What's going to happen in 2013? I invite your educated guesses - and if this thread lasts long enough we can all laugh at each other's predictions much later.... I'll start - this is how I see the top ten of 2013 shaking out...
1) Alonso, Ferrari: I'm an Alonso fan and this might not be realistic - but if they can start with a better car I think he's in with a chance - heck - last year he was a Grosjean away from the title... and we saw how the car was at the start of LAST season.
Don't get me wrong - I think it's a huge hill for him to climb, but I feel that if the car is there, or there-abouts, he'll be in with a shout. 2) Vettel, Red Bull: I just can't help but feel that you can never write Vettel off - I did last year. Several times. Heck - I'd even written him off in the last RACE... the Newey/Vettel combination is a hard one to beat.
3) Perez, McLaren: OK - I'm going out on a limb here, but I can't help but wonder if McLaren can't produce another stellar "Hamilton-like" year for the new guy. He was brilliant at times in the Sauber - the big question is whether he can be consistent.
4) Button, McLaren: I'm not putting him in 4th because I don't think he can perform - I think there will continue to be team screw-ups and that, fast as the McLaren will be, they'll have the odd problem... he may very well do it again though, and I admit that 4th may be a lowly placing for him. I've got Perez ahead on a wing and a prayer - not skill, wiles or work ethic.
5) Webber, Red Bull: Webber will have another solid year, but as ever he will be a little inconsistent and suffer the odd inconsistency. A great racer, but Vettel has the team by the short hairs.
6) Massa, Ferrari: I was tempted to put Massa higher, as, by the end of last season he appeared to be regaining form, and I think he could easily give the second drivers of the top teams a hard time - but in the same way that Vettel owns red Bull, Alonso owns Ferrari. Massa will have an uphill battle against him, and unless the car is stellar, he'll be relegated...
7) Raikonnen, Lotus: This guy amazes me. A bit like Ronnie Peterson - his idea of exercise appears to be lifting his legs out of bed - but when he's on, he's on. If Lotus can improve slightly he could shuffle up the table easily. I know that this is a bit down from last year's result - and this is not a reflection of my belief in Raikonnen's abilities - it is more a feeling that McLaren may have gotten it right and that Webber and Massa may be more consistent.
8) Hamilton, Mercedes: I'm not a big Hamilton fan, but I do respect his speed, and I think he'll be a good addition to the Mercedes team. As fast and committed as hamilton is though, I can't see him lifting the team much past 7th or 8th - unless the car has noticeable improvements. This isn't a shot at Hamilton - he's proved his worth - it's more an assessment of the Mercedes team.
9) Rosberg, Mercedes: I think that Rosberg has performed exceedingly well - many thought he'd be crushed by Schumacher, but he wasn't. I was tempted to put him above Hamilton but I'm not that much of a gambler - but - who knows?
10) Hulkenberg, Sauber: There are several I'd like to put in this spot - Maldonado, who is obviously fast if undisciplined, Grosjean, who is great on one day and a bowling ball the next, di Resta whom Autosport love with an un-natural persistence, but, no - for me, I think that last year Hulkenberg dragged a lot out of his car - and in the Sauber, if it is a good as last year, he can crack the top ten - for me.
So - what do YOU think? Have at 'er.
Because he's in a McLaren now, or is this news to you?
