Faces of F1
Adrian Sutil -- Force India
Adrian Sutil is a German driver for the Force India F1 team. Even though he raced his rookie season last year in a car many people considered the least competitive on the track, his driving impressed both the fans and other drivers. Sutil returns this year as part of the Force India team and is hoping that he -- and his car -- will have greater success.
The Faces of Formula One
As the 2008 Formula One racing season kicks off this weekend in Australia, we decided to take a look at the men behind the visors. With no clear favorite, experts are predicting that this season will be a nail-biter. The top contenders are featured along with five German racers who are looking to resurrect success for their country after the retirement in 2006 of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
Timo Glock -- Toyota
Returning this season from a three-year hiatus, Timo Glock is looking to make a name for himself on the F1 track. Glock takes the place on the Toyota team of fellow German Ralf Schumacher. The team is hoping that Glock can fill the void left by Schumacher and bring them their first-ever Drivers' Championship in the years to come.
Sebastian Vettel -- Scuderia Toro Rosso
Returning this year as part of Scuderia Toro Rosso, Sebastian Vettel, 20, is looking to bring some podium finishes to the young team. Vettel, who earned just six points last season, is considered an up-and-coming star of the Formula One circuit.
Nick Heidfeld -- BMW Sauber
Known on the course as "Quick Nick," Nick Heidfeld is another German driver on the F1 circuit who races for the BMW Sauber team. This veteran has 134 races under his belt and many consider him the best German prospect to take the Drivers' Championship.
Lewis Hamilton -- Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
After finishing a close second to Kimi Raikkonen last year as a rookie, Lewis Hamilton is looking to take top honors this year as part of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing team. The team is looking to realign itself after infighting between Hamilton and Fernando Alonso (now driving for Renault) spread onto the track last season. But Hamilton stayed put and just signed a five-year contract with McLaren.
Kimi Raikkonen -- Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen took the 2007 Formula One World Drivers' Championship after he beat out Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by just one point in the standings. This year he is returning to race for the Ferrari Team who hope that the cool, calculated racing style that brought him the nickname "Iceman" will also mean another year atop the podium.
Fernando Alonso -- Renault
This two-time Driver Champion is making his debut this season as a part of the Renault racing team (he left the team for the 2007 season). The hard-charging Spaniard is hoping to shake off his turbulent 2007 season and finish ahead of the pack in 2008.
Nico Rosberg -- Williams
Finnish/German driver Nico Rosberg comes from F1 royalty. His father, Keke Rosberg, was the 1982 Formula One World Champion and remains one of the most successful Finnish drivers in history. The 22-year-old made his debut for Williams in 2006 and is looking follow in his father's footsteps to the Drivers' Championship in the coming years.