2008: Formula One's make or break year?

LONDON, England (CNN) -- 2007 was clearly one of the most exciting years in recent Formula 1 history. But will renewed public enthusiasm for the sport continue through 2008?

Lewis Hamilton's debut season saw him achieve the best performance ever seen from a rookie driver. Although he led the championship for the last months of the season, he should feel no shame in coming second. But who will partner him at McLaren in 2008, now that Alonso has -- to the surprise of noone -- left the team before his contract expires?

Heikki Kovalainen and Nico Rosberg have both been tipped to partner the 22-year-old Briton. Kovalainen, currently at Renault, has proven himself to be an extremely capable driver, and scored 30 world championship points) in a car that has not proved competitive (though he scored second place in the rain-sodden Japanese Grand Prix). Rosberg, currently at Williams, has also had an impressive season, recording his best ever finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix where he came in fourth place.

Hamilton-mania -- which reached its height in the summer when he appeared at two events in his home country, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and Goodwood Festival of Speed -- may be under threat by the young driver's decision to leave Britain for Switzerland. Seen as a people's champion in his home country, his decision to leave to avoid being pestered for autographs, will strike many as ungracious.

The fall-out from McLaren's involvement in the spying scandal, in which it was fined $100 million for making use of confidential Ferrari technical data, will continue to be felt in 2008. Later this year McLaren will learn whether it is eligible to compete in the constructors' championship next season (the FIA will impose further sanctions on the team if it is thought that its 2008 car contains technology that could have been influenced by the leaked Ferrari data).

Ferrari believes the FIA was too lenient with McLaren, by allowing Hamilton and Alonso to keep their drivers' championship points. Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo said: "I had already thought about taking part [in 2008] with an 8000cc engine. They'd disqualify the team, but the driver would win anyway."

And it is not just McLaren that has been affected by "Spygate". The proposed Prodrive F1 team, which was granted licence to enter F1 competition for 2008, looks unlikely to join the grid. Prodrive was expected to run customer versions of McLaren's 2008 car. But a combination of McLaren's woes, and a change of heart about customer cars from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and FIA chief Max Mosley, has scuppered Prodrive's plans.

Ecclestone and Mosley both believe that F1 should be a showcase of automotive technology. So that the presence of customer teams who do not develop their own technology, and are contractually obliged to finish behind the teams whose technology they are licensing, is both at odds with the quest for technological excellence and the spirit of competition.

This U-turn could jeopardize the futures of Toro Rosso and Super Aguri who both race with the technology of parent teams (Red Bull and Honda, respectively).

With Alonso released from his contract to McLaren, the two-time world champion is now free to find a new team. But, having failed to secure a third world championship, will Alonso be able to find a team that will give him a fighting chance next year?

Judging by this year's performance, there are only two teams with enough of an edge to deliver a world championship to one of their drivers: McLaren and Ferrari. But Ferrari is out of the question, as both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa are under contract.

Current speculation is that Alonso may go back to Renault (for whom he won his world championships) or move on to Red Bull. Renault's fall from grace in 2007 was spectacular. In 2006 it won the constuctors' championship with 206 points. In 2007 it came third (fourth, had McLaren not been disqualified) with a paltry 51 points.

Renault is confident of putting in a better performance for 2008. It had realized the faults of the R27, their 2007 car, early in the season. But rather than improving the car throughout the season in an effort to claw back points, the team thought it would be better use of their engineers' time to concentrate on the R28 and have a determined contender for 2008.

Renault does not have contracted drivers for 2008. Of its current pair, Kovalainen is tipped for McLaren, and Giancarlo Fisichella may well have seen his last season in F1. There is space for Alonso, but would Renault want him back? Rumors suggest that Alonso will take a temporary home at Red Bull for 2008, before launching a serious bid for his third world championship at Ferrari in 2009. A current Red Bull driver, likely Mark Webber, will be transferred to Toro Rosso.

Driver movements at other teams are likely to include a transfer to Super Aguri for Rubens Barrichello. The 35-year old Brazilian is contracted to Honda for 2008 but his flagging talent would suggest a kick downstairs to the B-team. If he completes the 2008 season he will become the most experienced driver in F1 history -- in terms of races started. His team-mate Jenson Button is to stay at Honda.

