As we have seen before in Formula One, founding a completely new team and being competitive is an almighty task. Some have been successful, others not. 

The FIA have now confirmed its entry list and in 2010 the grid will expand to welcome six more cars and three new teams. For Campos Grand Prix, Team US F1 and Manor Grand Prix Racing, the winter will be a very busy one - building the team, developing a fast and reliable F1 car from scratch, and raising the money necessary to compete at the top level.

CAMPOS GRAND PRIX

Country: Spain

Engine: Cosworth

Team principal: Adrian Campos

The Campos Racing team was launched in 1998 by former F1 driver Adrian Campos, who competed in 21 grands prix for Minardi between 1987 and 1988 but failed to finished better than 14^th place. The results of his own teams have been better. He also gave Fernando Alonso his first ever car test, and the Spaniard went on to win the Euro Open MovieStar Series by Nissan with Campos. The team entered the GP2 Series in 2005 and in 2008 won the constructors' championship. In 2009 the GP2 team was renamed Barwa Addax, and proved the class of the field. Campos also compete in F3, run the Mexico A1 Grand Prix team, and have won a total of 11 titles.

MANOR GRAND PRIX RACING

Country: United Kingdom

Engine: Cosworth

Team principal: John Booth

Based in Sheffield, in the north of England, Manor has been active in the lower formulae ever since former racer John Booth turned to management. They quickly won in Formula Ford, the entry level single-seater series, and then dominated Formula Renault between 1997 and 2000, Kimi Raikkonen taking his first title with Manor. In 2003, Lewis Hamilton raced for them and won the British F3 championship. The F1 team's technical director is Nick Wirth, who was previously technical director at Benetton and, before that, founded the Simtek F1 team which raced between 1994 and 1995. In total, Manor has won 171 races and 19 championships in other formulae.

TEAM US F1

Country: USA

Engine: Cosworth

Team principal: Ken Anderson

Running under the slogan 'Made in America', US F1 is an entirely new racing operation, but its directors have been involved in F1 racing for many years. Ken Anderson was previously technical director of the Ligier and Onyx F1 teams, has designed and constructed multiple Indy 500 and Indy Car Series winning cars, and created the state-of-the-art Windsheer wind-tunnel in North Carolina. It is in this American state - an epicenter for NASCAR racing teams - that US F1 will be based, and the team plans to field to American drivers. It will be the first time an F1 team has been based outside of Europe.

DID YOU KNOW?

US F1 co-founder and sporting director Peter Windsor is a journalist and former Williams team manager, and was a passenger in the car when Sir Frank Williams had his crippling accident in 1986.

The first rule of event organizing is: Never get Eddie Jordan drunk and hand him a microphone.

It's up there with letting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad address students at Columbia. Potentially dangerous, but cover-your-eyes funny.

"This is what we think of Max Mosley" is EJ's opening gambit, his middle finger held aloft for all to see. There are some cheers of support from the back of the room. Those of us sat at tables at the front of the stage - many of us working in F1 - glance behind, paranoid that this might be a trap.

But no, it's just Eddie trying his hand at stand-up and launching into a smutty speech about how he'd like to be spanking hookers at a pensionable age too.

Jordan was the first entertainment act at this year's Grand Prix Ball, and I was invited on to the top table by title sponsor TW Steel, who make those really massive watches.

Rumour has it that TW Steel are looking to do an F1 sponsorship deal. I wondered whether that might entail a FOM deal similar to TW Steel's A1 GP sponsorship. However, one of TW Steel's managers told me they are actually  talking to teams instead. And Red Bull and Renault's commercial managers were both on the table next to mine, so I guess it's them they're talking to.

Usually the ball is held at Stowe School. I went to Stowe and, having successfully avoided it for 15 years, joked to the chap that invited me that I wasn't sure I was ready to return. "Actually it's being held at a place called Boycott Manor instead", he said. How apt!

