F1 News

Below is the 2008 F1 driver line-up.

Ferrari

1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Felipe Massa

Both Ferrari drivers have been confirmed at the Maranello team for another year.

BMW-Sauber

3. Nick Heidfeld
4. Robert Kubica

Such a successful season - why change?

Renault

5. Fernando Alonso
6. Nelson Piquet Jnr

Piquet is officially number two, but can he resist getting one up on Alonso?

Williams-Toyota

7. Nico Rosberg
8. Kazuki Nakajima

Rosberg impressed in 2007 and Williams don’t want to ever let him go. Is Nakajima a cost-cutting exercise to please the team’s Japanese engine suppliers, Toyota?

Red Bull-Renault

9. David Coulthard
10. Mark Webber

Red Bull looks for stability with Coulthard and Webber. Rumours persist that they may sign Alonso, but this seems unlikely.

Toyota

11. Jarno Trulli
12. Timo Glock

Trulli stays on for another year while GP2 champ Timo Glock is Ralf Schumacher’s replacement in the team.

Toro Rosso-Ferrari

14. Sebastian Vettel
15. Sebastien Bourdais

Sebastian with an ‘a’ is joined by Sebastien with an ‘e’ as Tonio Liuzzi is left without a drive.

Honda

16. Jenson Button
17. Rubens Barrichello

Button still dreams of going to a better team and Barichello still fears being demoted to a worse one, but for now they stay as they are.

Super Aguri-Honda

18. Takuma Sato
19. Anthony Davidson

The Super Aguri keep their same two for a second year. Both drivers impressed last year and their target next year must be to beat the Honda works team.

Force India-Ferrari

20. Adrian Sutil
21. Giancarlo Fisichella
The Artist Formerly Known as Spyker, Midland and Jordan is back under yet another new name but is likely to occupy it’s usual position at the back of the grid. Fisichella hangs on for one more (last?) year.

McLaren-Mercedes

22. Lewis Hamilton
23. Heikki Kovalainen

McLaren face the ignomy of being in the small garages after their disqualification from the 2007 championship. Expect Hamilton to be stronger than last year and looking to take the title in his second season, McLaren’s budgetary constraints permitting. Kovalainen escapes being forced to trail Alonso at Renault, but he must keep up with Lewis this year if he is to keep his career moving forwards.