So here are the new lineups. As usual it was an extensive scrambling of the field.
Formula 1? - The Official F1? Website

So what are your picks for the 2010 Driver and Constructor Championship?

I'll go early and call Mercedes GP as the constructor champion, and either Schumacher or Vettel as the driver champion.

I am really waiting to see how things shake out with the no refueling rule. It should make for some interesting end-of-the-race team dynamics. Maybe things like drafting of the team secondary driver by the team lead driver on the straights to conserve fuel at the expense of the second driver's finish. Not to mention fuel related race strategies like guessing if your competitor's lap time will allow him to finish the race ahead of you or not without running out of fuel. Blown engines from running too lean may be a factor too.

 

With F1, it really depends on the first race. It seems like every year now a different constructor shows up with a fast car, and everyone else is struggling to match it's performance.

I would like to see Red Bull with a constructors championship. I hope Ferrari doesn't a finish a race(Alonso and Massa in the same pit...disaster waiting to happen right thur). I hope Schumi does well though too.

Sucks to see Kimi go, he was my favourite driver.

USGP and Lotus are also on my underdog card.

Chances are though, Schumacher will be drivers champion.

 

Man, I hope Schumacher doesn't win. I respect his talent, but I can't stand him. Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve....if you enter the last race with a chance to take the championship away from Schumi, you better look out!

 

Damn right. Im glad to see schumi back though, and behind a Mercedez?? O_O

 

I think US F1 is going to do well...

Seriously though, I'm kinda glad Schumi is in a Mercedes, Braun is all Brit, etc. A little of a throwback, you know?

I wish it were going to be broadcast in HD... sigh. Maybe this'll be the year the announcers pronounce Bahrain correctly?

More random thoughts to follow.

 

Alonso.

Ferrari.

 

Man you guys are a little behind on the news. USF1 has officially asked to delay their entrance till the 2011 season. I doubt they'll ever make it to the grid, their big money backer (youtube guy) has left them for the Campos team.

Personally I don't think Schumacher will be challenging for the WDC, Brawn admitted the Mercedes is a little off the pace. From practice it looks like the top four or five teams are very close but McLaren seem to have the best overall pace. Maybe I'm biased but I think Jenson has a good chance with his smooth driving style to better preserve the car when they are driving with the huge fuel loads.

It's so hard to call this year but I think Lewis, Vettel, Jenson, and Fernando will be fighting for the title. And I wouldn't be surprised if Schumacher was nipping at their heels.

 

Massa and Alonso should get along fine. They are both easy-going guys...

Raikkonen in WRC that should be interesting. I need to tivo it this year.

I am giving the Driver's championship to Schumacher because he is back with Ross Brawn and clearly that combination is full of win going way back. In general though these comebacks do not tend to work out like they might. Brawn just needs to find the 2010 equivalent of his 2009 diffuser trick. He needs to get together with Hyper and figure out a next-gen coolant reroute setup.

I reserve the right to change my mind after the first race.

Still no HD broadcast? That sucks.

I had not heard that USF1 was not going to be ready. No surprise there though they have a long way to go. Even Brawn GP as a 'new' team last year had a lot more to leverage.
EDIT:
FORMULA-ONE - F1: Ecclestone - USF1 Dead, Stefan Future Unsure - SPEEDtv.com
Oh SNAP! Damn...

I am still getting my head wrapped around the whole no-fuel-stop thing. It is really just too bizarre. Plus the pit stop ballet is going to be a little less impressive. The F1 fuel rigs, albeit dangerous, were an awesome piece of racecar engineering.

 

Alonso can suck my caulk.

 

I hope Senna has atleast half of the talent his uncle had

 

When are they gonna do the change in the engine rules? next season?

 

No surprise about usf1, I watched a few of the videos on their site and their facilities looked pathetic compared to some of the stuff I've seen from other teams. I hole Windsor isn't back on the grid, he always annoyed me. I'm curious to hear what the other announcers will say about it.

I'm not making any predictions, mclaren does look strong, but the teams are all overhead place since they're testing different levels of fuel. I don't think I've seen anything less than 3-4 seconds gap between first and last place during testing. If we go by last years example, the team that replaces usf1 will win.

 

Schumacher will crush all and the streets will flow with the blood of the non-believers.

 

Robert Kubica

 

I heard mercades dropped McClaren and partnered with Braun this season.

Also, I saw the Sweden WRC rally and Kimi is not doing well so far. Not even in the top 10. Very far from top 10 I think actually.

 

Absolutely.


You do mean Ralf, right?

 

I may or may not have been being sarcastic. USF1 and Stefan (sp?) are off the grid for 2010, according to Todt we may see USF1 next year, if they can come up with a car and a driver by then...

 

Fernando wins 10 of 19, takes the championship walking away.

Constructors it's closer between Ferarri and M-B.

Schumi maybe wins 2-4 races.

Fernando and Massa will fist fight either in the garage or on the podium.

 

People still watch endless parade laps?

 

Schumacher.