Ferrari

1999 Position: 1st. Past Drivers' Titles: 9. Past Constructors' Titles: 9

The Italian squad's much vaunted reliability appears to be intact in the new F1-2000, but it also comes with a dose of supreme confidence in the car's ability to compete with McLaren. Michael Schumacher recently predicted that there would no gap between it and the new McLaren MP4/15. The German's hopes are backed up by his lap times at Mugello where he comfortably shaved three tenths off the lap record which he set in a '99 car. If this year's car runs as fast as the traditional Ferrari hype machine then a second consecutive constructors' title looks assured.

Michael Schumacher (Ger)

1999: 5th. Age: 31. GP starts: 128. Total points: 570. Best result: 35 wins (last San Marino 99), 2 championship titles (94/95). Best qualifying: 23 pole positions

Schumacher's unrivalled abilities were best demonstrated in his stunning return, after injury, at last year's Malaysian Grand Prix, the German decimating his closest rivals in qualifying and claiming pole position with a second to spare over both McLarens. But it was all too little, too late for his 1999 season. The first campaign of the new millennium looks a lot brighter though. If new team-mate Rubens Barrichello plays according to Schumacher's rules, then Ferrari's first title since 1979 looks almost certain.

Rubens Barrichello (Bra) 1999: 7th. Age: 27. GP starts: 113. Total points: 77. Best result: 2nd. Best qualifying: 2 pole positions. THE Brazilian has finally got the move he has dreamed of since he was eight. Whether it becomes a Schumacher-directed nightmare only time will tell. Despite showing well in testing, Barrichello has been easily eclipsed by Schumacher. That doesn't mean the former Stewart driver will be left behind. At the Nurburgring last year, he showed he knew how to take a lead and hold it.