LONDON -- A youth movement is under way in Formula One.

Two-time series champion Mika Hakkinen has retired after 11 seasons, and Jean Alesi is gone from the sport after 13.

	Juan Pablo Montoya leads a strong group of young drivers in Formula One.

Four-time world champion Michael Schumacher will be 33 when he begins his 12th season in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Schumacher's Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello is beginning his 10th season, while David Coulthard (McLaren) and Eddie Irvine (Jaguar) are embarking on their ninth campaigns.

As the veterans near the end, there are a half-dozen young drivers ready to step up.

Juan Pablo Montoya, 26, showed his promise last season in his rookie year in F1 after winning titles in Formula 3000 and CART, and also taking the Indianapolis 500 in 2000. The Colombian won once last season in F1, pushing BMW-Williams teammate Ralf Schumacher, and is widely regarded as the brightest young talent in the sport.

Montoya is already known for his car control and daring passes, which he deployed last season on Michael Schumacher, Jarno Trulli, Barrichello and others.

Kimi Raikkonen, 22, has earned the nickname "Ice Man." Cool under pressure, the Finn moves this season to McLaren-Mercedes from Sauber to replace Hakkinen. In his rookie F1 season last year, he led Sauber to fourth place in the constructors' standings, a team best.

Renault has two youngsters to watch -- Jenson Button of Britain and test driver Fernando Alonso.

Button, 22, is starting his third season in F1. He was a sensation in his first season with Williams in a fast car but a major disappointment last year with Benetton (now Renault) in a poor car. Button will be under pressure on two fronts.

Teammate Trulli is one of the fastest drivers in F1. And then there is the matter of 20-year-old Alonso, who drove last season with Minardi after just a season each in Formula 3000 and Formula Nissan. The Spaniard is sitting out a year to test for Renault. And he could make life miserable for Button if his practice times are quicker than the Englishman's.

"To my mind, taking in account what he had to work with, Fernando was the rookie of the year (in 2001)," Minardi owner Paul Stoddart said.

Another one to watch is Sauber's Felipe Massa. The 20-year-old Brazilian takes over for Raikkonen and is already being called the "New Senna." He appreciates the comparison. But that's all.

"I feel really flattered but I want to keep my feet on the ground," he said. "Ayrton Senna was one of the greatest racing drivers of all time and I have only tested a couple of times in F1. That is definitely not enough to judge me by."

Jordan is banking on its own rookie, 24-year-old Japanese Takuma Sato. Sato won consistently in F3 and will team up with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella.