The 2010 season in 20 questions
Michael Schumacher is my tip for the title - who's yours?
In less than 24 hours’ times we’ll start to get answers to all the questions we have about the hugely anticipated new Formula 1 season.
As is traditional, now’s the time to make your guesses on the big stories of the season ahead. Answer these 20 questions on the 2010 season below and we’ll check them again in eight months’ time to see who did best:
1. What will be the best surprise?
2. What will be the worst surprise?
3. Which driver will be replaced first?
4. Who will he be replaced by?
5. What will be the biggest political story?
6. Jenson Button vs Lewis Hamilton: who will score the most points?
7. Felipe Massa vs Fernando Alonso: who will score the most points?
8. How many races will Michael Schumacher win?
9. Will Kimi Räikkönen announce a return to F1 in 2011?
10. Who will have the worst reliability?
11. Who will be the most impressive rookie (including Kamui Kobayashi and Jaime Alguersuari)?
12. Which will be the most entertaining race?
13. Who will set the most pole positions?
14. Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix?
15. Who will be the first retirement at Bahrain?
16. Which will be the best new team?
17. At which race will the drivers’ title be won?
18. Who will win the constructors’ championship?
19. Who will win the drivers’ championship?
20. How many points will the winning driver score?
Here are my answers:
1. Lotus getting on the pace by the end of the season
2. HRT not making it to the end of the season
3. Jaime Alguersuari
4. Daniel Ricciardo
5. Plans for a new engine specification
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Fernando Alonso
8. Six
9. No
10. HRT
11. Nico Hülkenberg
12. Canada
13. Lewis Hamilton
14. Fernando Alonso
15. Karun Chandhok
16. Lotus
17. Brazil
18. Mercedes
19. Michael Schumacher
20. 308
This one’s just for fun but if you fancy putting your prediction powers to the test to win some serious prizes, make sure you join in the 2010 F1 Fanatic Predictions Championship
See all the articles in the F1 Fanatic 2010 Season Preview
2010 F1 season
Boer F1 said on 11th March 2010, 13:37
1. What will be the best surprise?
- Raikkonen announced with Red Bull for 2011.
2. What will be the worst surprise?
- HRT pulling out midseason, thereby leaving Bruno Senna without a seat.
3. Which driver will be replaced first?
Karun Chandok.
4. Who will he be replaced by?
- Ho Pin Tung (hoping to receive some fat Chinese investment in the process).
5. What will be the biggest political story?
- The confusion/complication of; and failure to improve overtaking/racing supposed to have been supplied by the new technical rules (yet again).
6. Jenson Button vs Lewis Hamilton: who will score the most points?
- Lewis Hamilton (which will finally signal the end of Button).
7. Felipe Massa vs Fernando Alonso: who will score the most points?
- Fernando Alonso.
8. How many races will Michael Schumacher win?
- Five.
9. Will Kimi Räikkönen announce a return to F1 in 2011?
- No, sadly.
10. Who will have the worst reliability?
- HRT.
11. Who will be the most impressive rookie (including Kamui Kobayashi and Jaime Alguersuari)?
- Nico Hulkenberg (though his car will not allow him the rookie seasons Hamilton and Villeneuve enjoyed).
12. Which will be the most entertaining race?
- Japan.
13. Who will set the most pole positions?
Lewis Hamilton (followed by Massa and Vettel equally).
14. Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton (sadly).
15. Who will be the first retirement at Bahrain?
- Buemi, followed closely by Liuzzi (maybe together, even). The new teams will reach the first corner when the others are already half a lap away – no danger of a pile-up for them, then.
16. Which will be the best new team?
- Lotus.
17. At which race will the drivers’ title be won?
- Round 18: Interlagos, Brazil.
18. Who will win the constructors’ championship?
- Ferrari.
19. Who will win the drivers’ championship?
- Fernando Alonso (a hair’s breadth from Michael Schumacher, very similar to 2006. Hamilton third).
