Tomorrow sees the first F1 race of 2010, the 60th year of the f1 championship, and much is being made of the various contenders. The fact that there are four former world champions is a big deal, the fact that Schumacher has unretired to form a German superteam, and Button has gone to McLaren to form a British superteam are both big deals, and the three new teams probably round of the biggest news stories of the season. So if everyone else is talking about these things I might as well too!
I want Schumacher to do well. Sure, I'll admit I kinda like the guy, he may have slipped up but I think it just shows his hunger. Without a doubt his career set new benchmarks so credit where it's due, the man is a legend. And that's the main reason I want him to do well. Forget about whether or not you like him - there are few sights as tragic as a legend who doesn't know when the end has come. We need Schumacher to do well because otherwise he becomes a joke, and that basically makes around ten years of F1 a joke. Like a heavyweight boxer who is bumbling around the ring instead of drawing his pension, Schumacher must suceed to save this becoming a very, very sad joke.
Button all the way! Seriously though, I've been a fan of his for years and Lewis seemed pretty arrogant very quickly so I never really warmed to him. Lewis seems to be maturing and annoying me less, but I'd always pick Button by preference. I think the heavier cars will actually suit Button more during the course of a race, but I think Lewis will out qualify him in most races. But actually driving ability is only part of it. Button has the number 1 on his car and the Union jack on his helmet, he will become the image for McLaren this year and I'm not sure how Lewis will cope. He loved upstaging Alonso, but I certainly Lewis of last year would struggle with Button. If Lewis doesn't have a meltdown at some point it will be a sign he really has grown up.
Yes I know I didn't call them a big story because really they aren't, but I'll still be honest and say I want Massa to do well. Again there's a personal preference for Massa over Alonso, I can admire the latter as a driver but he doesn't seem like someone I'd want to go on a caravanning holiday with. I may be wrong, but Massa seems more like my kind of person. Full credit to Massa to be chucking himself out there after his accident last year also, I've not seen him back down once which I have to admire.
I want Lotus to do well. I know it's not really the old team but they've plucked my nostalgic heartstrongs well enough to get my support. Plus Tony Fernandes is a West Ham supporter so a bit of loyalty there too.
A double newbie is Bruno Senna, his first F1 drive and with a new team. I have a lot of respect for Bruno, Uncle Ayrton is a tough act to follow and he seems to be doing a good job at it. He's got a lot of pressure but he seems to be handling things well. Much as I would have loved to see a Senna in a Lotus once again I think that would have just made things twice as tricky. He seems to have done a fairly sensible move, going to a new team so expectations are low while he finds his feet. From back there he can only impress, had he joined a mid-level team he could have sunk. Bruno is doing his best to protect the Senna name. Two thumbs up!