Actually I did nip up to Stowe over the weekend just to see the gaff and check out my old dorm. I paid a visit to the school's chapel, and there I found a book in which pupils could leave prayers (er, yeah...). The last entry read 'Please God, don't let me get swine flu. Amen.' I thought it was a joke, but then found out the whole reason the event was being held up the road at Boycott Manor was because one pupil had contracted the epidemic.

There were various performers, including Mica Paris and Kid Creole and the Coconuts - who were actually really good. It was like time traveling back to the 80s. In his purple suit and flat-top hat, Creole looked a bit like Prince's pimp father. Which has to be cool, doesn't it?

The main event was a beauty pageant. At each race on the A1 Grand Prix tour, a Miss TW Steel had been chosen. The seven girls on stage comprised Miss China, Miss Holland, Miss Portugal, Miss Australia/New Zealand, Miss Malaysia, Miss South Africa and Miss UK. The judging panel included EJ, Rick Parfitt Jr, and Caprice who lent the girls not-a-lot for the swimsuit round. Yes, try eating dinner with all that going on.

We all thought Miss Australia/New Zealand had it in the bag but a surprise decision by the judges gave it to Miss Portugal, who thanked her mum and walked off with a $25,000 cheque.

At the end of the night our table was presented with a big metal briefcase full of watches, and we were invited to help ourselves. So I've now blagged myself a rather nice chronograph with a brown leather strap. In F1, wearing The Big Watch is very important - the ultimate status accessory. If only they handed out world titles for timepieces, Ralf Schumacher would be a seven times champion. 

Sebastian Vettel drove a masterclass at Silverstone to win the British Grand Prix. It was the 21 year-old's first victory in dry weather conditions and may have been enough to kick-start a real title battle.

Championship leader Jenson Button qualified sixth and made a poor start, which pushed him down to ninth through the first corner. He fought his way back up to finish with three points. Overall, his Brawn car struggled for grip with a low track temperature of 26 degrees. "On the soft tyre we were quick, but on the hard it was very difficult," said Button, the focus of Silverstone's 100,000-strong crowd. "My poor start really cost me as overtaking here is tricky. Vettel gained seven points on me, which isn't good. We need to hope the Nurburgring is hotter than here."

In the first stint of the race, Vettel lapped a massive second-per-lap quicker than second placed Rubens Barrichello. Come the first pit stops, Vettel's team mate Mark Webber leapfrogged the Brazilian and gave Red Bull their second one-two finish of the year. Barrichello was pleased with his third place, believing it was the best result he could have hoped for. Ferrari's Felipe Massa, too, exceeded expectations by racing from 11^th on the grid to fourth. The scuderia called a terrific strategy.

Last year's winner, Lewis Hamilton, took to the grass several times, had a huge scrap with Fernando Alonso, and finally finished in 16^th.

It was a perfect race for Vettel, who saw his lead reduced as he lapped cars - something he described as "a slalom" - but still crossed the line 18 seconds ahead of Webber.

Silverstone hosted the first ever round of the F1 world championship in 1950, and 2009 promised to be its last event. However, there is renewed optimism that the track may return after Bernie Ecclestone disclosed that if the Donington circuit isn't ready by next summer the race will be back at Silverstone. It's certainly a favourite of the drivers.

"Thank you Silverstone," gushed Vettel. "The crowds were all on their feet on the last lap - the atmosphere was incredible. I used to watch races here in the era of Mansell and Senna, so to win here for me is a dream fulfilled."

