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Blundell's View

Blundell's view: Spanish Grand Prix.

Hi folks...

We've had a good start to the year so far and it's been nice to have three different winners from the opening three events in Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain, with Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa respectively all taking a win apiece.

Now the European season is about to commence with the Spanish Grand Prix and there is a definite possibility that we might see someone else stepping onto the top step of the podium.

At the moment, you would have to say the chances are that BMW Sauber might just pull that off as they are getting closer and closer, but most would probably still go for Ferrari.

A lot of people, though, are going to turn up for the fourth round of the F1 world championship with revised packages and I am looking forward to seeing who has made the most progress in the three-week break.

Almost all of the teams took the chance to test at the Circuit de Catalunya recently and that should help them in terms of perfecting the set-up and gaining valuable data. It will give them a good baseline, but nothing more, as it is always a bit different when you turn up for the race weekend itself, because you just can't simulate in testing the same conditions and the same level of grip.

Currently, Kimi Raikkonen leads the drivers' championship and he and Ferrari definitely remain the favourites for the title based on results so far - and on the pure fact that he is the reigning world champion. But it is still wide open and there is a long, long way to go. The year is still young.

Felipe Massa has just taken his first win in the sister F2008 and has now got some valuable points on the board. He really had to win last time out and really rose to the occasion. Before the Bahrain event, he was looking a bit glum and it seemed to be slipping away from him, but he withstood the pressure and did an outstanding job, so he is very much back in it. Felipe should be a lot more confident and I believe we will see a 'new' Massa this weekend. And don't forget that he won in Spain last season too.

BMW has made some huge strides and, crucially, the team still has the same consistency and reliability which it has had for the last few seasons.

Mario Thessien has got two good drivers in Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica and both are 'egging' each other on. BMW might need a bit of luck on its side at the moment to pull a win off, but the Swiss-based squad is definitely making progress - and that is going to be a concern for Ferrari and McLaren, although more so for the latter.

McLaren-Mercedes seemed to be third best in Bahrain but I am sure Ron Dennis' men will come back.

McLaren has to bounce back because, if it doesn't, it will be on the back foot in terms of performance. They need to be strong and could be stronger this coming weekend.

Hamilton, himself, has a point to prove because he did have a bit of a lacklustre event by his very high standards earlier this month. I am sure he will come back with a vengeance though.

Heikki Kovalainen, meanwhile, is building his way up to producing an outstanding result as well. He is very solid and is doing a great job.

Behind those three teams, there is a close battle between Williams, Toyota and Red Bull Racing and, while I'd love to see Williams break away from those two, I am not sure it has got the resources to maintain that level of competitiveness throughout the season.

Williams really deserves to make some progress as they have worked very hard over the last few years. It has definitely got a car which is more reliable - and also more agile - so Nico Rosberg should really exploit its potential.

RBR should be the bigger opposition because of what it has got going for it package wise but, saying that, Toyota has been a big surprise. I couldn't see the Cologne-based operation making much out of this season pre-Australia but, so far, it has shocked many of us down the pit-lane. It has been strong in qualifying and has had some good results.

After those three, we have Renault and Honda, and both are a bit further back, although that could change in Spain.

It is going to be interesting to see whether the powerhouses have been able to maximise that time spent back in their wind tunnels and getting some more development done. If either has made strides, it is going to be very tough for the likes of Williams, Red Bull and Toyota because they will then have another one or two teams to contend with.

I would expect some progress, but I am not sure it will be as much as they would like. It will, however, be evident.

Fernando Alonso will definitely be hoping for something a little better this time out and he will - like any driver in his home country - give 110 per cent.

The R28 isn't quite up to the standards he would like and it is difficult to see it becoming a grand prix winning car by the end of the season. Indeed, I don't think it will be. But if he can see some progress and some light at the end of the tunnel then that will be encouraging for him. As we are at the moment, though, it is difficult, but Fernando could have been in a better situation had he handled 2007 differently.

Of the backmarkers, Toro Rosso and Force India are both making some steps forward. Toro Rosso has had some strong sessions, but it has not quite counted when it comes to the race or qualifying, although it has been up there in terms of raw pace.

Force India has also had some good outings. Giancarlo Fisichella has been doing a good solid job there but, again, it is a slight lack of resources - and that is what is limiting Super Aguri too - only on a bigger scale.

SAF1 are in a real state of flux at the minute, with the team's future up in the air and, if they do compete in Spain, Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson will find it even more difficult, as most of their rivals will have made more progress with their packages. I just hope they are there.

So, to sum up, while I'd like to think we might see a different winner in Spain, my money is on Ferrari again. Indeed, to be perfectly honest, I think there is only one car that looks like it will win a grand prix at the moment, and that is the F2008.

I reckon the 'Iceman' will take the pole and the race win this Sunday, with Massa second and Kovalainen third. Then I'll go for Lewis, followed by the two BMWs in fifth and sixth.

Enjoy the grand prix...


MB

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