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A Dose of Formula 1

This year's FIA Formula One World Championship is scheduled to begin on the 14th of March. This article offers noteworthy information about teams and drivers lining up on the grid for the 2010 racing season. There are and have been many changes in the F1 teams. But, the last-minute musical chair still continues. The rosters are in the process of being finalized and the confirmed list as of now stays as mentioned below.

MERCEDES GP (BRAWN GP)

Michael Schumacher (Germany), Nico Rosberg (Germany)

Michael Schumacher who retired in 2006 from Formula One is back again with a bang. Mercedes may not be the fastest car around in the grid as of yet but it's only for time to tell if it really is. But, the seven-time champion and winner of 91 races still has that much needed racing velocity that can put any rookie into shame. Nico Rosberg has not seen victory for four seasons. But right now, with Ross Brawn taking charge, Michael in the team and the full fledged Mercedes, Rosberg seems to be well placed.

RED BULL

Mark Webber (Australia), Sebastian Vettel (Germany)

Out of the top performers, this has been the only consistent team. Red Bull won the last three races last year. The team is as strong as Ferrari but may need a little more consistency than 2009. With Adrian Newey as the chief designer, they may grab the title. Webber has recovered after last year's leg injury and is now, as his contract is expiring, over-determined to succeed. Vettel, last year's runner-up is geared up to battle out the top-ranked German, Schumacher.

MCLAREN

Jenson Button (Britain), Lewis Hamilton (Britain)

The two title holders in the same team are sure to take the race to new heights of excitement. Both Button and Hamilton will be given equal attention and if they win, McLaren will end up being the constructors' champion for the first time since 1998. The car is strong and reliable, but still needs improvement.

FERRARI

Fernando Alonso (Spain), Felipe Massa (Brazil)

Ferrari has worked hard on the car and Alonso will be driving it. The Ferrari F10 seems to be the best car he has driven. When at Renault, Alonso beat Ferrari and Schumacher in 2005 and 2006. Will he do it again? Massa has returned after last year's head injury and wants to show he too can beat the competition.

SAUBER

Pedro de la Rosa (Spain), Kamui Kobayashi (Japan)

Two strong racers De la Rosa and Kobayashi have paired up this year. The car was made even before former owner, BMW quit. Is the car going to be as perfect as it was before the real race? Budget and resources can be the only hindrance. De la Rosa carries years of experience as McLaren's tester while Kobayashi has the bonus of innumerable admirers. Kobayashi's performance as a stand-in for Toyota at the end of last year was stunning.

WILLIAMS

Rubens Barrichello (Brazil), Nico Hulkenberg (Germany)

The former world champions are hungry for the title. Barrichello is an experienced race winner and Hulkenberg has had a few exciting months in testing. The Cosworth engine seems to be the only weak area although the last pre-season test in Barcelona went well.

RENAULT

Robert Kubica (Poland), Vitaly Petrov (Russia)

Times have changed and Renault is racing under a hovering permanent ban after last year's race-fixing commotion. Kubica is highly talented and determined to reach the top. Petrov is Russia's first F1 driver but looks like a quick learner.

FORCE INDIA

Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy), Adrian Sutil (Germany)

Force India has a Mercedes engine and a cooperation agreement with McLaren. The car has looked consistent in testing. Vijay Mallya has already invested millions, but the budget still remains tight. Will the swift and eager Liuzzi, and the buoyant Sutil be successful this season?

TORO ROSSO

Jaime Alguersuari (Spain), Sebastian Buemi (Switzerland)

The little boys Alguersuari and Buemi who are just 20 and 21 years of age have now learnt the circuits. The team is running their own Ferrari-powered car after having shared designs with Red Bull earlier. Is the team's performance likely to surprise everyone?

LOTUS F1

Heikki Kovalainen (Finland), Jarno Trulli (Italy)

Lotus F1 is back after disappearing for 16 years. The team is back with a rejuvenated version of the successful brand. But it still looks a long distance away from the title. In Barcelona, the team was 5 seconds slower than McLaren. The team's technical head Mike Gascoyne is indeed a smart and fierce competitor. The drivers too are experienced and proven winners.

VIRGIN RACING

Timo Glock (Germany), Lucas di Grassi (Brazil)

The budget is very small and the car has been solely designed on the computer rather than in wind tunnels. Pre-season testing seemed to be knotty. The hydraulic system was problematic. The car has been over 5 seconds off the pace. Despite these issues, will the team make it? Boss John Booth is experienced and has worked with winning drivers all the while. Designer Nick Wirth is confident too. Let's see if they win.

Hispania F1

Bruno Senna (Brazil), Karun Chandok (India)

Showing its face at the F1 in Bahrain means a great deal of success for Hispania. The team, now run by former Spykar and Force India boss Collin Kolles, has seen a lot of bad days. They couldn't participate in pre-season tests due to inadequate financing. Senna, nephew of late triple champion Ayrton and runner-up in the GP2 support series will be driving the car. Karun Chandhok, the 2001 Formula Asia champion may be a rookie with this team but he seems to have the potential to pull out a great finish some time soon.

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