Controversy…McLaren…Again…Really? Part One

Only three races into the new Formula One season and already it looks as though it will become one of the most memorable season in a long time.

The new campaign has already had controversy, with Lewis Hamilton disqualified in the first race and the diffuser’s used by Williams, Toyota and Brawn GP being passed by the sport’s governing body, the FIA, after complaints from Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault.

The 2009 season has also seen a fairytale start for the new Brawn GP team and their drivers, Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button. It was only a couple months ago the team formed after Honda pulled out of Formula One, and they have made a dream start with two wins for Jenson Button and the team top of the constructors championship.

Brawn GP and Jenson Button look set to be the main challengers for the constructors and drivers, but who will be their main rivals? The three big teams from last year, McClaren, Ferrari and BMW have all struggled so far in a topsy-turvy start to the campaign.

Sebastian Vettel could make a big challenge for the title this year. The 21 year old Red Bull driver won his second ever Grand Prix in China and he definitely has the potential to become a future world champion. Mark Webber will also be amongst the front this year. In the summer of the Ashes series in cricket, Formula One could also see a big Australian – English rivalry with Webber and Button battling for the driver’s title.

Toyota have also made a good start to the new season, and in Jarno Trulli, Toyota have a driver with years of experience and experience of driving with Renault when they were the quickest team on the grid.

Current Renault driver and two times world champion, Fernando Alonso, could be an outside bet for the title. The Spanish driver drove brilliantly in a poor car for Renault last year, and with improvements to the car and the big teams struggling, Alonso could see 2009 as a great chance of securing his third title.

Lewis Hamilton will not be giving up his title easily though, and despite having a poor car so far this year, he has still managed to pick up four points from three races, and with signs of improvement from McClaren, the British driver could still be in the running at the end of the season.

2009 promises to be an exciting season, and with so many drivers in with a chance of winning the title, the race at Abu Dhabi on November 1st has the potential to be a title decider, with a great chance of a second British Champion in two years with Jenson Button.