…is that they can really come back to bite.

I just remembered the other day that we all have extra points coming at the end of the season in terms of double points for whoever is winning the championship, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember what we had predicted.

None of us stand to win with Lewis (Fourstar adding, “not sure Hamilton will be as impressive in his first season as everyone thinks”). Fourstar and I went for Kimi and Stew and Nick went for Alonso. So if it is either of them then it could be a big swing factor (8 points).

I did notice another post that was made before the season started from Stew which really was quite funny.

I think an important factor this year will be team unity, and from the things I have absorbed I’m left with the feeling that McLaren will present a very united, focussed and determined front, there is no doubt they have the skills and experience within the team and I am sure they will bounce back form this last streak of bad form, but I think with Alonso and Hamilton in place a whole chunk of fresh air has been blasted through the place. Alonso is the superstar driver and coming off the back of double world championships is respected and accepted. Hamilton in his rookie year will be out to learn all he can, could provide solid support for Alonso and being a racer he will be out to prove himself also and go for the wins when he can.

Ferrari on the other hand seems to me to have a very fast, reliable car (always a good thing in F1) but will struggle a bit more within the team. Both Massa and Raikkonnen are superstar drivers and will want to be seen as such, both within the team and to the world. It may well be more of a problem for Massa if Kimi outperforms him. The team too have been used to pulling all the stops out for Schumacher (second driver included) and may well have more issues adjusting to the different setup…

…and no Ross Brawn.

Sorry for brining it up Stew, I on the other hand covered myself in glory with this comment about McLaren:

Personally I don’t think there will be much team mate rivalry here unless Hamilton wins a race before Alonso does. Alonso knows how good he is and doesn’t have to prove it to Hamilton. Also I think Alonso is a good bloke and will look to support Lewis. Whether this support neuters Hamilton’s ability to beat Alonso as it did to Fisi before him remains to be seen.

Nick’s of course could still be proven correct, perhaps the whole thing has been hushed up?:

Massa will outperform Raikkonen by so much that people will begin to get suspicious. The rumour will get around that a McLaren mechanic overheard him talking fluently in German. Then, in Monza, a crazed fan will rush into the pits and tear Massa’s face off, revealing Michael Schumacher underneath.

Italian Police will later find Massa tied up in a basement in Vernoa, with his face missing.