a gripping, if controversial, 2007 season when the action on the track between the Scuderia and McLaren reached fever pitch. But what are their chances of retaining the titles? Having come so close in his rookie season, can Lewis Hamilton win redemption for McLaren by going one better in 2008?

There is broad agreement that, barring lack of reliability, these two teams will have a lock on winning, but which of their drivers will come to the fore? Will Felipe Massa be able to raise his game and challenge Raikkonen? Will Heikki Kovalainen, who has been very quick in testing, be able to do to Hamilton what Hamilton did to Fernando Alonso last year? Both teams say they do not have number-one drivers, and that each has total equality, so hold on to your hats.

Then there is the fight to be third. Last year that was pretty much the preserve of BMW Sauber, but the signs are that they will have fearsome opposition. Williams have looked very strong in testing. Renault, despite gloomy predictions from Alonso, will be in there sooner or later, as may be Red Bull and perhaps even Toro Rosso and Toyota. It is going to be another of those seasons where the lesser lights will be praying for the stars to suffer unreliability, and where any star whose car breaks will be cursing his misfortune. Watch out for intense, no-holds-barred racing all down the field, even in the lower midfield where Honda will be doing all they can to stay ahead of Force India and Super Aguri.