Saturday 4 March at 20:26 : A comparison with your teammate is often the most obvious representation of a driver’s skill and competence that viewers can see in F1, given the often wide disparity between cars from different manufacturers. This year again we have many interesting teammate battles, with many drivers who have a point to prove. In this feature we will keep track of the relative performance of all the driver pairings this season. As a preview, a comparison of their past performance and indications from testing follow.

Super Aguri F1
The new addition to the grid this year, and they will enter the first few races with a modified 2002 Arrows chassis, so their only competition might be themselves, at least in the beginning of the season. They have the all Japanese driver pairing of the rookie Yuji Ide and the relatively experienced Takuma Sato who has a point to prove after being dropped by Honda in favour of Rubens Barrichello.

Yuji Ide
DOB: 21/1/1975
Age: 31
Races: 0
Points: 0
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0

A veteran of the Japanese F3 championship and no spring chicken at 31, he will have it all to do to prove that he can compete at this level. Had his best year in 2005, finishing 2nd in Japan’s premier single seater series, Formula Nippon, but still probably the least fancied rookie this year.

Takuma Sato
DOB: 20/1/1977
Age: 29
Races: 50
Points: 40
Podiums: 1
Wins: 0

Japan’s most successful F1 driver, and widely believed to be a major factor in Super Aguri coming into existence. The announcement of Barrichello and Button as Honda’s drivers in 2006 evoked protest in Japan and from then the rumours of a Honda B team for Sato began. A Honda B team they unabashedly are, with Honda engines, other technical support and the Honda logo plastered across the rear wing of the Aguri cars. Sato has a point to prove after a miserable season in 2005 when he was outscored 38 points to 1 by Jenson Button, and many controversial incidents for which he took abuse from a lot of drivers on the grid. Still has a huge fan base in Japan and a well liked driver due to his willingness to admit to mistakes.

Pre-season testing:
Super Aguri have done the least testing by far in pre season testing, and if their speed then is any indication, the drivers will only be competing with each other until they get their new car or a major upgrade. The drivers haven’t driven against each other and though Sato set the faster time in their test in Barcelona, it was hardly indicative of anything.

Pre-season Verdict
Sato should romp home with this one even if can’t reproduce his form of pre 2005. Ide would hope to be close by the end of the season.

Scuderia Toro Rosso
Red Bull’s rookie team formed after the takeover of Minardi at the end of 2005 by Red Bull. They will be the only team still running V10s, albeit restricted Cosworth ’05 spec ones, as allowed by a clause in the FIA regulations. They are expected to be near the rear of the grid, though they may surprise Midland. Very much a proving ground for young Red Bull talent, as shown by their driver trio of Vitantonio Liuzzi and rookie Scott Speed as race drivers and the GP2 and A1 star driver Neel Jani as third driver.

Scott Speed
DOB: 24/1/1983
Age: 23
Races: 0
Points: 0
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0

The first driver from the United States in F1 since Michael Andretti’s brief unsuccessful stint in 1993, he is another of the GP2 graduates, and was classified 3rd in 2005. After his rapid rise through the second rung of motorsports, he will have a lot to live up to and silence his critics. Nelson Piquet Jr. has gone to the extent of saying that he got the drive because of his name!

Vitantonio Liuzzi
DOB: 6/4/1981
Age: 24
Races: 4
Points: 1
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0

The 2003 Formula 3000 champion, he has had a slightly frustrating time in F1 and has not quite lived up to the promise. After rumours of Ferrari interest and testing with Sauber in September 2004, he lost out on the race drive to Villeneuve. He signed up with Red Bull for 2005, and had 4 races with them, scoring a point at Imola after the BARs were disqualified. However Klien was brought back after 4 races, and Red Bull did not swap drivers again all season. Was relegated to the second rung team, though he might be considered fortunate to have the drive considering the rise of Neel Jani, and it would not be surprising to see some driver swapping at STR next season.

Pre-season Testing
STR again have done very limited winter testing, and were hampered by rain in their major test in Imola. Expectedly, Liuzzi was the faster driver in their only comparable test day at Bahrain.

Pre-season Verdict
Liuzzi would be expected to win this one, due to his F1 experience, and stronger F3000/GP2 record.

Abeer Mahendroo
DailyF1News.com