With such a brilliant season comes the weight of expectation in 2004 as more wins and podiums are anticipated. But with several top engineers leaving Renault and the unknown quantity of a new engine, he will still have to work hard and keep pushing the envelope of his ability if he is to hang on to the top three teams.

With the MP4/19 McLaren already testing and setting rapid times, and with Kimi having gained a decisive edge over team-mate Coulthard, he ought to go into 2004 as championship favourite. He will also be keen to firmly establish himself in his team's affections before the feisty but endearing Montoya joins him in 2005.

How JPM fares in 2004 will be one of the most intriguing questions next year. How well he will work with his team knowing that he's off to McLaren in 2005 remains to be seen. The racer's mentality inherent in JPM and Williams suggests that he will still be a title contender, but one can't help but feel that there will be some tension.

Momentum in F1 is a cyclic thing, and with McLaren and Williams looking strong for 2004 and Ferrari having nowhere to go but downhill, next season will be a test of Michael's motivation, especially now that he has that coveted 6th title. Will obviously still be a contender, but we wouldn't be surprised if he is finally dethroned.

There is every chance that Webber may be going to Williams in 2005, so to solidify his position he must continue his 2003 form next season. With Jaguar on the up, and with unheralded rookie driver in Christian Klien alongside him, he will have every opportunity to continue to impress.

Much has been made of the fact that next year Button becomes a team leader for the first time. But regardless of how Sato does, Jenson has a chance to assert himself, and with Michelin tyres, a stronger Honda engine, and better qualifying pace to match his race pace, he could well give the big four teams some headaches.

Rubinho's future with Ferrari is unclear after 2004, so next season will be an important year for him. There is no better team player in F1, but perhaps it's time for him to make a mark for himself. He does have the speed to compete with Michael, he just needs to use it. More Silverstone-like drives required from the Brazilian.

With Montoya due to go to McLaren, Ralf is now looking like being Williams' main man for the next few seasons. But he desperately needs to find the right balance of aggression, speed, consistency and mental strength if he is going to challenge for the championship and not get swamped by the hungry next generation.

There is no reason why Cristiano can't impress further in 2004. But along with his team he will need to up his game. Showing that he can be competitive and keep his car on the track is one thing, but showing that he can put up a fight when the opportunity arises is another matter altogether. Ought to increase his points haul.

Trulli is no longer the next big thing in F1 - his team-mate is, and it seems Jarno's comfortable with that. That's actually going to help his driving in 2004. Much will of course depend on how competitive the Renault is next year, but if it's still 'big four' material, there will be many more points and perhaps regular podiums for Jarno.

Upon the announcement that Montoya is joining McLaren in 2005, most have taken it for granted that it's DC who will be replaced. If the MP4/19 is as good as intended, then Coulthard will need to stop all that self-examination and, as Nike might say, 'just do it'. Could well be his final season in F1 though.

It is expected that 2004 will be Panis' final year in F1. He and his team must realise that the race is won on Sunday, not Saturday. With a better and more reliable car, and more orthodox tactics, Olivier still has what it takes to bring home a bevy of points, and may well score Toyota's first ever podium.