Motoring journalists Nigel Burton and Matt Westcott give their predictions for the 2008 Formula One season. Also, check out our circuit guide here

NIGEL - Last year's Ferrari was too long in the wheelbase and didn't get enough from its tyres at some circuits. This year's model -- although an evolution rather than a revolution -- puts that problem to bed. The F2007 appears to have better race pace than the McLaren, making it the class of the field.

MATT - Whereas it's been musical chairs at the other teams, Ferrari will benefit from the stability gained by retaining their two drivers. If it hadn't been for problems with reliability at key points last season, the Italian outfit would have won the title long before that memorable climax. It is unlikely they will make the same mistakes twice, and so long as they don't get distracted by wrangles away from the track, for me the title is theirs to lose.

NIGEL - So long the nearly man at McLaren, Kimi looked all at sea in the first half of the 2007 season. He didn't really click with the F2007 until mid-season when the team got on top of early tyre problems. Once Raikkonen had a good car underneath him no one saw which way he went and few could begrudge his eventual title. Things look even better for '08 and Kimi will be strong from the start. Only his legendary dis-like of testing -- and the remote possibility Ferrari may take success for granted -- could de-rail another strong championship campaign.

MATT - The 28-year-old has taken his time to reach the very top. But now at the summit few would bet against the ice-cool Scandinavian becoming the rightful successor to Michael Schumacher's all-conquering crown. With one title in the bag and having confessed to being back in love with the sport, Raikkonen has to be favourite to retain the title he took in such dramatic fashion last season.

NIGEL - HELP from his mentor Michael Schumacher gave Massa the edge in the early part of last season. By Silverstone, however, the popular Brazilian had been cast in the role of Raikkonen's support act. Good enough to win races if Kimi falls off but unlikely to beat the Scandinavian regularly enough to nick the championship.

MATT - Ferrari's gain could be Massa's loss, for as good a driver as he has become the Brazilian is surely only going to be the buffer between Raikkonen and the rest.

Yes, he scored some terrific victories of his own last season, but he is not as consistent as his team-mate and when push comes to shove Raikkonen is the chosen one.

NIGEL - Has produced another slick car but areas of arrested development -- tyre gases and braking systems -- will hand Ferrari a crucial advantage. Hamilton will win races again but this may be a year of consolidation rather than a championship coronation.

MATT - Have all the off-track problems hindered their pursuit of the title? Ferrari have clearly stolen the advantage, but Ron Dennis is not one to settle for second easily.

NIGEL
2nd
MATT
2nd

Driver: Lewis Hamilton

NIGEL - A difficult second season or a procession to his first title? Lewis found everything so easy in 2007 -- apart from the politics. This year he has added circuit knowledge to his already formidable armoury. The car looks good and Hamilton should get the best from it but, in the end, the Ferrari juggernaut may be unstoppable.

MATT - What's to say that hasn't already been said. Will he suffer from second album syndrome? He will know the circuits this time, but that could lead to over-exuberance from this most natural of talents. I'm afraid it's second fiddle once more.

Driver: Heikki Kovalainen

NIGEL - Renault cast off unlikely to upset the boat. Fast and smooth enough to keep Lewis honest but not fast enough to deprive him off a title if Raikkonen slips up.

MATT - The perfect foil for Hamilton. Good, but not good enough. Likely to toe the line, although of course there are no team orders.

NIGEL - BMW isn't in F1 to make up the numbers and this season the Germans want a car capable of reaching the podium regularly. Early testing hasn't been promising. The car appears to have a handling imbalance, leaving the team scrambling to catch up. Likely to come good but that maiden win appears to be further away than ever.

MATT - BMW are some way off achieving their eventual aim of breaking the McLaren/Ferrari duopoly at the top. However, they showed promising signs of being able to tweak the big guys tails on occasions last season. Winter testing has apparently gone well and if they have been able to iron out reliability issues they could find themselves in the running for third or fourth overall.

