As the start of the 2009 Formula One season fast approaches, we are inundated with articles about how important this year is for top drivers and teams and who needs to do what to succeed. The vast majority of previews focus on the usual cast of characters.
Let’s face it. If Lewis Hamilton doesn’t contend for the championship, he will still make headlines. Fernando Alonso will still command attention to drive for teams that can afford him even if he doesn’t win a race this year. Toyota will still spend huge amounts of money, Williams and Force India are not expected to challenge for a title, and Ferrari will still be Ferrari.
What I am venturing to expose are the drivers and teams who truly have more at stake in the 2009 Formula One season.
Ross Brawn
When Honda announced their withdrawal from the Formula One World Championship, Ross Brawn was the first name that came up when the discussion turned to who would take over the team.
A few months passed and a plethora of names were connected with the former Honda team. Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim, the new US F-1 team, and even Michael Schumacher were some of the names bandied about. When it all came about it was Ross Brawn all along.
At the teams debut at testing, two things stood out. First was the lack of any form of sponsorship and the second was the speed they posted compared to the other teams.
Many believe that these two events are related. Was the Brawn GP car fudging a bit with the rules to set fast time in order to draw more interests from sponsors?
The big question is can Ross Brawn financially maintain the team if he doesn’t get sponsorship?
Formula One is an expensive sport, where even the lowest team budgets run about $50 million a year. No word has been issued from Brawn GP about the financial terms of the Honda team takeover, which would give us a clue if they are on a solid economic footing.
BMW Sauber
Last year, the BMW Sauber team was on the cusp of greatness. Race after race they edged closer and closer to challenging the dominant McLaren and Ferrari teams culminating with Robert Kubica’s stunning win at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Then all things changed.
BMW Sauber announced that they were concentrating its efforts in developing the 2009 chassis. Race after race Kubica started falling back down the grid. Early in the season, the F1’s lone Polish driver easily outclassed his German teammate, Nick Heidfeld. Later in the season the roles were reversed, and Kubica look like he lost his enthusiasm.
At stake for BMW Sauber is if the decision to abandon development will reap benefits for the team in 2009. If they aren’t competitive right from the start of the season in Australia then the 2008 season will be viewed as an opportunity lost.
Sebastien Vettle
2008 was the year where the Formula One world was exposed to a future star in the form of a rookie from Germany by the name of Sebastien Vettle.
Driving for what is basically the Renault engined Red Bull Racing B-Team, Vettle regularly outpaced the A-Team in his Ferrari powered Torro Rosso, culminating with a spectacular win in atrocious conditions at the Italian Grand Prix. His reward was to be bumped up to Red Bull Racing.
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