Formula One: 2007 Roles Reversed This Year?

We all remember the 2007 Formula One season. A three-way battle right down to the wire. An epic finale in Sao Paulo. A heartbroken rookie. A newly crowned champion.

The 2008 season looks to produce a similar situation. At the halfway stage, three drivers are tied on points. It's incredibly close.

2007 was an amazing year. First of all, we saw Lewis Hamilton finish on the podium nine races in a row. We experienced the drama in Canada, Japan and, of course, Brazil. 

As you remember, McLaren had two drivers fighting for the championship last year. Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari managed to take the title. Lewis Hamilton was a No. 2 driver in 2007 yet won the same number of races as his world champion teammate and finished above him in the final championship standings.

McLaren Mercedes looked to be running away with the Constructors Crown at the halfway stage, yet Ferrari pulled it back and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

The man who won the first race won the championship, and his teammate couldn't reach the same heights. The world champion couldn't match his teammate's performance.

All this accounts what happened in 2007.... but it looks to be similar in 2008.

We've had Robert Kubica being extremely consistent in the first half of the season, just as Lewis Hamilton was in 2007.

We've seen the drama and joy of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve earlier this year. There was uproar because of the pit lane incident and BMW Sauber and Robert Kubica took their first wins, just as rookie Hamilton did last season.

Felipe Massa has stepped up his game this season, taking three wins so far and has led the world championship, despite teammate Raikkonen being world champion.

The Ferrari teammates may battle it out till the end of the season, just as Alonso and Hamilton did last season, but it could be another driver who clinches the title.

It was Kimi Raikkonen last year without much of a teammate challenge. I suggest it will be Hamilton (who isn't being challenged much by Kovy) who will be champion in 2008.

Scuderia Ferrari lead the Constructors Championship by 14 points, and some say they already have one hand on the trophy.

You guessed it! It was the same situation last year when McLaren led the championship, yet Ferrari came back. Could McLaren do the same?

Also, Raikkonen won the first race of the season in 2007. Alonso did in 2006. Both were crowned World Champions. Could Lewis Hamilton carry on the pattern in 2008?

Finally, Alonso, couldn't match Hamilton in 2007 and lost out to him. Raikkonen struggles to match Massa in some races this season, despite being the reigning world champion.

It's all a bit spooky, but it's working in Hamilton and McLaren's favour, so I'm not complaining!