Toyota has lost Ralf Schumacher who, despite years of underwhelming drives, is likely to secure a drive with a back-of-grid team (possibly the new Force India) thanks to his industry contacts.

Two exciting additions to the F1 season are the new Grands Prix at Valencia and Singapore. The European Grand Prix at Valencia is to be held in August on a street circuit around the Spanish city, passing the other-worldly architecture of Santiago Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences.

The Singapore Grand Prix will also be on a street circuit, around the city-state's Marine Bay. To maximize television exposure, the race is to be held at night, under floodlights -- thus assuring that European viewers will be able to watch the race live. Some F1 drivers have expressed concern about the safety of racing at night -- particularly the dangers of under- or over-illumination.

This year's scandal, and its nail-biting finale, will likely keep F1 converts watching the opening races of 2008. But will they keep watching if popular heroes become petulant recluses or if there are many more grands prix that seem as stage-managed as Brazil's season-closer?

by James Snodgrass for CNN

 

Its sad that F1 has become a soap opera racing series...

 

What the hell? The Brazil GP was one of the most nerve racking races I've ever seen... anyway, I doubt that the city races will do any good. I suppose starting and finishin order will be equal there...

 

Maybe he meant the Ferrari 1-2 swap dance?

 

2007 will not affect F1 in any negative way in 2008, or beyond. In fact, it will likely bring more attention to the sport.

 

+1

F1 was never more popular after Senna's death. Like it or not, but ANY publicity is good publicity. At the same time F1's popularity started to sink the more titles MS collected. Predictability is poisonous.

 

The problem is that there are many out there who know or feel that the last 2 races were staged. Most saw it but not many are willing to admit it. I use to love F1 and could not wait for each and every race but as much as I wish it wasnt so there were far too many coincidenses after the Sept 15th hearing for me to come back with all of my heart. I say this as a Ferrari fan through and through and knowing that Kimi should have won anyway but the way they did it is just playing us for fools and I dont like being played like that. F1 is now mostly business and they are now on my list of "they will do anything to make $$$$$"

 

In what way should those races have been 'staged'? You mean the 1-2 swap between Kimi and Felipe? Come on, that was the obvious thing to do. And every other conspiracy theory about McLaren/Hamilton screwing up are just that: conspiracy theories.

 

The drama is good for the sport I think. In recent years, races have turned into sort of parades sometimes as it has gotten so hard to pass etc. I really like F1 and always have but many people have felt that it has become boring. I think the drama this year made for extra headlines and helped to make it more interesting. This last season was a lot of fun I thought...

 

I agree, 2008 will be a great year for F1. I can't wait. I think it will be a dominant year for Ferrari. I'm really interested to see how Mclaren car's reacts now that there will be no TC. We all saw, or rather heard how aggressive the TC setting was on the MP4-22. Also, hoping to see a Ferrari 1-2 in Canada because I'm going there next year.

 

Yes, and didn't bernie want hamilton to win the championship? So one would htink that, the brit wants the other brit to win, hence hamilton miraculously makes a come back to win in brazil right?

I'm tired of this soap opera crap (that people seem to think it is), and stepnygate and any other crap that happened this year! It is done and over with lets move on shall we?

 

I'm going to Canada next year too Luis... See you there!

 

Nothing was staged that changed the outcome of the Driver's championship. Absolutely nothing.

Massa could not of won the WDC even if he won the last two races, so if anyone thinks that Hamilton or Alonso intentionally threw away the championship they are wrong.

 

I knew I would agree with Ron one of these days....

 

For me Formula One has lost much of it's appeal - to spend huge amounts of money to attend a processional (for a 1.5 hours +/-) is just not my idea of fun. It saddens me that that 2008 will be the first year in many, many years that we won't attend at least one F1 race during the season. I believe the series is on it's way to becoming just another spec race. The so referred "pinnacle of motorsports" is being shadowed by technology and advancement and most of all REAL RACING in other series of racing.