RACE RESULTS

1. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull-Renault
2. Mark Webber - Red Bull-Renault
3. Rubens Barrichello - Brawn-Mercedes
4. Felipe Massa - Ferrari
5. Nico Rosberg - Williams-Toyota
6. Jenson Button - Brawn-Mercedes
7. Jarno Trulli - Toyota
8. Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
9. Timo Glock - Toyota
10. Giancarlo Fisichella - Force India-Mercedes
11. Kazuki Nakajima - Williams-Toyota
12. Nelson Piquet - Renault
13. Robert Kubica - BMW-Sauber
14. Fernando Alonso - Renault
15. ]Nick Heidfeld - BMW-Sauber
16. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes
17. ]Adrian Sutil - Force India-Mercedes
18. Sebastien Buemi - Toro Rosso-Ferrari

DNF      Sebastien Bourdais - Toro Rosso-Ferrari

DNF      Heikki Kovalainen - McLaren-Mercedes

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Button - 64
2. Barrichello - 41
3. Vettel - 39
4. Webber - 35.5
5. Trulli - 21.5
6. Massa - 16
7. Rosberg - 15.5
8. Glock - 13
9. Alonso - 11
10. Raikkonen - 10
11. Hamilton - 9
12. Heidfeld - 6
13. Kovalainen - 4
14. Buemi - 3
15. Kubica - 2
16. Bourdais - 2

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Brawn GP - 105
2. Red Bull Racing - 74.5
3. Toyota - 34.5
4. Ferrari - 26
5. Williams - 15.5
6. McLaren - 13
7. Renault - 11
8. BMW-Sauber - 8
9. Toro Rosso - 5

Recommending nightlife in Silverstone is a bit like asking whether you would prefer to be shot or stabbed. The best thing you can do is get a nice Winnebago or Abercrombie & Kent-style tent and make your own entertainment. 

However, if you have access to the paddock a lot of the teams go all out as they cater for thousands of guests over the weekend. If you prowl around the BRDC campsite you'll find where the drivers keep their own motorhomes. Thursday night is driver barbeque night. Meaning they'll be grilling steaks, not perishing in flames. On Saturday the Force India team is having a darts competition in their motorhome for members of the British media, and later on the nearby Boycott Manor is hosting this year's Grand Prix Ball.

Lewis Hamilton stays at Raymond Blanc's wonderful Manoir aux Quat' Seasons in neighbouring Oxfordshire, and helicopters in each morning.

www.manoir.com

Silverstone hosted the very first round of the Formula One World Championship back in 1950 - a race that was attended by the royal family. Originally an RAF airfield during war time, Silverstone is a power circuit and the home grand prix for seven of the teams.

Silverstone offers a challenging flow of fast corners and some good overtaking opportunities. Because of the flat nature of the land, though, it's quite difficult to find a good vantage point.

Turn 1, Copse, is a 280kph right-hander which requires just a dab of the brakes and a flick of the wrist. The most enjoyable section for the drivers is maggots, where cars thread turning left, right, left, right, left, and rely a lot of the time just on engine braking. Most of the overtaking opportunities can be found on the hanger straight, before turning into the 240kph Stowe corner - which used to be taken flat out, but no longer. This is a wonderful place from which to spectate. Bridge is a very rewarding right-hander, again just requiring a dab of brake. The BRDC clubhouse is located down at the Woodcote section where spectators can see the cars at slower speed, winding around a loop before beginning their next lap.

Overall, the team that succeeds will have developed the best aerodynamic efficiency. This is a very fast and flowing circuit, but it also suffers terribly from crosswinds which threaten the cars balance.

Jenson Button once had a reputation for being a party animal, but on Wednesday night - while other drivers reveled in London - the world championship leader was snuggled up in his motorhome, parked at an empty Silverstone.

Being Button's, though, it's not just any motorhome. It's got personality. It's huge, it's metallic red, and it has flames painted down the side. It looks like it should have music pumping out of its mirrored windows, and disco lights ablaze. But it's quiet, with just the distant sound of generators as the teams erect their garages. Jenson is after an early night and wants no distractions ahead of his home race.

Previously, his best result at the British Grand Prix was fourth for Honda in 2004. But now, with the lightening-quick Brawn car, expectations are much higher.