20. How many points will the winning driver score?
- 289.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 11th March 2010, 20:37
Aren’t one and nine a bit of a contradiction?
rfs said on 11th March 2010, 13:39
1. What will be the best surprise?
Williams winning their first race since 2004
2. What will be the worst surprise?
The majority of races being boring. :(
3. Which driver will be replaced first?
None
5. What will be the biggest political story?
Hopefully none.
6. Jenson Button vs Lewis Hamilton: who will score the most points?
Lewis
7. Felipe Massa vs Fernando Alonso: who will score the most points?
Alonso
8. How many races will Michael Schumacher win?
Two
9. Will Kimi Räikkönen announce a return to F1 in 2011?
Yes
10. Who will have the worst reliability?
Virgin
11. Who will be the most impressive rookie (including Kamui Kobayashi and Jaime Alguersuari)?
Hulkenberg and Kobash
12. Which will be the most entertaining race?
Brazil
13. Who will set the most pole positions?
Lewis
14. Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix?
Lewis
15. Who will be the first retirement at Bahrain?
A Virgin
16. Which will be the best new team?
Lotus
17. At which race will the drivers’ title be won?
Abu Dhabi
18. Who will win the constructors’ championship?
Ferrari
19. Who will win the drivers’ championship?
Lewis
20. How many points will the winning driver score?
I dunno, 265?
Rob A said on 11th March 2010, 13:41
1. Nico Hulkenburg
2. Sauber not being nearly as quick as testing suggested
3. Sebastian Buemi
4. Daniel Ricciardo
5. The new concorde agreement
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Fernando Alonso (but only just!)
8. 1
9. No
10. Virgin
11. Nico Hulkenburg (see 1.!)
12. Canada (thank god it’s back!)
13. Lewis Hamilton
14. Sebastian Vettel
15. Karun Chandhok (or failing that, Bruno Senna)
16. Lotus (assuming Mercedes and Sauber dont count as ‘new’… if they do, Mercedes!)
17. The last one.
18. Ferrari
19. Fernando Alonso
20. 235
Gus said on 11th March 2010, 13:44
1. What will be the best surprise? – Virgin Winning a race
2. What will be the worst surprise? – F1 going to Sky
3. Which driver will be replaced first? – Vitantonio Liuzzi
4. Who will he be replaced by? – Paul di Resta
5. What will be the biggest political story? – Bernie resigning
6. Jenson Button vs Lewis Hamilton: who will score the most points? – Jenson Button
7. Felipe Massa vs Fernando Alonso: who will score the most points? – Felipe Massa
8. How many races will Michael Schumacher win? – 5
9. Will Kimi Räikkönen announce a return to F1 in 2011? – Yes
10. Who will have the worst reliability? – HRT
11. Who will be the most impressive rookie (including Kamui Kobayashi and Jaime Alguersuari)? – Kamui Kobayashi
12. Which will be the most entertaining race? – Korean
13. Who will set the most pole positions? – Jenson Button
14. Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix? – Mark Webber
15. Who will be the first retirement at Bahrain? – Karun Chandhok
16. Which will be the best new team? – Virgin
17. At which race will the drivers’ title be won? – Abu Dhabi
18. Who will win the constructors’ championship? – McLaren-Mercedes
19. Who will win the drivers’ championship? – Jenson Button
20. How many points will the winning driver score? 365
MAKRifayee said on 11th March 2010, 13:46
Karun is name mentioned moret than anyone…Why is that so..?? Is he a such a bad driver..??If so y did HRT sign him..??
SijS said on 12th March 2010, 4:46
Agree with you. Little too harsh on him, may be because he was the last to make it. I think there’s not much between chandhok, petrov, digrassi or senna. Not many will agree, i know. Atlest we can read something from Qno. 15 in two days time.
GQsm said on 12th March 2010, 5:04
He is mentioned for first Bahrain retirement (Question 15) because the HRT hasn’t turned a wheel yet while Lotus and Virgin have had testing days to identify any major reliability issues.
Therefore the HRT is probably the car most likely to fail and Chandhok is one of the HRT drivers. F1 fans usually like the Senna name so probably subconciously that is why they choose Chandhok’s car to break down first over Senna’s. Then crash wise I think Senna is rated as a better driver and it is thought that Chandhok has a greater chance of making a driver error early in the race. Of course these are guesses and assumptions.
