As the 2010 F1 season opener draws nearer, there have been many questions about who will be on the starting grid in Bahrain. Many new comers have been granted a spot on the grid; however there are many questions still to be answered.

The Italian media along with many Tifosi are almost relieved that the 2009 F1 season is over. Ferrari endured a hard and almost painful and fruitless season. The Scuderia had a handful of podiums, one victory at the hands of Kimi and some non-point scoring races that crippled it’s chances at securing 3rd place in the constructors standings. Ferrari lost that honour to rival McLaren, which had a fantastic turn-around at the half-season mark. It is the first time in several years that the Ferrari has not finished in the top 3 in the race for the Constructor’s championship.

After 52 Grand Prix, 26 podiums which include 9 race wins, 15 fastest laps and 5 pole positions, it is time to say ‘Arrivederci’ or in Kimi’s case ‘Näkemiin’ to Kimi Räikkönen.

It only seems like yesterday that it was Monza 2006 and it was announced that Kimi would replace Michael at Ferrari. During his time with the scuderia, he won the 2007 World Drivers Championship and helped Ferrari win the World Constructors’ Championship in 2007 and 2008.

From Cat, (FerrariF1Forum member)

Tokyo – Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone Corp a long time Scuderia Ferrari F1 team partner said on Monday that it would pull our of Formula 1 next year, dealing a even greater blow to the already stunned sport after the recent withdrawal of other high-profile F1 teams and firms due to the prevailing global downturn.

Bridgestone said it would officially terminate its contract as the official Formula 1 tyre supplier with the sports governing body the FIA, raising questions over who would replace it.

Abu Dhabi may be the home of the Ferrari World Amusement Park, but there certainly was nothing Amusing to think about after the Abu Dhabi GP. Ferrari lost out to McLaren on 3rd place in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship by a single point. During the race Ferrari had a chance to outscore rivals McLaren with pole sitter Luis Hamilton having to retire from the race due to a rear brake failure but the F60 the development of which stopped before the Hungarian GP simply did not have enough pace. Kimi Raikkonen in his last race with the Scuderia finished a lonely 12th 54.3 seconds behind the leader. With teammate Giancarlo Fisichella in what many believe may be his last GP in F1 (the Italian bound for testing duties with the Scuderia) finishing 16th 1 lap down.

Scuderia Ferrari are set for a difficult race in Abu Dhabi, scheduled to start in just a matter of hours. Ferrari looking to win the 3rd place in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship are starting the GP in 11th (Kimi Raikkonen) and 20th (Giancarlo Fisichella). On the other hand their rivals for 3rd place in the F1 WCC will start from Pole (Luis Hamilton) and 18th (Heikki Kovalainen) despite a gearbox change on the Finn’s McLaren.

Kimi Raikkonen is setting a personal goal of ending his 3 year carrer at Ferrari on a high, providing a good result for the Maranello based team.

“We’ll try to conclude this difficult year with a good result, hoping that it will be enough to gain the third place in the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren took over in Brazil. It will be difficult, because the competition is very strong.”
“Furthermore in Brazil the two titles have been assigned, so maybe there are certain drivers who will risk a little bit more, as everything has been decided already. Our direct competitors are still improving their car, while we have been using the same car since the race in Hungary at the end of July.”

When the lights go out at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, age old rivals Ferrari and McLaren will square off again in the fight for the prize.

About $5 million (a figure that seems minuscule by F1 standards) is reportedly up for grabs as Ferrari and McLaren contest for an unusually lackluster third place in the constructors’ world championship at the Abu Dhabi finale next weekend.

McLaren sits just one point ahead of Ferrari for the dubious honor of second runner-up behind Brawn and Red Bull.