The start of a new Formula 1 series is only 20 days away, so what better time to look at all the teams and their chances as they get ready to do battle for the drivers' and constructors' championships?

McLaren (Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton)
The Good: They have the defending and two-time drivers’ champion Fernando Alonso finally driving for them. Many observers thought that Kimi Raikönen simply pushed his McLaren too hard and that’s why he failed to finish so many races. Alonso understands the strengths and limitations of his race car, and he is a proven winner. This marriage between the team and driver could become a great one. Lewis Hamilton has been depicted as the future star, and he has the credentials to back up the billing. He won the GP2 tour on his very first attempt.

The Bad: McLaren often looked completely beaten last year, as they finished the season a distant third behind Renault and Ferrari. Things looked so bleak at certain points that there were rumours flying about that Alonso would like to annul his future transfer to the team.

The season: Hamilton looks set to become the best rookie driver of the 2007 F1 season, and Alonso is supposed to be racing for his third championship. McLaren is poised to take a step forward after last year as both Hamilton and Alonso should rack up a boatload of points.

Renault (Giancarlo Fisichella, Heikki Kovalainen)
The Good: They not only managed to hold off now-retired legend Michael Schumacher in the drivers' standings last year, but they managed to hold on to their constructors' lead, which seemed to be more unlikely. Fisichella knows the workings within the team, and is known as a great teammate. This should all help ease massively talented Kovalainen’s transition from test driver to the darling and greatest hope of the team.

The Bad: Fisichella has been a second banana behind Alonso, and there are no indications he can be a good lead driver for the team. Many expect Kovalainen to become a great driver, but most agree that his learning curve will be a steep one still. Losing the best driver of the past two seasons would hurt any team.

The season: Renault are definitely in the running for the constructors’ title. Yet one can’t help but feel that their lack of an experienced lead driver might make it too hard to retain the title. Still, I expect Fisichella to answer his critics and have a much better season than last year, whilst Kovalainen will be battling Hamilton for the honour of best newcomer.

Ferrari (Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikönen)
The Good: Massa and Raikönen create the most established, best veteran duo in the field. Felipe has obviously stepped up a level in the eyes of F1 fans after his splendid win in his home country last autumn. Raikönen is getting a chance to prove that it was not him, but rather the McLaren car, that had such a bad showing last year. Ferrari might have lost out in the constructors’ championship last year, but their second-half surge definitely gives them the early edge.

The Bad: We are hearing more and more of those rumours about Kimi pushing his car beyond its limits, Ferrari had better make sure they have a sturdy one built for the Finn. Felipe might have stepped up a level, but he needs to jump even higher this season as he gets out from under the shadow of the legendary Michael Schumacher.

The season: Kimi is the premier challenger for Alonso’s title. Schumacher could not nip it away last year with this Ferrari, now Kimi has a shot at one-upping the German champ in this respect. Ferrari are the early favourite for the constructors’ title, and Massa should raise even more eyebrows if he is able to make this his coming-out season.

Honda (Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello)
The Good: Last year’s inaugural season for Honda was a good one with a race victory and some promising qualifying results. Jenson Button finally secured his maiden win last year. His talent definitely has him poised to win many more. At this point he is a dark horse favorite for the drivers’ title, a status that can change very quickly with some early good showings. Barrichello had a rough transition to the team, but once he got a little bit more comfortable he started to get some nice results.

The Bad: Last year was good as an inaugural season for Honda, but somewhat disappointing compared to BAR’s 2004 season, which they were aiming to surpass. Barrichello looked completely lost at times, and it is becoming clear, that he is better suited as the second driver behind a dominant figure. That means Button has to take that next step in his career. He has to go from immensely talented great driver, to dominant winner.

The season: Honda’s second season might become special. They definitely are one of the top teams, and the fact that they held this team intact for year two when most of the top teams made changes could become a huge advantage. Button should win a few more races this year, and should finish within the top five drivers.

BMW Sauber (Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica)
The Good: Looks like they have found a superstar in the making in Robert Kubica. The Polish kid replaced Jacques Villeneuve for the final six races once the team got rid of their Canadian driver. In those six races Robert was fun to watch and managed his first podium finish. Nick Heidfeld is a pro’s pro. Even though his career never panned out the way his peers had hoped he has become a consistent performer and the type of person teams love to employ. Definitely a team on the rise.

The Bad: Kubica is basically a newbie, as this will be his first full season as race driver. Heidfeld is not getting any younger. He will be 30 before the season gets serious. BMW expected better than what they got from their first season.

The season: Another team expected to rise. BMW should become a constant threat for a podium finish by joining the top level teams. Kubica will have us fans loving him for his wildly entertaining racing style, whilst Heidfeld should once again prove that we are overlooking him too many times.

