Pre season driver expectations

      
·       Jenson Button-McLaren

Button has left the confines of the Brawn team to join McLaren and test himself against Hamilton. It will be a huge challenge for the world champion but he will be closer to Hamilton than many people think.

·         Lewis Hamilton-McLaren

The 2008 world champion endured a difficult title defence last season but has shown that he is the outright fastest driver on the grid and he will relish having Button as his teammate.

·         Michael Schumacher-Mercedes

Can Schumacher return to the form that made him the greatest Grand Prix driver of all time? He clearly still has the desire to race and he will win races this season. The title may be a bridge too far this season but the Schumacher and Ross Brawn tandem is one never to be underestimated.

·         Nico Rosberg-Mercedes

Rosberg has shown moments of brilliance in his career and last year was very impressive but he needs to win a race this season. He must learn from Schumacher how to mould a team around himself to be successful in future.

·         Sebastian Vettel-Red Bull

Vettel finished runner-up last season and has everything at his disposal to go one better this seasonand win the championship but he needs to reduce the errors which last season cost him a lot of early season points last year.

·         Mark Webber-Red Bull

Webber won twice last year and was very competitive relative to his teammate in races but he needs to get the better of Vettel in qualifying if he is to challenge for the championship and keep his drive in 2010

·         Fernando Alonso-Ferrari

The 2005 and 2006 world champion has toiled for the past two years in an uncompetitive Renault but will get the chance with Ferrari to return to the front of the field. Alonso needs to assert himself as Ferrari’s team leader if he is to win this title

·         Felipe Massa-Ferrari

The Brazilian has fully recovered from his injuries sustained in last year’s accident in Hungary and will be looking to surprise people with his performance relative to Alonso

·         Rubens Barrichello-Williams

Barrichello is a very consistent driver who is as adept at setting up his car as anyone in the field. This ability will be a great advantage to him and Williams will look to turn that into consistent points this season.

·         Nico Hülkenberg-Willaims

Hülkenberg comes into Formula 1 as the most touted rookie since Lewis Hamilton and he will have a good yardstick in Barrichello against which to judge his performance. The target has to be to score points and to be a strong qualifier; anything above this depends on the car.

·         Robert Kubica-Renault

Kubica has left BMW after four years service after tiring of their performance and development approach. He is a clear team leader and Renault will need him to develop the car efficiently. If he can qualify in the top ten and get occasionally get on the podium the team will have made considerable progress. 

·         Vitaly Petrov-Renault

PePetrov will be the first Russian F1 driver. He was beaten by Hülkenberg to the GP2 title last year and has a lot of experience after three years in the Formula 1 feeder series. This hiring has as much to do with nationality as talent. If he scores points occasionally the team will be satisfied.

·         Adrian Sutil-Force India

The German has to eliminate errors that have blighted his career so far in Formula if he is to keep his drive with the team

·         Vitantonio Liuzzi-Force India

Liuzzi is a man under pressure; Force India have Paul di Resta contracted as a test driver and if Liuzzi does not meet expectations the team will replace him with the Briton.

·         Sebastian Buemi-Toro Rosso

The Swiss driver did well as a rookie in 2009 and will look to build on last season’s performances when he scored 6 points. Getting into Qualifying 2 consistently will be his target

·         Jamie Alguersuari-Toro Rosso

The youngest man ever to start a Grand Prix showed potential last season but needs to match his teammate this season if he is to have a career in F1

·         Jarno Trulli-Lotus Racing

The former Toyota driver faces a challenge this year. Even such an exceptional qualifier will do well to get this car to challenge the tail end of the established teams.

·         Heikki Kovalainen-Lotus Racing

Kovalainen has to rebuild his career after being soundly beaten by Hamilton in their two years as teammates at McLaren. It is tough to see how he can achieve that with the uncompetitive Lotus

·         Karun Chandhok-Hispania

If Chandhok can match the pace of his teammate this season he will have achieved quite a lot. He has been inconsistent in the past and was comfortably beaten by Senna when they were teammates in GP2

·         Bruno Senna-Hispania

Senna is the nephew of triple world champion Ayrton. The Brazilian has the ability and was successful in GP2, but will need wet weather to fully showcase his ability

·         Pedro de la Rosa-Sauber

De la Rosa has been impressive in testing with good pace during race simulations. He will score points and will look to get on the podium should any of the leaders struggle. 

·         Kamui Kobayashi-Sauber

Kobayashi was unimpressive in junior categories but showed terrific potential deputising for Timo Glock in the last two races of 2008 with Toyota. If he matches the pace of his teammate he will secure his future in Formula 1

·         Timo Glock-Virgin

The Toyota refugee faces a struggle this season but he will relish being a team leader. He has the speed and the mentality to lead this team efficiently.

·         Lucas di Grassi-Virgin

The Brazilian is an exceptionally intelligent driver and after waiting patiently for his opportunity in Formula 1 will be determined to display his ability.