Motorsport: Hope, hype and promises for Formula One

The official Formula One website will tell you exactly how many days, hours, minutes and seconds there are until the opening Grand Prix of the season. What it can't say is whether the wait will be worthwhile.

After several seasons of declining interest fuelled by the dominance of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari, the world's premier motorsport series roared back in 2005 with its youngest champion, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, and a French car powered by Renault.

But behind the scenes the controllers of the sport were trying to prevent the manufacturers with the biggest budgets boosting costs out of control. The manufacturers, meanwhile, were talking up their own plans to start a rival series where they got a bigger share of the revenue.

And the fans just pay more. In New Zealand they will have to pay up for live cover because Television New Zealand has been supplanted by Sky.

There will be one new team, the Japanese Super Aguri outfit.

Each new season begins with high hopes, plenty of hype and promises that rule changes will promote keener contests. One change can't be missed: the season will start in Bahrain because Melbourne will be too busy with the Commonwealth Games.

In the meantime, here are some more questions to fill in the days before the first race:

* Will this be Michael Schumacher's final season? The German maestro turned 37 this month and after nailing seven world championships has always said he continues to race because he enjoys it. Another season like 2005 may encourage him to seek his enjoyment elsewhere.

* Can Alonso and Renault repeat their championship successes? This season will be their last together as the Spaniard will shift to McLaren in 2007. Renault were very fast out of the box last year but others had caught up towards the end.

* Will this be McLaren's year? Kimi Raikkonen had the fastest car by the end of 2005 and Juan Pablo Montoya can be just as quick.

* Williams and BMW have parted and Sir Frank's team will be powered by Cosworth engines so can Mark Webber bounce back from a poor season and stay ahead of new team-mate, Nico Rosberg, son of the former world champion?

* Can Honda return to their glory days as a works team? They have bought out BAR and hired Rubens Barrichello to join Jenson Button but, despite success as an engine supplier, their last win with their own car came from John Surtees in 1967.

* Will Bridgestone and Michelin be back on level terms now tyre-changing restrictions have been removed? Michelin had the edge last season when lasting qualities were needed and Ferrari suffered on Bridgestones.

* Can the Americans forgive the farce that was the United States Grand Prix in 2005? Michelin-shod cars pulled out because their tyres were suspect and Schumacher won a six-car procession. The French manufacturer has handed out thousands of free tickets for 2006 but the race better be good.

* Will the 2.4-litre V8 engines introduced this season be a fair match for the 3-litre V10s to be allowed with restrictions for lesser teams? Better fuel economy may change race tactics.

* Can Scott Speed be the American driver Formula One needs to kindle interest in the US? The 23-year-old won Red Bull's driver search four years ago and gets his chance to prove himself in the new Torro Rosso colours.

If the racing in the 19 Grand Prix season ending in Brazil on October 22 is half as interesting as the pre-season conjecture, the wait will have been worthwhile. 

 
Formula One season

* Bahrain  March 12
* Malaysia  March 19
* Australia  April 2
* San Marino  April 23
* Europe  May 7
* Spain  May 14
* Monaco  May 28
* Britain  June 11
* Canada  June 25
* United States  July 2
* France  July 16
* Germany  July 30
* Hungary  August 6
* Turkey  August 27
* Italy  September 10
* Belgium  September 17
* China  October 1
* Japan  October 8
* Brazil  October 22