2010 F1 Rivals Go Head-To-Head

It's not long until March 14th, when every F1 driver will be strapped into his seat for a race against his most bitter enemy, his team mate.

Sure, every driver will want to win the race, of course he will.

But more important to him will be how he finishes relative to the other guy driving for the same team. He can live with finishing 7th in the field, but not if his team-mate comes in 5th. He has to be the main man, the top points scorer for his team, or his career will be darkened by gloomy clouds.

So here is this fan's view of the F1 2010 team-mate wars in the top teams.

Mercedes GP: Michael Schumacher vs Nico Rosberg

No contest, Michael would not countenance having a rival in his team. Ask Eddie Irvine, ask Rubens Barichello.

Nico must know he is an extra in the Mercedes GP movie, only there as a German(ish) understudy to the great man. The script calls for the triumphant resurrection of the seven-time world champion, and that's what will happen.

Outcome: a clear Schumacher victory.

Ferrari: Fernando Alonso vs Felipe Massa

I see this as a simple case of wolf eats rabbit.

Santander/Ferrari have simply spent too much cash getting Alonso on board for any other scenario to be credible. Firing Kimi Raikonnen at vast expense was an extraordinary thing to do, but we may guess they had no choice.

Fernando is notoriously more prickly than a hedgehog, and after his very public spat with Hamilton he will brook no rivals for his team's love and affection. Would Kimi, former world champion and always highly rated, have played along with Fernando delivering glory for the Spanish sponsors?

Outcome: Alonso with wolfish grin, Massa with crestfallen look of puzzled rabbit.

McLaren: Lewis Hamilton vs Jenson Button

This is it, the rumble in the jungle, the big fight.

When a man wins the F1 world championship, he might reasonably expect to be lauded for that, and for his team to shower him with riches in order that he should stay with them. But what did Mercedes say to Jenson Button? They reminded him where the door was, and asked him to close it behind him.

Hurtful.

So now we will see him as team mate to a driver who is paid twice as much, and whom almost nobody believes he can beat. All of which should motivate the reigning world champion to prove that he is the better driver.

Outcome: If the 2010 McLaren is anything less than flawless perfection I expect Hamilton to triumph over Button, but this should be a battle to watch as Button fights for his reputation.

Red Bull: Sebastian Vettel vs Mark Webber

The will-be man versus the nearly man.

Up until 2009 Mark Webber had a formidable record of beating his F1 team mates, so it was his hard luck that Sebastian Vettel was brought in to replace the retired David Coulthard.

Gather any group of F1 fans together and you will find total agreement that Vettel will be a world champion, whereas Webber's early promise has not been fulfilled. The 2009 score sheets tell the whole story; Vettel beat Webber by four wins to one.

Outcome: Vettel to be the team's top-dog, you can bet your house on it.

Conclusion

The F1 2010 World Champion Driver will definitely be Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, or Fernando Alonso. Nobody else.