Motor Sports: British Grand Prix -- Is Ferrari just too good?

This weekend's 54th British Grand Prix has plenty of intrigue surrounding it. Will Ferrari continue their domination in the driver's and constructor's championships? Can Williams and McLaren do anything to stop the onslaught from the F2002? Will Rubens Barrichelo continue to match Michael Schumacher in pace and in qualifying?

Unfortunately for race fans, the answer to the first question is probably a resounding yes. Ferrari has been simply awesome this season and shows no signs of flagging. The really depressing reality for the other ten teams on the grid is that the F2002 is the finest F1 racing car ever built and that they are preparing to introduce a new engine that adds another 15-20 rpm's to their arsenal.

For Williams and McLaren the 2002 season has resulted in the flip-flopping of positions from last year. Williams is clearly the second best team on the track, with BMW power and the skills of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher behind the wheel. McLaren has fallen off badly from the past four years, with David Coulthard and Kimi Raikonnen fighting with the re-energized Renault outfit for the scraps left behind from the Ferrari-Williams duel.

Renault has made spectacular strides from their progress last year. Drivers Jenson Button and Jarno Trulli have been focused and effective, while the R202 has proven to be reliable and drivable. The Silverstone race will be a watershed for the young Button, who will most likely find out afterwards his destiny with the Renault team. Managing Director Flavio Briatore is eager to bring his protege and client, Fernando Alonso, out of the test-driving position and back into the big leagues.

If Renault does not retain Button, there is strong speculation that Jaguar and Toyota will pursue the talented young Brit. After a very successful rookie campaign with Williams in 2000, Button had serious sophomore problems at the now re-branded Benetton squad. 2002 has seen Jenson re-affirm his status as a naturally gifted driver, with great feel and serious pace. Briatore's desire to see Alonso in a Renault could come as a serious blow to Button's driving future. Jaguar and Toyota would be seen as steps back without question.

Other teams to watch at the British GP are Sauber, who have followed their strong fourth place finish in the 2001 Constructor's Championship with another fine year. Currently sitting in fifth place and using the 2001 Ferrari engine, Sauber should continue to hold steady with Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa having strong years.

The dismal season of Jordan is hoping that their home race will give them better fortune than they have found so far. Jordan sit sixth in the Constructor's derby, but only because of the fantastic performance of Giancarlo Fisichella, who has muscled the poor EJ12 into three points finishes. Takuma Sato has finished only four races with a best of ninth place.

Jaguar's home grand prix sees a radically revised aerodynamic package making its debut. Eddie Irvine has scored the team's lone points, a fourth place in the season opener in Australia. Since that time, Irvine has only finished two races, has been consistently outpaced by his teammate, Pedro de la Rosa, and the Jaguar team has been relegated to fighting for position with Arrows, Toyota and Minardi. Niki Lauda needs to bring this team around in a hurry if Ford is to continue its financial support of this floundering operation.

At the end of the day, the checkered flag should again see the crimson livery of Ferrari cross the finish line first. The biggest question for the remainder of the season will be how the Scuderia will handle Barrichelo's increasing pressure on Michael Schumacher and the fight for his fifth World Championship.