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[McLaren Fan]

I disagree. Whilst he's been picking up points, he's only ahead of Massa because of the DNF. If he doesn't start winning races, Massa will beat him because he does not have the same issues setting up the Ferrari at the moment. Massa winning the WDC is a very real prospect at the moment, because he is making a few less mistakes than his team mate currently and generally performing better. I do think that Massa and Hamilton will go in to the final round with only a few points between them.

Well, when you think about it, Raikkonen would have won in France had his exhaust not have been broken, he was on for some solid points in Canada until Hamilton rammed straight into the back of him and he was compromised by his team's choice of strategy in Britain. Swingabouts and roundabouts, I'm afraid.

[scotty]

It's totally brilliant how most people are writing off Raikkonen!

[KyrosV]

Massa is definatly the most improved driver of 2008. If hes still in ferrari in 2009 he will improve again Im sure of it. Hes one of those guys who learns the tracks sweetspots perfectly. And is Ultimatly strong on hot tracks but has flaws when the track is cold or wet and maybe had a couple of problems coming to terms with no traction control. but he will improve on those fronts. Hes my preference for the 2008 crown.

[al4x]

out of the 3 massa is the only one id like to see win it

[IceManpjn]

It's totally brilliant how most people are writing off Raikkonen!

I think it a mistake. He's still number two in the points and has finished in strong positions pretty consistently, so I don't see any reason to count him out. All he needs to do is keep doing exactly as he has been and he'd still continue giving Hamilton a run for his money, even if we see no improvement out of him for the remainder of the season.

[FerrariFan63]

Looking like a good prediction

[bud]

Looking like a good prediction

word homey!

[scotty]

Well, i must say that after today it certainly looks like Lauda is right. If Raikkonen is going to do anything to mount a challenge, he'll do it at Spa where he has been so good in recent years.

[McLaren Fan]

Spa is a track where Raikkonen has traditionally done well at. If I were running Ferrari, it would be Raikkonen's absolutely last chance to get his act together. If he has a below par drive or if Massa beats him, I would tell him that he's now got to support Massa. And he will have nobody to blame but himself.

[Denthúl]

Spa is a track where Raikkonen has traditionally done well at. If I were running Ferrari, it would be Raikkonen's absolutely last chance to get his act together. If he has a below par drive or if Massa beats him, I would tell him that he's now got to support Massa. And he will have nobody to blame but himself.

Definitely agree there. And to be honest, if the car suits the Ferrari more than McLaren, I would put my money on Massa being the guy who took the victory. I really don't think Raikkonen is bothered this year. He's done it all now: points, podiums, race wins and now a title. I think he wants to go and do something else.

[McLaren Fan]

Spa is a track where Raikkonen has traditionally done well at. If I were running Ferrari, it would be Raikkonen's absolutely last chance to get his act together. If he has a below par drive or if Massa beats him, I would tell him that he's now got to support Massa. And he will have nobody to blame but himself.

Definitely agree there. And to be honest, if the car suits the Ferrari more than McLaren, I would put my money on Massa being the guy who took the victory. I really don't think Raikkonen is bothered this year. He's done it all now: points, podiums, race wins and now a title. I think he wants to go and do something else.

The thing was Massa, too, is that he has got his act together now. He's stopped making some of his once characteristic gaffes, seems to have made strides forward in being able to perform at tracks he doesn't like (i.e. Monte Carlo and the Hungaroring), and, above all, is a great front-runner. If Massa qualifies on pole position for Spa and/or gets into La Source in first position, it's going to take something special from Raikkonen to beat him. The only things that are making me keep some faith in Raikkonen are that he has the ability and the equipment to win the title, that he won it from being such a long way behind in 2007 and that if he gets another good result at Spa, perhaps his interest could pick up again. As I said before, for me, Spa is the last throw of the dice for Raikkonen.

[Denthúl]

Spa is a track where Raikkonen has traditionally done well at. If I were running Ferrari, it would be Raikkonen's absolutely last chance to get his act together. If he has a below par drive or if Massa beats him, I would tell him that he's now got to support Massa. And he will have nobody to blame but himself.

Definitely agree there. And to be honest, if the car suits the Ferrari more than McLaren, I would put my money on Massa being the guy who took the victory. I really don't think Raikkonen is bothered this year. He's done it all now: points, podiums, race wins and now a title. I think he wants to go and do something else.

The thing was Massa, too, is that he has got his act together now. He's stopped making some of his once characteristic gaffes, seems to have made strides forward in being able to perform at tracks he doesn't like (i.e. Monte Carlo and the Hungaroring), and, above all, is a great front-runner. If Massa qualifies on pole position for Spa and/or gets into La Source in first position, it's going to take something special from Raikkonen to beat him. The only things that are making me keep some faith in Raikkonen are that he has the ability and the equipment to win the title, that he won it from being such a long way behind in 2007 and that if he gets another good result at Spa, perhaps his interest could pick up again. As I said before, for me, Spa is the last throw of the dice for Raikkonen.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Ferrari bosses were thinking the same. With Kovalainen unable to match Hamilton, he won't be taking vital points off him, whereas Massa and Raikkonen could continue to do so. Of course, there could be a real upset with McLaren being faster at Spa. Only time will tell, I guess.

There are some tracks coming up where Massa has some pretty good prospects, though. Spa and Brazil are quite likely wins if things are as they were last year, car-wise. And if he plays the points game at venues like Monza, Fuji and Shanghai, then he will likely be able to take it down to the final round in Brazil. If Raikkonen can finish in front of Hamilton in a couple of those races in the supporting role, then Massa could realistically take the crown. I'd like to see him do that, because he definitely seems to have put in the performances to deserve it so far.

[McLaren Fan]

Of course, there could be a real upset with McLaren being faster at Spa. Only time will tell, I guess.

I'd love to see that, not just because it would help McLaren's title chances, it is a wonderful circuit, even minus the Bus Stop chicane. As long as there's not an upset in Italy, however. There's nothing more in motor racing that gives me more pleasure than seeing McLaren win the Italian Grand Prix.

There are some tracks coming up where Massa has some pretty good prospects, though. Spa and Brazil are quite likely wins if things are as they were last year, car-wise. And if he plays the points game at venues like Monza, Fuji and Shanghai, then he will likely be able to take it down to the final round in Brazil. If Raikkonen can finish in front of Hamilton in a couple of those races in the supporting role, then Massa could realistically take the crown. I'd like to see him do that, because he definitely seems to have put in the performances to deserve it so far.

Again, I've got to agree. Even if Raikkonen does well at Spa and Ferrari don't immediately favour Massa, there are a number of tracks that should suit Massa and Ferrari more, notably Brazil. If Massa gets the final round even being several points behind, say, Hamilton, he's still got to fancy his chances of winning the title. I'm always a wee bit reluctant to make predictions in sport, particularly this year's Formula One season, because it's been full of upsets. It didn't happen. Ferrari were meant to be much faster than McLaren in Turkey, Britain and France. That was not the case. McLaren were meant to disappear into the distance in Monaco and Hungary. It didn't happen. After Hungary, Hamilton was meant to run off with the title. It doesn't look like happening. That's why it's not certain, say, that McLaren will win the Italian Grand Prix or that Raikkonen may perk up again in the next race or two. Some of the races may have been a bit bland this season, but there's plenty of other stuff to keep us entertained. I've not enjoyed Formula One recently so much in God knows how many years.