It's quite ironic that the 3 main protagonist of 2007 find themselves in the top 3 of the World Drivers Championship in 2012 again.
Major differences this time being all 3 of them are driving for different teams and Alonso & Hamilton are not team-mates anymore. Also, this time Alonso is leading the Championship instead of Hamilton with a very similar points difference of approx 15 Points (old system readjusted) with Kimi yet again being the furthest apart. Another major difference is that now the field is much much closer instead of just Ferrari & Mclaren making 90% of the podiums, with RedBull as defending Champions.... & Sauber, Lotus, Williams & Force India consistently taking points off the main Championship Challengers in 2012.
1- Fernando Alosno:-
Leading with a 37 points gap, is the favourite to take the Championship. Quick, Consistent & relentless in pursuit for his first championship with Ferrari. Crazy determination, and took a decent car to 2 wins. The problem now for others is that Ferrari is now joint quickest car along with Mclaren, so looks like it'll be a hard fight for him to lose now. Great reliability from Ferrari (Monza was a minor blip) makes it even harder for anyone to catch up with him. Just needs his consistency to continue to win the Championship.
2- Lewis Hamilton:-
His wayward 2011 is past, and he has been mega whenever possible. 3 Wins, multiple podiums and a very quick car going into the last 7 races. Lewis has the most realistic chance of catching or overhauling Alonso. Mclaren needs to sort out reliability issues, as well as focus on Hamilton a bit more than Button for him to stand a chance. Hit by major Mclaren errors in the beginning of the season, but Mclaren have transformed themselves from PitStop Cartoons to PitStop Kings, which is always a help when the field is so tight.
3- Kimi Raikkonen:-
After two years away, he has shown once again that he only needs a good/decent car to mount a Championship Challenge. 6 Podium finishes in 13 races, and scoring big points in the 6 other races has hauled him stealthy into 3rd in the Championship. Much like 2003, 2005, 2007 & 2009... Raikkonen has been one of the most devastating driver in the second half of most seasons. If he continues this trend of his, impossible can be achieved. But to overhaul Alonso or Hamilton, Kimi needs to win atleast 1/2 races, and get his qualifying correct if the car allows him to do so. Lotus has been a consistent car, & Kimi has been consistent in it. But to win a Championship, Lotus needs to improve in the last 7 races somehow to stand any chance, or he could end up behind Webber & Button in the final standing. Kimi is the Dark Horse, & extremely dangerous for sure.
4- Sebastian Vettel:-
Two reliability issue costing him possible 25+10=35 Points in Valencia & Monza respectively. But one just needs to relook at 2010 to realize Vettel/RBR is more of threat than what Kimi/Lotus is for Mclaren & Ferrari drivers.
I think Sebastian Vettel will win the Championship, and Kimi ending up scoring more points than Hamilton by season end. But it's Alonso's Championship, as obvious as it can get.
WDC- Sebastian Vettel
WCC- Mclaren
Edited by BackOnTop, 11 September 2012 - 06:55.