As for Chandhok being replaced (Question 3), there is probably some sentiment that he did not do well enough in GP2 last season to get a F1 drive and his seat was part bought and part negotiated by Bernie because he wanted to increase F1′s take up and profile in India (Emerging F1 market which will hold it’s first race next year).
Personally I will let his racing do the talking, some drivers have off seasons and some take to F1 without shining in other series. Kobayashi finished a lacklustre 16th last year in GP2 but his F1 races last year showed he could handle an F1 car, scoring points in only his second race. Chandhok has to prove himself in my eyes, just like Di Grassi, Petrov and the Hulk.
Hajnr said on 11th March 2010, 13:46
1. Renault and R.Kubica fighting in TOP3
2. M.Schumacher and his unfair fight at track
3. J. Alguersuari
4. Riccardo
5. New teams in 2011
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Fernando Alonso
8. None
9. No
10. HRT
11. Nico Hulkenberg
12. Brazil
13. Lewis Hamilton
14. Lewis Hamilton
15. Heikki Kovalainen
16. Virgin
17. Brazil
18. Ferrari
19. Lewis Hamilton
20. 287
Victor said on 11th March 2010, 13:48
1. The Hulk in the Williams.
2. Force India being weaker than testing suggested.
3. Noone.
4. Noone.
5. The golden wheel things on Ferrari’s car being deemed illegal a couple races into the season resulting in debates about the points they’ve already scored.
6. Hamilton.
7. Alonso.
8. Two at max.
9. Unless he’s offered a fortune at either the WCC winning or runner-up car, no.
10. Virgin.
11. Hulkenberg and Kobayashi.
12. Spa, Montreal and Interlagos!
13. Hamilton.
14. Vettel.or Hulkenberg.
15. Virgin will lose its virginity first I reckon.
16. Lotus.
17. Last or I’ll kill myself.
18. Ferrari.
19. Alonso.
20. I wanted to say 110, but then I reckoned the new point system does not work that way, so I’ll say that 110 is 11 wins in the old system, so I’ll say 275!
John H said on 11th March 2010, 13:50
1. What will be the best surprise?
Nico Rosberg
2. What will be the worst surprise?
I do fear someone will be hurt this season due to the new teams running largely untested cars/drivers – I hope this isn’t the case.
3. Which driver will be replaced first?
Michael Schumacher
4. Who will he be replaced by?
Nick Heidfeld
5. What will be the biggest political story?
Webber crashing
6. Jenson Button vs Lewis Hamilton: who will score the most points?
Hamilton
7. Felipe Massa vs Fernando Alonso: who will score the most points?
Massa
8. How many races will Michael Schumacher win?
0
9. Will Kimi Räikkönen announce a return to F1 in 2011?
Yes
10. Who will have the worst reliability?
Sauber
11. Who will be the most impressive rookie (including Kamui Kobayashi and Jaime Alguersuari)?
Nico Hulkenberg
12. Which will be the most entertaining race?
Definitely not Korea!
13. Who will set the most pole positions?
Lewis Hamilton
14. Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix?
Fernando Alonso
15. Who will be the first retirement at Bahrain?
Bruno Senna
16. Which will be the best new team?
Sauber
17. At which race will the drivers’ title be won?
Monza
18. Who will win the constructors’ championship?
McLaren
19. Who will win the drivers’ championship?
Fernando Alonso
20. How many points will the winning driver score?
120
John H said on 11th March 2010, 13:51
20. 260 (sorry, forgot about another change!)
John H said on 11th March 2010, 13:55
20. 260 (sorry, forgot about another change!)