NIGEL
8th
MATT
8th

Drivers: Nick Heidfeld

NIGEL - The German is no Schmacher. He's fast on his day but questions remain over his race craft. Can he really trade punches with chargers like Raikkonen and Hamilton? Could win a race if the leaders fall off but the BMW has displayed worrying inconsistency during testing which may leave Heidfeld looking over his shoulder for Williams and Renault.

MATT - The German has been saddled with the "best of the rest" tag for a while now, so can he take that step further and take on the big boys? A second-placed finish in Hungary showed he has can do it, but he has been on the scene for a long time now and needs to show greater consistency. He may score one or even two podium spots this season, but only because others have fallen by the wayside.

Drivers: Robert Kubica

NIGEL - His rapid return from a horror crash in Canada confirmed Kubica's "hard man" credentials. Fearless but sometimes reckless, he will give Heidfeld a run for his money.

MATT - Kubica was thrust into the spotlight in spectacular fashion last season when he survived an horrific crash in Montreal. Signed as the teams third driver, he has shown himself an able accomplice for Heidfeld. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see him equal or even surpass the German's tally come the end of the season.

NIGEL - Had a bad 2007 in part thanks to a badly calibrated wind tunnel, but fought back to become a consistent "best of the rest" mid-field challenge by season's end. Needs to recover its mojo if Alonso is not to spit his dummy by mid-season.

MATT - Have a driver with proven pedigree, if only they still had the car that led him to glory. The French outfit have apparently had massive problems with their tyres and although they insist they overcome the headache few are tipping them to be anywhere near the top two.

NIGEL
4th
MATT
5th

Driver: Fernando Alonso

NIGEL - The former champ is at a crossroads in his career. If he can galvanise his team and bring Renault back to the front of the grid everyone will agreed what a great racer he is. If the French marque fails to move forward his future will hold all the promise of Jacques Villeneuve at BAR. The new car seems fast but still off the ultimate front running pace but Renault's response to its poor form in 2007 shows that this is a team that can make progress. May snatch the odd win but unlikely to be in the championship mix by the end of the season.

MATT - The Spaniard has replaced his dummy since his acrimonious split from McLaren, having been promised Numero Uno spot at his former team. Having won two championships already with the French outfit his return should be an almost seamless event. Some say you should never go back and it will be interesting to see if he can repeat former glories - if he can keep from fighting with his team-mate expect him to provide the odd headline, but nothing more.

Driver: Nelson Piquet Jnr

NIGEL - Matched Hamilton for pace in GP2 and looks very handy behind the Reggie's latest. Team politics will most likely prevent a re-run of last season's events at McLaren but Nelson Jr is good enough to make life difficult for Alonso. Needs to keep a lid on his excitment. To finish first, first you need to finish.

MATT - Will undoubtedly face as many questions about his illustrious father as he will about his own exploits. Has secured seat on his own merits though, performing admirably in both the A1 and GP2 series. Unlikely to score many if any points early on, but expect him to mature as the season goes on.

NIGEL - Everyone hopes the FW30 will take Williams forward before this once great team slips helplessly into the back of the field and suffers the same fate as Tyrell and Brabham. Early signs are promising. The car has been consistently quick in testing -- to the embarassment of the factory Toyota squad. Nakajima may not score too many points but his appointment is as much about politics as outright speed. Frank turned down Honda when it wanted a Japanese rent-a-driver in 1987 -- and lost his engine supply.

MATT - Once great team bounced back somewhat last season after finishing in a sorry eighth-place in 2006. Expect the upward curve to continue, but it would be foolish to think they could get anywhere near the top two. Have a bright spark and an unknown quantity in their ranks, but that is unlikely to be a combination that will bring home many trophies just yet.

NIGEL
6th
MATT
Joint 6th

Driver: Nico Rosberg

NIGEL - Young Nico showed in the final race of 2007 how he has matured into a great racer. With a better car and an improved Toyota behind him this could be the season we see Keke's son turn his potential into solid points. Why else would Frank have turned down a big money offer from McLaren?

