The 2007 Formula One season is shaping up to be one of the best ever

There's a long way to go of course - thirteen more races in fact - but for the first time for a very long time there is a genuine four way battle for the Drivers' world championship.

Four contrasting drivers are battling for the title

At this stage of the season it does seem that the 2007 world champion will come from one of only two teams, Ferrari and McLaren, and that each of the drivers in these two teams could end up as the winner. This is quite unusual in the sport where the traditional model is for a team to have a star driver backed up by a worthy support man. Schumacher and Barrichello; Alonso and Fischichella; Hakkinen and Coulthard… Indeed fans memories have to stretch back to the late 1980s at McLaren, when Prost and Senna fought (often acrimoniously!) for the title, to find a big team where each of the drivers was equally talented and had an equal chance. But this year the surprise has been how evenly matched Alonso and Hamilton are at McLaren and similarly Raikkonen and Massa at Ferrari. Whilst Hamilton and Massa were clearly the number two drivers at the beginning of the season (and much less well paid than their number ones) this is not the way that it is working out.

The Scuderia likes their drivers to be charming

Michael Schumacher's years and successes at Ferrari were based on two key things - his exceptional talent behind the wheel and his genuine commitment to help the team. Over eleven years at the Scuderia not only did he bring them five championships but he did this by working closely with the team on all aspects of their work. A popular myth about Schumacher was that he was ice cold and Teutonic - but nothing could be further from the truth. He is personally charming and used this quality to build strong relationships and make many friends at Marenello. Schumacher's replacement at Ferrari, Kimi Räikkönen, is a very different character. Whilst he is a sociable animal, of sorts, that side of him is well away from the track or the team headquarters. His nickname as the 'iceman' could refer not just to his cool driving style but also to his interpersonal approach with his team - if reports leaking from Ferrari are to be believed. Imagine, then, how Räikkönen felt when his nemesis Schumacher turned up at Barcelona! With Schumi in the garage and the hugely liked Felipe Massa lapping up the maestro's advice Räikkönen must have felt rather rejected.

Jean Todt's big challenge

For Ferrari team leader Jean Todt the challenge is now to get the best out of Kimi Räikkönen and to assure him that there is nothing Machiavellian about Michael Schumacher's involvement with the 2007 Ferrari F1 team. This will require careful handling. Todt's son Nicholas is Felipe Massa's manager and Todt senior needs to assure his Finnish star that this does not mean that the charming young Brazilian will get any favours. Räikkönen is paid mega-millions for his services this year and Ferrari will want value for their investment. Todt and Räikkönen will need to find a way of working together - and Schumacher's presence and role is a key factor here.

Ron Dennis has problems to relish

Whilst Jean Todt has some tricky problems to sort out his great rival at McLaren Ron Dennis has a problem of his own - but one that any other team principal would cry out for. For Ron it is the challenge of how he keeps both his astonishing young star Louis Hamilton and his brilliant World Champion number one driver Fernando Alonso hungry and happy. The comparison with Prost and Senna back in 1989 is tempting to make except that they were then both established stars and former world champions. This time Ron has in Alonso a driver who at the still tender age of 25 has two championships under his belt and the tyro Hamilton who at only 22 looks to be the coolest head on four wheels since 'Professor' Prost. Prost and Senna were utterly different characters - the former unbeatable when the car was going well whilst the latter could improvise from the seat of his pants to cope with even the most troublesome car. Alonso and Hamilton look more similar in style and approach - which means that the contest will be all the more intriguing. Dennis won't favour one driver over the other although he knows that the sponsorship bucks tied up with Alonso make him a more valuable asset this year. Ron's paymasters at Mercedes will want Fernando to deliver!

Monaco beckons!

Your correspondent is off to Monaco in two weeks time - the first time I have been to that most famous of Grands Prix. It should be a fascinating battle with qualifying playing a crucial part. See you at the Mirabeau!