There is a lot of excitement from the fans and a buzz in the paddock now that F1 testing has started, and that it feels like F1 has really kicked off for 2010. However, who will be in contention for the championship this season?
It is nigh-on impossible to make a prediction. But I am stupid enough to try to make one, and in this post, I will be doing just that.
There is McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes GP who could all be in the mix on paper. Sauber could join the teams on that list, based on their impressive testing times, although the skeptics would suggest that they are running low fuel loads to make them look quick, and therefore attract sponsors to slap their signage on a distinctly logo-free livery.
The McLaren MP4-25 is undoubtedly the most radical and aggressive car so far, with the shark-fin attached to the rear wing and the incredibly complicated diffuser. McLaren should undoubtedly be back up with the front-runners in 2010.
Don't make the mistake of writing off Jenson Button just yet! (C) McLaren
While McLaren new boy and reigning world champ Jenson Button is underrated by a lot of people, who believe that it was the car who won him the championship in 2009, but he has shown flashes of brilliance on occasions. The drive to his championship win at Interlagos was stunning, but the defining moment of Jenson’s 2009 was his incredible drive in Monaco, where he seemed to be inches from the barriers, and this precision driving won him the Grand Prix.
This is in stark contrast to Button’s 2010 teammate, Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton likes to throw the car around the track, sliding into corners. However don’t let this fool you, after a difficult 2009 he will be back hungrier than ever. His McLaren was very poor to begin last season, and it wasn’t much improved at the end of the year, yet he still managed to wrestle it to some incredible results, winning in Hungary and Singapore. Hamilton will be somewhere near the front if the MP4-25 is only an average car, but if it’s good, he could well dominate.
Like McLaren, Ferrari can't make the same mistakes twice, can they? (C) Ferrari spa
Like McLaren, Ferrari really ought not to make the same mistakes twice, and if the consistent testing times are anything to go by, 2010 will be a good year for the Scuderia.
Felipe Massa was 5th in the championship and going well during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, before his horrific accident. He has proved he has the pace, coming within seconds of winning the world championship in 2008 but we will have to wait and see if he is back, as he claims he is, to the driver he was before the accident. After his short break from F1, and the birth of the real ‘Felipe baby‘ – his son Felipinho, it could be the season for the Brazilian to shine.
Fernando Alonso has had two awful seasons at Renault, with the Spaniard not being able to show his true speed. However Alonso has certainly got a good deal in moving to Ferrari, and the driver who many believe to be the out-and-out fastest in F1 seems to have the right tools after setting the fastest time overall at Valencia testing to win his third world championship.
It is a case of 'if' rather than 'when' for Seb Vettel, but has his time come this early in his career? (C) Red Bull/Getty Images
The Red Bull RB6 has not yet been launched – we will have to wait ’till Wednesday to see it, but given that it is a Newey creation, it should certainly be as radical and as impressive as the RB5.
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is undoubtedly a future world champion. Last season Vettel pushed Button right ’till the end, and I believe that had the RB5 had the double diffuser and the Mercedes engine, he would be our reigning world championship. It is a case of ‘if’ rather than ‘when’ for Baby Schumi and a good car (which it almost definitely will be) means that Vettel will be a strong candidate for the title once more.
Moving on from Baby Schumi to real Schumi, who is another driver in contention for 2010. He has proved in testing that he can go quickly, but the murmurs have already started about his neck not being able to withstand another season in F1. However if the health issues don’t materialize then the break from F1 could spark Schumi’s enthusiasm for racing in the top level of motorsport, and help him on the way to an eighth world title.
Felipe Massa - My prediction for the 2010 World Championship (C) Ferrari spa
So, they are the drivers on my shortlist for title contenders, but now it is time to really stick my neck out on the line and predict my 2010 champ. It is such a hard thing to try and do, but my prediction is Felipe Massa. I think that the short break he has had, and the birth of his son will galvanise Massa, who is a driver who has shown many times he has the raw pace. Providing his eye causes him no trouble, I think that the 2010 season will be a good one for the Brazilian.
Jack Sargeant is the editor-in-chief and designer of An F1 Blog. Follow him on 
I also think Massa will win the championship,very quick in testing although we dont know the fuel loads and before his accident he was regularly beating kimi and will be very hungry to win a championship
If Hamilton gets a performing car i’m sure he can beat the rest. His biggest threat? Has to be Alonso..
Hamilton to win, followed by the Ferraris, who will take the constructors.
I think it’s a bit early to predict the championship. We haven’t seen how quick the Red Bull is.
My wallet say Mark Webber
Itb isn’t a secret that I’m a huge Felipe fan so feel free to question my comment and debate with me
In 09 it was easy to overlook Massa as he was a bit lost in the crowd, spending the majority of his time in midfield positions. British eyes were always on Button and Hamilton, Seb was getting a lot of glory too. Massa though did give some cracking performances, my personal favourite was China 09; he qualified a poor 13th but in the race he fought his way up to be in with a good chance at a podium until he had to retire.
He’s an easy driver to dismiss as it’s still a mystery to many why he got the Ferrari drive back in 2006. However, it isn’t about how he got it, it’s about what he made of it. (Kimi got promoted to F1 with a limited CV, Hamilton jumped straight into a Mclaren and I didn’t think either of those cases were justified).
2007 Massa didn’t really deliver but he’s changed so much since then. He’s beat Kimi twice and pushed Lewis all the way in 08-before anyway mentions Spa it gets balanced out by the fact Massa lost points in Hungary and Singapore it’s tough but these things happen.
He can overtake (Hungary 08, Canada double overtake at hairpin 08, China 09, Britiain 07, Aus 07). His problem is consistency; sometimes his head doesn’t seem there so he either makes mistake or is unusually off the pace, examples being at Britain 08 and China 08.
However, 09 was a year he had to absolutely deliver as Ferrari were desperate for points. Granted he only took part in half the season but the half he did take part in was him in brilliant form.
He will make mistakes in 2010 and in my mind this means the consistent drivers are the ones he should fear such as Alonso and Schumi. Hamilton may be good but Massa’s proved just as quick and the Brit made daft mistakes last year. Monza wasn’t too bad as he knew he had a race winning car but Monaco was a real shot and he messed up. Seb V will probably struggle as he makes too many mistakes too and he made find himself overwhelmed fighting the big guys if they are at the front that is.
My head says this year should be Fernando’s but as a Felipe fan I feel unusually confident for the Brazilian if he returns to full form. I don’t think Ferrari will have the fastest car that said. Obviously it’s early with regards to the cars to say who will really challenge but this is a fun bit of speculation.
Schumacher will win, followed by Alonso & Massa (not sure which way rond though)
I think it’ll be Hamilton. The fastest driver on the grid in my opinion, in presumabely a very fast car.
If the top cars McLaren,Ferrari,Mercedes, & Red Bull are good then my top3 are Alonso,Hamilton & Vettel.
But I pray both Renault & Sauber have good pace.
Again nice article Jack.
I think Timo Glock gonna win the 2019 f1 championship. This year, I think that the world champion will be Alonso.