Monday 3 November 2008

Formula 1 World Championship 2008 Review

Thrill a minute is all you can say to be honest. From start to finish whether it was Monaco, or Silverstone or Spa this season's championship was one of the best in living memory, and unlike last year it was all about what happened on the track.

Yes Lewis Hamilton is our champions, the youngest ever at 23 but behind lie a number of drivers who will be pressurizing him hugely this time next year.

A queue has formed so to speak of drivers ready to take Hamilton's crown and they all made there Challenege at some point this year.

Kimi Raikkonen had a particularly quiet season and didn't hang onto his title as firmly as many thought he might. He led for the opening third of the season before he handed the baton to Felipe Massa to make the Ferrari charge.

Fernando Alonso had an amazing change of fortune to his season. After just ten races he had to settle with just 13 points in his unpredictable Renault. However the Spaniard picked up 48 points in the final eight races of the season to bring up to 5th in the Drivers Championship. A brilliant achievement for the former World Champion who is now a real threat in his familiar Renault colors.

Sebastian Vettel picked up his first World Champion win this season and certainly looks like one for next season in the Red Bull car replacing the retiring David Coulthard. Maybe until the driver has proven himself in this car will he finally get a contract for a bigger team, you can't seriously see a winner not coming from the Ferrari, Mclaren or BMW.

And then there's Felipe Massa who was just one point from the Championship this year and came so close last year as well, falling out of the race with three to go. He will obviously be hurt by the manner of the defeat on Sunday. But just like Hamilton was last season, extra determination will be the order of the day and he will be twice as strong going into the new season.

As for the rest well there are some notable mentions. Jenson Button has had another season he'll want to forget in a hurry. Another year or two I think and Button will have to give up a sport that he has simply never succeeded in.

The BMW team of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica have done well. Heidfeld has taken a step back to allow the more talented Kubica a shot of the title that he was only a few wins away from making. Next season he will have a real go and know the dependable Heidfeld is behind him for support This duo will be a real force to be considered and a real contender for next year's title.

it would be refreshing to have another contender from another team and not having the same Ferrari/McLaren fight to the end of the season. Kubica has a lot to do to put himself as a possible challenger but he has all the making of a true champion.

As for Hamilton well he will do well to hold onto his title. Massa won't let his disappointment lie for long and he will be back on the trail as soon as the new season is upon us. To think Hamilton will hold onto his title like Michael Schumacher did is a stupid statement. He's won his first title now lets just see what next season brings.

We all know the first championship is hard enough, holding onto it will be even harder for the youngster.

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