Three-time F1 champion and opinionated old man Sir Jackie Stewart believes that Formula One is set for a "fantastic competition" in the 2010 season, with any one of eight drivers having the potential to become the new world champion.
Stewart agrees with the generally held belief that the front four teams in 2010 may well all be evenly-matched on pace, and that the season might see any of their drivers emerge with the crown.
McLaren and Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa driving for them, have been the overall star performers of pre-season testing so far, but the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are getting into the mix as the start of the season approaches, and Stewart believes that Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg's Mercedes cars will also be factors in the coming season.
"At this stage it's impossible to choose between all those guys. But there will be eight of them battling it out in what should be a fantastic competition," Stewart suggested today.
"Nico Rosberg is the only driver among them not to have won a Grand Prix, but then he's lining up alongside Schumacher with Ross Brawn between them they've won seven world championships. That is a situation guaranteed to fire up Nico to do well."
He added that he didn't really foresee the close battles having a negative effect on some of the drivers, with the Rosberg/Schumacher and Hamilton/Button dynamics both having come up for scrutiny in the pre-season so far.
"I don't think so," Stewart said when asked if either Rosberg or Button might end up being sidelined into the shadow of their illustrious team mates, "I believe they all respect one another and get on as good friends.
"We also have Alonso and Massa at Ferrari and Vettel and Webber at Red Bull, drivers who have the greatest regard for each other's ability."
He concluded that: "It really is an incredible collection and I cannot recall a better package of top teams and top drivers. Every one of them is capable of winning the world championship."
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