All the talk is Lewis this and Lewis that, but as good as he was last season he couldn’t overhaul Kimi Räikkönen. Hamilton was awesome in his first year as a Formula One driver, but in my opinion that was his best shot. In any case,  Ferrari still came out on top and I don’t see this season being any easier for McLaren.

There is every chance that Räikkönen will be the next Michael Schumacher; after five years of disappointment in Woking, the Finn finally got what he deserved - the F1 title. At 28, he closed the season with an amazing seven straight podiums and victories in China and Brazil sealed the deal.

Far too many people have devalued the achievement by focusing on Hamilton’s errors towards the end of the season as the factor that led to the change of championship lead. The British press, of course, always focuses on its own national treasures - usually at the expense of giving respect to those who pip their idols for top spot.

'I am looking forward to another great year - one that will hopefully be remembered more for on-track thrills and spills rather than espionage and illegality'

Don’t get me wrong, Lewis is a fantastic driver. However, I get the impression that defeat will have left a massive emotional scar on the youngster. Let’s face it, to lose in such a fashion would affect any driver, let alone a rookie in such a fine run of form. I am sure Hamilton will be secretly glad to have Heikki Kovalainen as his partner rather than Fernando Alonso, whose problems with the team have been well documented.

Alonso finds himself back at Renault and I really don’t see him as a realistic candidate for the title this time around. Flavio Briatore’s outfit managed just one podium in 2007, and whilst they have an exciting team with Fernando and Nelson Piquet Jr, it would be a big ask for them to make up all that ground to Ferrari.

I expect BMW Sauber to improve once again. They had a good season with Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica forming a reliable partnership; they are two drivers with a great combination of talent and potential, so look out for them to run McLaren mighty close for second spot, behind an increasingly resurgent Ferrari.