I will continue to support Ferrari, the Ferrari Factory Drivers (who WON a championship this year) and the best Ferrari team going -> Risi.

Guess I've been spoiled - when I can go to Monza (6 hour race) and Spa (24 hour race) and go anywhere on the track and sit where ever I want (except the executive suites above the garages), be in the paddock with the drivers/cars, be in the pits, be on the grid for 60€ for the weekend and cheer for Ferrari - it's a no-brainer that I am not attending an F1 race!

Does any of this matter in the overall scheme of things for F1. . . hell no, the 580€ we spent for our seats at Spa in September that we won't be spending again in '08 doesn't mean a thing to the powers-to-be.

Carol

 

How much was that influenced by MS' departure?

Once those "REAL RACING" cars lap any track faster than a F1 car, I will start to take them seriously. ALMS can go green and Audi can Diesel around Le Mans with a silent whisper, they don't hold a candle to any F1 car. Even a lowly Torro Rosso would drive circles around them.

Those are certainly interesting series to follow, nothing wrong with that. But don't try to compare them to F1. For their own sake.

 

I don't think Carol was comparing the cars as much as the experience of watching/attending races in each of the series. Hearing/feeling an F1 car go by cannot be matched but the overall experience of the race can be improved significantly.

Mark

 

I don't know, there is a clear hierarchy of performance in F1, I don't see it pregressing towards a spec series in any fashion.

After Senna's death, I was certain that my interest in F1 would wane but every couple of years a new and exciting driver hits the scene. I enjoyed JV's first 2 years (before he turned into an arse-hat), then JPM came along and I supported him throughout his career and now we have Hamilton, who I see as the next great F1 driver after Schumacher and Senna.

F1 has its problems to be sure but I find it impossible to divorce myself from the sport.

 

I can see carols point, I have felt short changed at some F1 races..

But I have to agree 100% with the above.

Ps I'am sad I won't see Carol At an F1 race now..

 

Agreed, there is a lot wrong with F1 and series like ALMS, GT racing etc are exciting. But that won't change the fact that F1 is the fastest series around a road course, which to me meets the definition of "pinnacle of motorsports".

F1's technology might no longer be the most progressive technology, but quite frankly I don't care for the Grand Prius. Sadly Mad Max wants to steer it towards that direction. I hope he resigns before that happens.

 

Keep telling yourself that........

 

Around the time of second spy hearing and when the FIA didn't punish Lewis for Japan, there were a lot of Ferrari fans and Macca haters going on about how Hamilton's championship run was staged for him to win. If Hamilton had won the championship we would be hearing the same conspiracy arguments, but on the other side.

Anyways, with the TC ban, the reconfiguration of the aero rules to allow the cars to follow closer, and Max's probable exit in 2009, I think F1 is gonna get better.

 

+1 Ted, I felt the same exact way as you, except I was let down by JV as well as JPM for his boneheaded moves. I really liked FA in 05 but this year the guy was a real whiner, and the fact that he was getting Ferrari information sank him in my book.

 

LH will not win the WDC in 2008 and Bernie will then meddle even more for 2009 because his British audience $'s will be turning off ... after another mediocre season in 2009 the British audience has returned to pre-2007 numbers.

I just cannot see LH winning if he stays with McLaren, and next years McLaren is NOT going to be allowed to dominate without the FIA getting involved and slowing or simply killing the team, plus Kimi (remember Hakenin needed to be shown the light) has finally made it to the top plus Alonso will be free to do close to what he pleases in another competitive team, plus who is going to develop the McLaren (De la Rosa has proven useless over the years, and no newbie kid is going to help LH in this art). Thus LH's future, no matter how talented he really is, is looking like a Button's to me
Pete

 

This is more or less what I was thinking as well.With all the scrutiny that Mclaren will go through next year,I think they might struggle a bit.For me Button has been a huge dissapointment.I really liked the guy and at a time he was a great driver.I would have liked to have see him and MS driving for Ferrari.I really wonder how Massa is going to go next year.He might struggle with seniorority fo Kimi and will have to drive that little bit extra in order to come out from the Kimi's shadow.