Button will be keen to shirk that pressure. His coolness in such situations, though, and his easy-going manner with the demanding media has been characteristic of the 29 year-old, who has matured after a few years in the shadows. If he is feeling the eyes of the world upon him, he isn't showing it. He's scored an incredible six wins and one third place from seven starts this year.

"To be leading the championship going into my home grand prix is something that I've never experienced before and it puts a smile on my face every time I think about it," Button said. "If we come away with a good result, I'll be so happy on Sunday!"

Legendary drivers like Nigel Mansell have come forward with plaudits. "The great thing is that he had served a very long apprenticeship and now it's coming together," said Mansell. "He's more focused than I have ever seen him and better than ever as well."

Mansell competed in F1 for 13 years before he won his one and only title, in 1992. Likewise, Button has raced for a decade with little to show for it but disappointment. Until now.

Unless a miracle occurs, this is likely to be Formula One's last visit to Silverstone for a while. Possibly ever. From 2010 the race will visit Donington - provided the finance is in place and the works is completed.

Memories of Silverstone - which was the first circuit to hold a world championship race, in 1950 - are most vivid when an Englishman has taken the chequered flag. 'Mansell Mania' was first seen in 1986, when the mustachioed Brummie pulled an audacious move to overtake triple world champion and sworn enemy Nelson Piquet. The crowd flooded the track when Mansell returned to the passing spot after the race to kiss the ground. In 1994 Damon Hill caused similar celebration with his win, while last year Lewis Hamilton drove the best race of his career to date, beating his rivals in the wet by 68 seconds.

Twelve months on the situation is very different for Hamilton. Stuck in a car which is struggling to qualify in the top ten, it could be a painful weekend for the reigning champ. But he's had four months to get used to the new world order, and being lapped by Button.

Jenson may find his greatest threat on Sunday comes from his team mate. Rubens Barrichello is fighting any sense that he might now be the Brawn team's de-facto number two, after failing to score a point in Turkey two weeks ago. His victory at Silverstone in 2003 is the highlight of his 17 year F1 career so far, when he passed Kimi Raikkonen around the outside of Bridge corner for the lead and proved he was much more than Michael Schumacher's rear gunner. Last year he finished third in a car that had no business being up there. So, it's fair to say, Rubens is a Silverstone master.

Button and Barrichello have a great off-track relationship, but on it they are fiercely competitive. Whoever is driving the winning car, if it's a Brawn that crosses the line first there will be celebration at the team's factory, located just a couple of miles away in Brackley - a factory which so nearly closed down over the winter.

In the last 20 years only two Americans have raced at motorsport's pinnacle - Formula One. However, a new team promises to field Americans exclusively from 2010, and base their entire operation in North Carolina. It will be the first F1 team ever to be based outside its European heartland.

Adam Hay-Nicholls speaks exclusively to sporting director Peter Windsor.

The team - USF1 - say their mission is "to prove that American technology, American drivers and the competitive spirit can compete and win on the F1 global stage". An uplifting mantra as the US auto industry slides further towards bankruptcy. But there are very few Americans to be found working in F1's elite pit garages, and even fewer on the track - zero.

Since 1993, the only two Yankees to race in F1 were Michael Andretti and Scott Speed. Between them, they had three seasons to prove themselves. Speed never scored a point, while Andretti could only muster seven, and one podium finish. His Brazilian team mate, Ayrton Senna, scored 73 points and five wins that year. Both Americans were fired.

So there is some cynicism in the F1 paddock as to whether an all-American team can deliver. However, Peter Windsor is adamant that the people of North Carolina - NASCAR's ground zero - have the skills and facilities to match the best Europe has to offer.

"It's an incredibly strong area motorsport-wise - a $6 billion industry. There are some very good people and the technology is fantastic". Windsor, 57, was born in the UK but works as a pitlane reporter for F1's US broadcaster, Speed Channel. Back in the 1980s he was team manager at Williams, where he met Penske engineer Ken Anderson. The two are now driving the USF1 project. They have a temporary lease on a 38,000 square feet factory just north of Charlotte, and boast they have all the facilities they need, as well as talented composites and metallurgy companies, machinists and fabricators on their doorstep.

