A look at the drivers and teams competing in F1 Grand Prix racing, including Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW Sauber and Brawn GP.
Only nine teams looked set to contest the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship, until the late arrival of Brawn GP. The team rose from the ashes of Honda’s defunct Formula 1 operation, with master strategist Ross Brawn at the helm.
2009 Formula 1 Teams and Drivers
- McLaren - 2009 will be reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton’s third season with McLaren. Heikki Kovalainen retains his seat with the team and, with Mercedes engines, both drivers should be competing for Grand Prix victories.
- Ferrari - Ferrari also keep the same driver line-up for 2009, with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. The latter just missed out on the title last year and will be desperate to go one better. Raikkonen on his day can be brilliant, and knows how to win the World Championship.
- BMW Sauber - After steadily improving over the last few seasons BMW Sauber will be looking to make a serious title challenge in 2009. Their driver pairing remains unchanged, with Polish sensation Robert Kubica alongside the veteran German Nick Heidfeld.
- Renault - Towards the end of the 2008 season double World Champion Fernando Alonso showed his class, and the potential of Renault, by taking two Grand Prix wins. The Spaniard is undisputed number one in the team, while his young team-mate Nelson Piquet will be hoping to improve after a disappointing debut season last year.
- Toyota - Toyota may well prove to be the dark horses of 2009. The Japanese team has been quick in testing and boasts a talented pair of drivers in experienced Italian Jarno Trulli and relative newcomer Timo Glock.
- Toro Rosso - Sebastien Bourdais starts his second Formula 1 season with Toro Rosso, but has a new team-mate in the shape of Sebastien Buemi. The team scored its maiden Grand Prix victory at Monza in 2008.
- Red Bull - The perennially unlucky Mark Webber will be hoping to finally taste victory this year. He will have his hands full at Red Bull coping with his very fast new team-mate Sebastian Vettel. The young German is already a Grand Prix winner with Toro Rosso.
- Williams - After years in the midfield Williams have showed a good turn of speed in testing and 2009 may well see this great team return to the top step of the podium. Nico Rosberg has matured into a very fast Formula 1 driver, while Kazuki Nakajima stays with the team for his second season.
- Force India - Vijay Mallya’s team were last year’s also-rans but a new technical partnership with McLaren and Mercedes should see them move up the order. Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil will be aiming to score the team’s first World Championship points in 2009.
- Brawn GP - Ross Brawn is used to success with other teams and, judging by pre-season testing, his own team will be genuine title contenders. In Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello Brawn GP have the most experienced driver pairing in Formula 1. The team also has the use of Mercedes engines and will be hoping to take the fight to Ferrari and McLaren.
Major changes to the cars should result in closer racing during 2009. A reduction in downforce is designed to allow cars to follow each other more closely, in a bid to promote overtaking. Slick tyres make a return, while several teams will also be running KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). This device stores energy under braking, giving the drivers additional power under acceleration.
The copyright of the article 2009 F1 Team and Driver Guide in Formula 1 is owned by Kevin Guthrie. Permission to republish 2009 F1 Team and Driver Guide in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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