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Formula One
F1: 2010 Formula One Team Guide
Days from the start of 2010 season, here's a look at the 12 teams who will take to the grid...
Adam Cooper  | http://www.speedtv.com  |  Posted March 07, 2010   Balen (BEL)
McLaren was strong the second half of last year and hopes they produced a car capable of carrying that momentum into this season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
A week from today the cars will be on the grid in Bahrain for the start of what promises to be a fantastic season. As part of our build up to the race, let’s take a look at the 12 teams that – after a winter of uncertainty – are competing this season.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

McLaren finally returned to title winning form in 2008, but the effort detracted from preparations for last season. However the team showed its strength in depth as it fought back from its terrible start to 2009, and produced a car capable of winning races in the second half of the year. That momentum should carry into this season. The arrival of Jenson Button is a major boost, and no team has ever had the reigning champ and his immediate predecessor in its line-up. An added dimension this year is the departure of works Mercedes support, and the team will be determined to beat its erstwhile partner. Button was fastest in the last Jerez test, and Hamilton quickest overall in Barcelona, albeit not by much, after the final update package arrived. No one knows what the real status quo is, but clearly the team is miles ahead of where it was last year...

The Mercedes GP Petronas team enters a new era this year as it becomes the first full Mercedes outfit to compete since 1955. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Mercedes GP Petronas

The former BAR, Honda and Brawn team enters a new era this year as it becomes the first full Mercedes outfit to compete since 1955. Aside from the drivers, the winning recipe from 2009 remains essentially unchanged, except that name above the door is different and extra resources are available from the new owners. The team now has to prove that last year was not just a fluke, and that despite the effort expended on its title campaign, it can start this year with a winning car. The focus will of course be on the return of Michael Schumacher, whose input can only be positive, but Nico Rosberg cannot be underestimated. The team keeps telling us that it is not where it wanted to be at this stage, but has it been sandbagging? After all it’s had a lot more track time than last year...

Ferrari abandoned development of their 2009 car to focus on the 2010 F10. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Scuderia Ferrari

Like McLaren, Ferrari suffered last year because it fought for the 2008 title until the very last round, and thus attention was distracted from preparations for last year’s massive package of rules changes. There’s no such excuse this year, and indeed the team made a big point of telling us last summer that it had abandoned development of the 2009 car to focus on this season. The big story is of course the arrival of Fernando Alonso, who will obviously give the team the motivational and technical push that it used to get from a certain Mr. Schumacher. It’s going to be fascinating to see how the team balances the interests of its new star and Felipe Massa, who is much loved in the camp. The car has been quick throughout testing and is arguably favorite heading to Bahrain.

Williams did not stage a formal launch event prior to the track debut of its 2010 single seater. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
AT&T Williams

It’s been a long 13 years since Williams last won a World Championship, and the team has struggled in recent times against the works supported organizations. However, we are in a new era now with fewer factory-backed rivals and in theory lower budgets, and the team could benefit. Much depends on the form of the Cosworth engine, which is also being used by the new teams. It’s all change on the driver front as Rubens Barrichello arrives fresh from his title chasing year with Brawn, while promising third driver Nico Hulkenberg steps up. The team picked up its pace as the month of February went on, and the engine seems to be better than many expected. An outside bet for a podium?


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