"Ken and I thought if we're going to do this in the US we might as well go all the way and have American drivers and personnel," says Windsor.  "We don't want to upset other teams by pinching their personnel. So let's do it with our own guys in America."

F1's plan to introduce a £40 million budget cap from 2010 will help a new independent team like USF1 enormously. Also, Windsor claims three major corporations have approached them about sponsorship. The team have signed an engine supply deal with Cosworth. And, as a personal experiment perhaps, Windsor would love to run a NASCAR driver in an F1 car. After all ex-F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya is a winner in the US stock car series. Is trading places realistic? "I believe a great racing driver is a great racing driver, and fundamentally they'll be able to drive anything," says Windsor. "No other team would risk racing a NASCAR driver straight out of NASCAR, but we would."

F1 would love to win over US audiences, and a home-grown team and drivers could give American petrolheads something to cheer about.

WHO'S IN THE HOTSEAT?

Adam takes a look at the American drivers who might have a shot at F1.

Danica Patrick

The only woman to ever win an Indy Car race, this 27 year-old is a superstar. F1 would love a lady driver, but is Danica quick enough? "She's definitely got the credentials," says Peter Windsor, "and she grew up the hard way in Formula Ford in the UK. Equally she's won on the world stage. The thing about Danica is that she'd be bigger than the team, and I don't know that's a good thing for us in year one."

Marco Andretti

Racing royalty, 22 year-old Marco is the son of Michael Andretti and grandson of 1978 F1 world champion Mario. He was second in the 2006 Indy 500, a race his granddad won in 1969. He successfully tested for the Honda F1 team in 2007, but his recent Indy Car performances have been disappointing. "I rate Marco, obviously. If Mario says he's good he must be good. But the impression I have is that he just wants to stay in America for a while and win races," says Windsor.

Graham Rahal

Won on his Indy Car debut last year, making him the youngest driver ever to win a major American open-wheel race. Thereafter, the Ohio-born 20 year-old's season went downhill. Graham's father is 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, who once ran the Jaguar Racing F1 team.

Jonathan Summerton

Competed in the ultra-competitive Formula 3 Euroseries in 2006, winning one race, and also took a win for Team USA in the A1GP series in 2007. This season the 20 year-old, from Florida, is racing in the American Indy Lights series. "It would be good to get a really young driver so we can grow at the same rate," says Windsor.

Kyle Busch

Stock Car sensation Kyle has won 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup races and 24 Nationwide Series races, yet he's only 24. Peter reckons the Las Vegas-born racer could easily convert to open-wheels: "He's just the right age, and young enough to go back to NASCAR if he wants to. If he proved quick with us we would not stand in his way should BMW or Ferrari want him. He's already huge in the US, and if he was successful in F1 too he'd suddenly be the biggest driver on the planet."

All the current F1 teams have made the entry list (good news) along with Manor, Campos and USF1. The FIA have given the FOTA teams until next Friday to lift their conditions.

So onto the next round...

P.S Where's Prodrive? Everyone thought that David Richard's organisation was a shoe-in.

Press Release 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List 12.06.2009

Following the completion of the applications process for teams to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the following teams have been confirmed.   TEAM  CONSTRUCTOR  SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO  FERRARI  SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO  STR TBA  RED BULL RACING   RED BULL RACING TBA  AT&T WILLIAMS  WILLIAMS TOYOTA  FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM  FORCE INDIA MERCEDES  CAMPOS GRAND PRIX  CAMPOS COSWORTH  MANOR GRAND PRIX  MANOR COSWORTH  TEAM US F1  TEAM US F1 COSWORTH  VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES*  McLAREN MERCEDES  BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM*  BMW SAUBER  RENAULT F1 TEAM*  RENAULT  PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING*  TOYOTA  BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM*  BRAWN TBA *These five teams have submitted conditional entries.The FIA has invited them to lift those conditions following further discussions to be concluded not later than close of business on Friday 19 June. The maximum number of cars permitted to enter the 2010 Championship has been increased to 26, two being entered by each competitor. Pending completion of the discussions referred to above, further due diligence is currently taking place on other potential entries.

