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Last season’s implacable enemies McLaren and Ferrari are pre-season favourites to contend the title, although not without first overcoming the final traumas of 2007.  Ferrari can boast unchanged drivers but question marks remain over the structure of the team, not least the future of Jean Todt.  The Scuderia have made no secret of the F2008 being developed to trade some fast-circuit speed for more slow-circuit speed; significant as there are two additional street circuits this year.  McLaren face life at the wrong end of the pit-lane in the smallest garages, albeit with a highly talented - if relatively inexperience - driver pairing.  Just how Hamilton fairs as lead driver will be fascinating to see as will the progress of Kovalainen.  These two teams were first to launch and first to test their 2008 cars and it would be very surprising if anyone can crash their party.

BMW were usually the closest to the leading pair in 2007, although getting close in qualifying is quite different to getting close in the race.  They continue with the Heidfeld/Kubica pairing with the self- confessed aim of winning at least one race in 2008.  If they achieve their aim, expect a ‘big-name’ signing for 2009.  Renault’s fall away from the front in 2007 was a combination of factors but the loss of Alonso was clearly a large part of it.  Now that the Spaniard is back (F1’s new pantomime villain since Schumacher’s departure), they’ll both be hoping for a return to form.  Another of the ‘Briatore Boys’, Nelsinho Piquet, son of the world champion and long time Renault protégé, replaces Kovalainen.  Williams enjoyed a revival in 2007 after some lean times, embarrassing the high budget ‘works’ efforts of Honda and Toyota.  Rosberg matured to the extent he was widely tipped for the McLaren seat, but Williams’ assault may be blunted by the choice of the inexperienced and unproven Nakajima as second driver.  Red Bull Racing will be looking to build on flashes of promise last year.  With a healthy budget, 2008 will be their second season with a Renault powered Adrian Newey chassis but they will be hoping to put behind them the awful gearbox problems that blighted their 2007 season.  They continue with the ultra- experienced David Coulthard and terminally unlucky Mark Webber.  Toyota have publicly said their team principal has two years to ‘get the job done’; extraordinarily magnanimous given the very poor return the car-giant has seen from its F1 programme.  Jarno Trulli soldiers on while one-time Jordan driver Timo Glock replaces the disappointing and expensive Ralf Schumacher.

Toro Rosso will start 2008 with high hopes having secured the impressive ex-BMW driver Vettel and four-times Champ Car champion - but F1 novice - Sebastien Bourdais.  Once again they have Ferrari sourced engines but must start 2008 with an adapted 2007 car.  Honda endured a horrifically embarrassing 2007, and really things can only get better.  A good budget, first-rate factory and continued highly experienced driver pairing of Barrichello and Button should have more direction in 2008 with the arrival of the highly regarded Ross Brawn.  If he can get Honda back on the podium, he will be worth every penny of his presumably very large retainer.  Super Aguri very nearly humbled their ‘parent’ team in 2007 but have had a traumatic winter with many redundancies at Leafield.  Continued speculation over a buy-out has curtailed testing but - as I write - budget worries have not led to chopping and changing of drivers, with Sato and Davidson continuing.  As if their very existence wasn't such a worry, they will know if they do compete in 2008 they will inherit the woeful 2007 Honda chassis.   Force India in a way offer the most fascinating prospect for 2008.  After the eminently forgettable Midland era, modest improvements under Mike Gascoyne as Spyker finally the team may be going somewhere.  Dr Vijay Mallya (he of Kingfisher lager) should bring the financial boost and stability the team needs while new driver Giancarlo Fisichella will bring much needed experience in the twilight of his career.  The talented Adrian Sutil - who should mature this year and show his true potential - will partner him.  The Silverstone outfit should have its first ‘ground-up’ Gascoyne by mid-season, which should see a marked improvement.