F1's Inflation Of Expectation: Who Will Disappoint In 2009?

As we wait in eager anticipation for the 2009 Formula One World Championship to begin, there is no shortage of people willing to tip drivers to succeed this year.

The problem is, everyone seems to have different views on who will excel and who will flop this season.

This article is a focus on which of F1's talented roster may, for whatever reason, not quite live up to expectation in 2009.

Nico Rosberg

As a Formula One driver, Rosberg is popular and highly rated, amongst fans and "insiders" alike.

But, apart from an impressive first Grand Prix in Bahrain back in 2006, Rosberg has so far failed to set the world alight; he has taken advantage on a few occasions of the traditional Williams "false dawn" at the beginning of the season, but aside from that has done little to justify his high reputation.

Rosberg is a decent driver and excellent at setting up a car, but as David Coulthard will tell you, experience and technical expertise will only get you so far in Formula One.

Rosberg's Williams contract is up at the end of the season: If he wants to continue driving for the team, or perhaps join another competitive outfit for 2010, he will have to start showing why he is so highly rated.

Kimi Raikkonen

The flying Finn has been tipped for the world championship this year as he begins his third season with Ferrari, but perhaps realistic sights should be set lower.

With many teams besides Ferrari having built competitive cars, the competition for the ultimate prize will be stiff in 2009.

Furthermore, none of Raikkonen's principal rivals for the title are carrying the same question marks over their ability as the Finn, as he aims to bounce back from a bitterly disappointing 2008.

Raikkonen can never be excluded from being a factor in the destination of the world championship, but it is premature to say the least to crown him champion without a race having even begun.

Sebastian Vettel

Dynamic, talented, massively popular, Vettel has begun his Formula One career superbly so far, and the inevitable comparisons to Michael Schumacher have been coming in thick and fast.

But 2009 will represent Vettel's greatest challenge yet, as he takes on the tough and experienced Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing.

Webber is no slouch behind the wheel and is mentally very strong, so the suggestions that Vettel will blow the Australian into the weeds are perhaps a tad unrealistic.

Furthermore, it is not yet known precisely how quick Adrian Newey's latest creation really is; Vettel may not be in a position to surpass everybody's expectations of him, simply because he may not have the equipment to do so.

Jenson Button

Brawn GP's sensational testing performance has caused Button to be a pre-season favourite to take the world championship.

Brawn themselves have urged caution on the team's actual prospects, and it is easy to see why: Though the team may have an early advantage, it is almost certain that bigger, financially stronger teams will catch and pass them later in the season.

Button has the ability to wring the best possible results from the Brawn car, the most competitive he has had for years, but whether those results will actually give him a world championship remains to be seen.

Finally there is the matter of having to beat his teammate, a fired-up Rubens Barrichello, which on the strength of the last two years may not be as simple as many are predicting.

Conclusions

In most cases, the raw ability of the drivers mentioned is not in question.

But, for whatever reason, it seems that the expectations of what these drivers can deliver have been inflated beyond what can realistically be supposed.

If these drivers can really achieve what they have been tipped to do, they can certainly look back on 2009 as a success; it would be more prudent, however, to urge caution on each of their prospects until we fully understand what they are capable of doing this year.