Nelson Piquet pulled a stunning move on Lewis Hamilton for a lowly 16^th position. He dived down the outside of the McLaren at turn 12, Lewis locking his brakes. But as Nelson exited, the rear of his Renault came wide. He just kept his foot planted and kept the inside line through the next corner. 

Nelson and Lewis have always had a love-hate relationship, having been championship rivals in the 2006 GP2 season. Here are some other things Nelson loves and hates:

LOVE

1. Blondes
2. Hot weather and beaches
3. Family
4. Boats
5. Driving

HATE

1. Traffic
2. Cold weather
3. Speed cameras 
4. Flying out of London Stansted
5. Pollution 

Jenson Button arrived for the post-race press conference 20 seconds ahead of the other podium finishers - just as he had done on track. By winning the Turkish Grand Prix he has extended his lead in the title chase to 26 points.

"The car was just outrageous!" gushed Button. "We thought it would be much tougher today, and I was enjoying the car so much that every lap I drove I had a big smile on my face. I would have driven another 200 laps if I could."

Sebastian Vettel had been on pole, but made a mistake on the first lap that let the Englishman through. "I lost the car through turns nine and 10," said the Red Bull driver. "When I saw him flying away my first thought was 'Shit!' Jenson was too quick for me today - even without my mistakes I wouldn't have kept ahead of him."

"In previous races Red Bull were on our pace, but today we were a step ahead," confirmed Jenson.

Vettel was heavily compromised by a three-stop strategy that didn't work, and which he said he wasn't happy about. It denied him second place.

Button's Brawn team mate, Rubens Barrichello, had a nightmare race. He slipped from third to 13^th at the start and then, on Lap 11, failed to make a pass on Heikki Kovalainen stick and spun. Dropped down to 17^th he started driving like an angry commuter, swearing under his breath as he tried to pass Adrian Sutil. He quickly lost his rag - and his front wing end-plate. On Lap 48 he made Brawn's first retirement of the season.

Jenson may seem uncatchable, but the Red Bull duo are still full of hope. "Jenson is in an incredible position, but if he has a couple of DNFs that will change," warned Webber.

Button is optimistic about the coming races, and has vowed to keep attacking. "The situation at the moment is perfect, but you can't lift off. You need to keep pushing. I'm going to make every move I can to win every race."

RACE RESULTS

1. Jenson Button
2. Mark Webber
3. Sebastian Vettel
4. Jarno Trulli
5. Nico Rosberg
6. Felipe Massa
7. Robert Kubica
8. Timo Glock
9. Kimi Raikkonen
10. Fernando Alonso
11. Nick Heidfeld
12. Kazuki Nakajima
13. Lewis Hamilton
14. Heikki Kovalainen
15. Sebastien Buemi
16. Nelson Piquet
17. Adrian Sutil
18. Sebastien Bourdais

DNF Rubens Barrichello

DNF Giancarlo Fisichella

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Button - 61
2. Barrichello - 35
3. Vettel - 29
4. Webber - 27.5
5. Trulli - 19.5
6. Glock - 13
7. Rosberg - 11.5
8. Massa - 11
9. Alonso - 11
10. Raikkonen - 9
11. Hamilton - 9
12. Heidfeld - 6
13. Kovalainen - 4
14. Buemi - 3
15. Kubica - 2
16. Bourdais - 2

If you want to see the start of the race, it might be worth staying on the Asian side of the city, as the traffic across the two bridges that span the Bosphorus is so heavy, if you're stuck on the European side it could take two and a half hours to reach the Istanbul Park circuit. 

