The Fight for the Title part 2

Having progressed thus far into F1 2007 the title protagonists are quite clear. Three wins a piece for Massa, Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton, just those nasty little retirements from the red camp over there separating the points difference.

The general feeling in the traveling circus is that Ferrari will have the advantage in the last 5 or six races and to an extent this was bourne out in Turkey where Massa and Raikkonen slipped through for a tantalizing Ferrari 1-2. Only just. Hamilton had the de lamination issue but even then he would have only been coasting to 3rd. Ahead mind you of double world champion Alonso. The Ferrari advantage wasn't as big as people expected and in the recent F1 test, McLaren had the indecency to out pace Ferrari in the ultimate battle ground, the bloodied fields of Monza.

Inside 'Paragon', McLaren's ultra modern facility development work will be going at an unprecedented pace because they are chasing their first title since Mika's days. Admittedly Ferrari only have an outside chance but they have to keep the development race going just in case the McLaren Mercedes-Benz misses a beat, perhaps the furious development will introduce a reliability issue and Ferrari will be back in the hunt.

McLaren have got off lightly this season it must be said, I suppose after years of Ferrari domination and then a couple of years of Renault superiority the time for yet another change is due? Ask Max.

We said Turkey was going to be critical for the championship and it was. Had McLaren won you could have said that the title too was all but won but Ferrari put the title in the balance and the question is can they do the same in Italy?

Favorite for the title at this stage? You would have to go for Alonso wouldn't you?