MATT - Another driver with a famous father, Nico apparently turned down the chance to join McLaren to stay with Williams. Looks like having a bright future in F1 after graduating from GP2 and being Williams' test driver. However, he is no Lewis Hamilton and it could be a couple of seasons before he really makes his mark.

Driver: Kazuki Nakajima

NIGEL - His dad is a legend in Japan but never amounted to much in F1. Although Naka has impressed in testing his debut race in Brazil was a catalogue of errors. If he has got those out of the way he has the pace to pick up the odd point but won't trouble Rosberg.

MATT - Son of Satoru, the computer mad youngster is described as exciting, but erratic, which should make for an interesting time for any of the leaders coming up behind him. Nakajima has a strong relationship with Williams engine provider Toyota, but don't go around saying he is only their to keep them sweet.

NIGEL - Not even Adrian Newby can work miracles. Last year's RB3 was too fragile. The arrival of ex-BAR man Geoff Willis should help.

MATT - THE money and the experience, both in the garage and out of it, should suggest they can do well. Last year Red Bull suffered with reliability problems, but are confident they have ironed them out over the winter. Having a Renault engine is no bad thing, but I can't see them being any more than the warm-up act for the main show.

NIGEL
9th
MATT
13th

Driver: David Coulthard

NIGEL - The elder statesman of F1 uses his head as much as his heart these days. If his ultimate pace has slowed a little he can still get the job done when things go his way. Likely to be the Scot's final season.

MATT - Chisel-jawed Scotsman is like a Grand National veteran. He returns every year, but although he is still able to clear the fences, each time he slips further and further behind the field.
The oldest driver on the grid, he has 13 wins to his credit, but is unlikely to add any more. Will still provide the odd moment of excitement as he weaves his way through the middle order, but although his car is improving, thanks in no small way to DC's input, he is not.

Driver: Mark Webber

NIGEL - Has Mark Webber flattered to deceive? He was quick but inconsistent at Jaguar, good in qualifying but not the race at Williams and now at Red Bull is quick on his day -- but that only seems to happen half-a-dozen races a year. A crucial season where he will regain a footing at the base of F1's A-list or sink into mid-field mediocrity.

MATT - Was close to his debut win last season, only to see the opportunity in Japan snatched from his grasp by an errant Sebastien Vettel. Another driver with promise, Webber is convinced that all things willing he can drive the Red Bull to a respectable finish. Personally, I am not so sure.

NIGEL - Has spent an immense amount for little return. This year's car looks worryingly like last years with an ero package -- and that was a dog.

MATT - Just goes to prove that throwing money at a project does not automatically bring rewards. Could even find themselves going backwards rather than forwards if pre-season is anything to go by.

NIGEL
13th
MATT
14th

Driver: Jarno Trulli

NIGEL - An Italian named after a Finnish rally star. Go figure. Quick on a hot lap but needs to be more consistent in the race.

MATT - Hot in qualifying in a below par car, but somehow unable to translate that pace into the races themselves. Left Ralf Schumacher in his wake during the German's time as a team-mate, but then who wouldn't have.

Driver: Timo Glock

NIGEL - Young charger who finished seventh on his F1 debut -- then did nothing. Good enough to keep Trulli honest and will try harder to make up for the deficiences of a poor car.

MATT - Youthful enthusiasm will compensate in some part for the unfortunate steed he has been saddled with. But don't expect many finishes near the front of the field. He may be called Glock, but he has yet to prove himself a young gun.

NIGEL - It may have a new name but the STR02B is really the Red Bull RB3 with a fresh lick of paint. If the team can make it reliable the car should go well in the lower mid-field.

MATT - Will hold its own against the middle order, but dont expect it to figure the mix at the end.