Oh, and I have Alonso winning the WDC with Massa having more points…!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 11th March 2010, 20:39
If that happens we’re in for one hell of a WMSC hearing…
Rob S said on 11th March 2010, 14:01
1. Button beating Hamilton
2. Kamui Kobayashi not performing well
3. Sutil
4. Paul Di Resta
5. Stewards Crazy Rulings
6. Button
7. Alonso
8. 8
9. Yes
10. Virgin
11. Kamui Kobayashi
12. Spa
13. Alonso
14. Schumacher
15. Sutil
16. Sauber
17. Interlagos
18. Mercedes Gp
19. Schumacher
20. 245
Alex-Malta said on 11th March 2010, 14:07
1. What will be the best surprise?
Lotus gaining a point
2. What will be the worst surprise?
Schumacher not winning a race
3. Which driver will be replaced first?
None
4. Who will he be replaced by?
Himself
5. What will be the biggest political story?
Reducing Aerodynamics
6. Jenson Button vs Lewis Hamilton: who will score the most points?
Hamilton
7. Felipe Massa vs Fernando Alonso: who will score the most points?
Felipe
8. How many races will Michael Schumacher win?
3
9. Will Kimi Räikkönen announce a return to F1 in 2011?
No – He will enjoy his relax life breaking Citroen Cars
10. Who will have the worst reliability?
HRT
11. Who will be the most impressive rookie (including Kamui Kobayashi and Jaime Alguersuari)?
Would like to say Senna but will go for Kobayashi
12. Which will be the most entertaining race?
Spa
13. Who will set the most pole positions?
Hamilton
14. Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix?
Hamilton
15. Who will be the first retirement at Bahrain?
Karun Chandhok
16. Which will be the best new team?
Lotus
17. At which race will the drivers’ title be won?
Brasil
18. Who will win the constructors’ championship?
McLaren
19. Who will win the drivers’ championship?
Hamilton
20. How many points will the winning driver score?
248
K.Chandra Shekhar said on 11th March 2010, 14:08
Keith agree with all your predictions but personally would like Kimi back.
I definetly would like Mercedes as WCC and Michael as WDC. Lewis taking poles and coming on top of Button is exactly true. Alonso will have an upperhand over Massa but would like Massa on top of Alonso.
It may be too much for asking but just imagine Michael lapping Alonso. What will be the reaction of the Ferrari pit crew?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 11th March 2010, 20:40
I’d like him back too – five champions on the grid would be great. Then we just need to find a car for Jacques Villeneuve…
Enigma said on 11th March 2010, 14:21
1. Kobayashi and Sauber
2. Button being very slow at McLaren
3. Schumacher
4. Heidfeld
5. Unfair penalties
6. Hamilton
7. Alonso
8. 1 (Belgium)
9. No
10. Virgin
11. Kobayashi
12. Silverstone
13. Hamilton
14. Hamilton
15. Chandhok
16. Lotus
17. The last one
18. Ferrari
19. Alonso
20. 287
Pat said on 11th March 2010, 14:22
McLarens rear wing has passed FIA Inspection :)
GeeMac said on 11th March 2010, 14:44
Yay! Thanks Pat!
Edward Marshall said on 11th March 2010, 14:22
1. What will be the best surprise?
Sauber podium
2. What will be the worst surprise?
Serious crash
3. Which driver will be replaced first?
None
4. Who will he be replaced by?
No one
5. What will be the biggest political story?
Rule Breaking
6. Jenson Button vs Lewis Hamilton: who will score the most points?
Lewis H
7. Felipe Massa vs Fernando Alonso: who will score the most points?
Alonso
8. How many races will Michael Schumacher win?
2
9. Will Kimi Räikkönen announce a return to F1 in 2011? No
10. Who will have the worst reliability?
Virgin
11. Who will be the most impressive rookie?
Kobayashi
12. Which will be the most entertaining race?
Spa
13. Who will set the most pole positions?
Alonso
14. Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix?
Button
15. Who will be the first retirement at Bahrain? Hispanic Racing
16. Which will be the best new team?
Virgin
17. At which race will the drivers’ title be won?
Last
18. Who will win the constructors’ championship?
Ferrari
19. Who will win the drivers’ championship?
Lewis H
20. How many points will the winning driver score?
80
Enigma said on 11th March 2010, 15:03
80 points is a bit over 3 wins…there is a new points system this year!
Antifia said on 11th March 2010, 14:23
So Massa is being taken for dead ahn?
Lest time I saw something like this was when Kimi came to Ferrari. Three years later he got the boot and guess who is still there to compete with Alonso?