Toyota (Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli)
The Good: Toyota have been investing the most into their team. The thinking is sooner or later that should translate into a win. Last year was over almost before it began as the switch to Bridgestone tires meant that much of how they had their car built up in 2005 had to be completely changed. This year they are better prepared for their marriage with the tire company. Say what you want about Ralf and Jarno, but this is definitely the most experienced tandem in the sport today.

The Bad: What makes anybody think this year’s car is any better than last year’s inconsistent monstrosity. Toyota have been handling the highest budget for years now, and have still to show consistently good results. After a breakthrough 2005 season they pretty much crashed in 2006.

The season: Who knows what type of car this crew can put together. If they are lucky, they will definitely be looking for their first GP win and beyond. If not then all that their fans can expect is Ralf steadily bringing home enough points to clearly distance themselves from the cellar dwelling teams.

Red Bull (David Coulthard, Mark Webber)
The Good: Webber and Coulthard make up a very strong driver duo. We all know this is not the best car in the series, yet Coulthard has been able to keep them close to the top level teams on many occasions. The new signee, ex-Williams driver Mark Webber, is also known as a driver that makes ordinary cars look ultimately much better.

The Bad: Red Bull actually took a step back in 2006 after a promising inaugural 2005 campaign. They did however score their first podium for whatever it is worth. Plus, both Coulthard and Webber are coming off very disappointing seasons.

The season: Expect the Ferrari powered Red Bull to surprise us more than once in the 2007 season. Webber and Coulthard should be highly motivated to bounce back from sub par seasons, which should mean the best Red Bull outing since its existence.

Williams (Nico Rosberg, Alexander Wurz)
The Good: Williams were one of the winners of winter testing and the early part of the season last year. The team have switched to a Toyota engine, which is revered as one of the most powerful in the field. Nico Rosberg definitely has shown why the team thought of him as a great future champion. He is a promising talent.

The Bad: With Mark Webber leaving the outfit they are left with the Austrian Alex Wurz, who himself has admitted to be better suited for a test driver role than a racing one. Nico is still highly inexperienced and a lot of pressure is thrown onto him, as this lineup clearly states that they expect him to lead this team to the “promise land”.

The season: Nico will continue growing before our eyes. It will be very interesting to see what Williams does with the Toyota engine, and how they fare compared to the Toyota team and their far superior budget.

Toro Rosso (Vitantonio Liuzzi, Scott Speed)
The Good: Red Bull II. Had a nice first season, even challenging their ‘big brother’ team by the end of the season. They are led by Gerhard Berger, a man who definitely knows what it takes to win in F1. Liuzzi and Speed have both shown promise and steady progress last season.

The Bad: They are the “second” team. Liuzzi and Speed were not yet ready to be full-blown race drivers last year, and this season they don’t yet look ready either.

The season:Toro Rosso should get more points than last year, yet this should not be enough to have them place higher amongst the constructors. Look for Liuzzi and Speed to have an improved second half after a troublesome first. Must watch the “in-house” race between Red Bull with the Renault engine and Toro Rosso with the Ferrari engine.

Spyker (Christijan Albers, Adrian Sutil)
The Good: Another fresh start for the team once known as Jordan. Clearly the Midland venture was not a success and with Dutch racecar manufacturer Spyker taking over, and with the Ferrari engines being secured, there is definitely a positive attitude around. Albers looked quite promising at times last year, especially at the Indianapolis qualification where he scored a highly surprising 13th spot. Sutil is the least known newcomer this year. He did win the Japanese F3 after being a runner-up to Lewis Hamilton the year before in the Euro F3.

The Bad: The name may change, but this is still a bottom dweller until they prove us wrong. Who is this Sutil kid? Albers has finished in the points only once in his two year F1 career.

The season: Spyker has more than one mountain to climb. Obviously they are taking this step by step. You can’t help but cheer for the team, because it would be a shame if F1 was to see a decrease in teams. At this point however I can’t see how they would get even a single point without a mass crash depleting the field, or a boycott (like the last time they received a point, at the infamous US GP)

Super Aguri (Takuma Sato, Anthony Davidson)
The Good: Takuma “kamikazee” Sato is one of those racer you just love to watch. His top 10 finish in Japan last year was brilliant. You hate to give a guy like him a very good car, because he will frustrate you with all the risks he takes, but in a weak car like the Super Aguri, he is exactly the type of guy you need if you want some surprise results. The current pairing of Davidson and Sato has a history going back to 2001 when they were teammates in the British F3, promptly placing 1st and 2nd for the season.

The Bad: Sato and Davidson’s history doesn’t end there, Davidson became a career test driver at BAR where Sato was racing. There were rumors about a heated rivalry between the two. This is the first time Super Aguri has its own chassis for a full season. This could be good news, but history tells us that mostly it isn’t.

The season: Just as the car improved as last season went on, this season’s car will get closer and closer to the pack. Too bad the gap between them and the rest of the field is still huge. If there are points to be scored however, expect Sato to do everything that’s possible (and even that which is not possible) to get them.

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