NIGEL
16th
MATT
Joint 14th

Driver: Sebastian Vettel

NIGEL - Looks as though he should still be at school, Vettel brought the Toro Rosso home fourth in China and kept his seat for 2008. Should score a point or two with the handy STRO2B.

MATT - Hit the headlines and a rival when he ploughed into Mark Webber in the wet in Japan. But showed enough promise to suggest he could be one to watch in coming years, but maybe not this one.

Driver: Sebastien Bourdais

NIGEL - The Champ Car ace knows how to win a championship but won't get the chance with Toro Rosso. He's quick, though, and has a good brain for racecraft - but may turn out to be more of a Michael Andretti than a Jacques Villeneuve (when he was with Williams).

MATT - Four-time champion of the US-based Champ Car World Series, comes to F1 after being seemingly overlooked for several years. Quick on the track and intelligent with it, could be a surprise package.

NIGEL - Despite paying mega-bucks for Ross Brawn another long year looks to be in prospect. The RA108 is a yawning three seconds a lap off the pace -- that's half-a-minute every ten laps. Grim.

MATT - Surely this season can't be anywhere near as bad as the last. Button tried to get the best out of a woefully, under-performing car, while team-mate Barrichello failed to score a single point. At least the aquisition of Ross Brawn suggests they have acknowledged their shortcomings, but don't expect a major turnaround.

NIGEL
12th
MATT
19th

Driver: Jenson Button

NIGEL - After a mild bout of depression early in the season Button knuckled down to get the best out of the awful RA107 last year. His smooth style should be suited to the new post-traction control era but the car looks awfully slow again.

MATT - Was perhaps happier than most with the rise to stardom of fellow Brit Hamilton. After all it removed the spotlight from his stubbled chin. Was constantly deriding, with good reason, his car last season and is unlikely to milk much more out its performance this time out. Further unfulfilment beckons.

Driver: Rubens Barrichello

NIGEL - Why should the Brazilian risk his neck in a below par car? He obviously didn't see any pressing nedd to do so last season and probably won't in 2008. Will he even finish the season?

MATT - Will become the sports most experienced driver this season. Didn't score a single point last time out for the first time ever and there's little to suggest he will this year.

NIGEL - Currently on life support. No money, no parts and no winter testing. No chance.

MATT - Only secured their place on the grid at the 11th hour. Might wonder why they bothered after a few races.

NIGEL
20th
MATT
20th

Driver: Takuma Sato

NIGEL - Quick but likely to crash a lot trying to man-handle last year's Honda.

MATT - Too quick for his own good and his judgement won't get any better in this year's pig of a car.

Driver: Anthony Davidson

NIGEL - Must be wondering if the gods are against him. Lots of bad luck last season, even worse luck this year -- he's got to drive the awful RA107 with a different livery.

MATT - Blamed a beaver for preventing him snatching a podium spot in Canada, and suffered further bad luck throughout the season.

NIGEL - It's easy to forget that, at its heart, this is the old Jordan team that almost propelled Heinz Harald Frentzen to the World Championship less than a decade ago. With a massive budget boost from the new team owner and the arrival of Mike Gascoyne this team is now on the up. the car, however, is an aero update of last seaon's model -- will it be fast enough for two quick drivers?

MATT - With investment from an Indian billionaire, Force India have the backing to put together a competitive package. They are starting from about as low as you can get, so the only way is up.

NIGEL
14th
MATT
17th

Driver: Giancarlo Fisichella

NIGEL - His last drive before retirement but the Italian knows how to bring a car home. Likely to pick up one or two points.

MATT - Will make it into the points on the odd occasion, but is swapping a front-runner for a backmarker a wise decision? Has the experience to make it work.

Driver: Adrian Sutil

NIGEL - A solid runner who could score points if the car is reliable.

MATT - Impressed at times last year in a car so far off the pace it was untrue. Even the back of the grid wasn't far enough for the Spyker. With better funding this time out he might surprise a few of his fellow also-rans.