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Monday, December 16 Updated: December 24, 3:29 PM ET  Comments on Formula One drivers ESPN.com We spotlighted F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Rubens Barrichello. Check out what our users had to say about their '02 campaigns and prospects for next season:
Fernando Alonso
Fernando did a respectable job driving the low-powered Minardi, and the main reason he lost his ride was due to Alex Yoong coming in with the sponsorship deal from Malaysia. He should due well at Renault and Renault should have a better car than last year. It will make a good combination. Steve Giroux Long Beach, Calif.
Alonso will be one of the guys to watch next season in F1. He, Kimi Raikkonen and maybe Justin Wilson are the new guard for years to come in the premier form of motorsports. Alonso's rookie year almost had a Ayrton Senna-esque to it as he pushed the Minardi to heights only special drivers could put it, such as what Senna did with his Toleman. His ability to out-qualify anybody with a three-year-old engine is impressive enough, let alone an average of 17th out of 22 cars. With another year of learning at Renault and their 110-degree engine under their belts and Michelin making spec tires for each car under the new rules, we could see Alonso taking the No. 1 driver role at Renault and maybe some podiums. Derek McCord Chillicothe, Ohio
Rubens Barrichello
Overtake Schumacher? Not very likely. Finish second in the points again? Much more likely. If Ferrari is correct about the improvements in the F2003 car being more dramatic than the F2002's improvement over the previous year's car, Rubens will indeed take a second successive runner-up position. I know people are saying that McLaren and Williams will be improved in 2003, but if Ferrari are as improved as they say THEY will be, the others will again be also-rans, the finish will be like 2002's, and the British fans will have another year to cry in their ale. Dennis Walker Silverdale, Wash.
You have to give Barrichello credit for cruising to second-place in the standings. No, he wasn't even close to Schumacher, but he put plenty of distance between himself and Montoya. But if the new points and qualifying rules make any difference in 2003, Schumacher should still win the title but Barrichello will have a much more difficult time holding off Montoya, Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and possibly Kimi Raikkonen for second place. For there is a gap between Ferrari and the other cars, but there is no such talent gap between Barrichello and those other drivers. Alf Gordon New York  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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