Mark Blundell

Mark: (his pick for the 2007 champions - Jan 2007) I am going to go for Kimi [Raikkonen] and Ferrari. I think that has got to be the strongest package. At this point, that is who my money is on.

Mark: (on Kimi Raikkonen joining Ferrari in 2007) Anticipation levels are high to see what Raikkonen does in a Ferrari. You have to say, he knows how to win grand's prix. He has done that several times and the time is right now to see Raikkonen have a new era, because I think he will have a level of maturity now to take the weight of Ferrari on his shoulders and get stuck in and do something with it. But he is an individual with some differences attached to him, which are plain to see and we have all seen those. He gets the job done when needed but it is going to be something different to have the 'red car' sitting there waiting for him on a Sunday afternoon. That is something he hasn't had to deal with yet and it does have pressure attached to it.

Mark: (on the F1 field now that Michael Schumacher has retired) It will make it open in many ways. Open on the circuit because there will be one less guy with the level of ability and resource to take top results. It will also be open as there will be one guy who is not going to be in the F1 arena, who has such a big history behind him that he swamps the rest of the pit lane. It just opens up F1 a little bit more. That is not to say it is a good or bad thing, it is just a change. I think, everyone at this point now, is quite looking forward to that and there is some excitement to see what does come out.