Along the river bank there's great nightlife to be found, with many of the F1 crowd heading for the outdoor club Reina, where Missy Elliott performed at a grand prix party in 2006, and the nearby Anjelique. If you want to be really flash, you can arrive at these clubs by speedboat. 

Temperatures should be significantly warmer than in 2008 when the race was held in early May, resulting in guests aboard Vijay Mallya's lavish yacht party huddling for warmth under blankets, like they were waiting to be rescued.

www.reina.com.tr

www.istanbuldoors.com

Istanbul Park is designer Hermann Tilke's masterpiece, built on undulating land and featuring 14 challenging corners, many of which were inspired by other famous turns such as Interlagos' 'Senna S', Suzuka's 'Spoon Curve' and Spa's 'Eau Rouge'. The highlight of the lap is Turn 8 - a tremendously fast, flat-out triple-apex curve which, for the drivers, provides great reward. Through this corner, the drivers endure a load of 5G (five times the force of gravity) for approximately four seconds. Getting the racing line perfect through here is absolutely crucial.

There are excellent overtaking opportunities at Turns 1, 3 and 12. The circuit runs anti-clockwise, a rarity shared only with Brazil's Interlagos and Singapore, and is therefore physically demanding for the drivers as it puts extra strain on the neck.

Measuring 20 metres at its widest and with large braking zones, this circuit can generate a compelling race.

The Turkish Grand Prix made its debut in 2005, and while the inaugural race was won by Kimi Raikkonen, it's the Finn's team mate, Felipe Massa, who has dominated the event since with a hat-trick of commanding victories.

Having scored a hat-trick from the last three Turkish Grand Prix, Felipe Massa arrives in Istanbul with a clear goal - to win Ferrari's first race of 2009.

This season has not started the way the Scuderia had hoped. Failing to score in the first three rounds was hugely embarrassing for the team. However, their F60 car showed massive improvement on the streets of Monaco, giving the team their first podium and first double-points finish of the year.

Massa is traditionally uncatchable around Istanbul Park's fast, sweeping corners. This is a fabulous circuit - its 14 corners inspired by other great tracks around the world, such as Spa-Francorchamps and Interlagos. But to win, first Felipe must beat Jenson Button, and that will be no easy task given the Englishman's current form.

Jenson has been peerless this season. Put simply, he has yet to put a foot wrong. His Brawn car is the class of the field, but the margin between it and the Red Bulls, Ferraris, Toyotas and Williams isn't as big as you'd think. The others have had several opportunities to score higher than the Brawns of Button and Barrichello, but they have fumbled their strategies, or the drivers have made careless errors. Button, meanwhile, is looking like the coolest champion since James Hunt, and his dominance reminiscent of Nigel Mansell in 1992 and Michael Schumacher in 2004, who both sealed the deal with a third of the season still to run. Six races into this season, Jenson has taken five wins and six podiums.

A miserable race in Monaco was the last thing the increasingly po-faced Lewis Hamilton wanted. It will be interesting to see how the McLaren performs in Turkey as they have been making slow improvements, but Istanbul Park is a bogey track for Lewis. In 2007 his race was ruined by a puncture. In 2008 Bridgestone demanded he make three stops. The reason is that Lewis cannot get his style right here - he's way too hard on the front-right tyre.

Winning has lost its novelty value for Jenson, a driver who had just one win to his name from 153 starts before this year's campaign started. Victory in Monaco was an ambition he held dear, and he did it two weeks ago. Winning his home race at Silverstone in a fortnight will be just as poignant. Turkey might not resonate to the same degree, but he'll be thrilled with ten points here nonetheless.

However, if Massa can put Ferrari back on its winning track this weekend, and achieve four wins in a row in Istanbul, the parties in Italy and Brazil will be massive and well deserved.