Rothmans Williams-Renault

• Last weekend the Williams pair dominated the whole weekend, the number 5 car (Damon Hill) taking pole by a massive margin. The other teams won't have had time to test any significant new parts so expect the chassis to still be head and shoulders above everyone else. The Renault engine seems to run well here and, dispite the immasculation of the Tamburello the circuit should suit it.

• Damon Hill may not have won last weekend but most people will have to agree that his charge through the ranks was a good show of driving skill. Damon should be on the front row and with more experience of the track than his team-mate, he should take pole. The race itself may throw a few surprises Damon's way, but he proved last weekend that he can overtake and cut through traffic. Barring gremlins or accidents he should win or take a podium.

• Jacques Villeneuve drove a cracking race to win his first in F1 last weekend and this could be his chance to close up on Hill. Although he has tested here, Jacques is still disadvantaged compared to the other leading drivers who have driven here for many years. With the FW18 going as well as it is you can expect a front row or pole position. In the race I have no doubt that if he can get ahead at the start he can keep the others behind him. If he doesn't he could have difficulty overtaking other drivers. Podium position.

Mild Seven Benetton-Renault

• Two awful starts from the Benetton pair last weekend put paid to any hopes of the team for points, but Berger was upbeat about the handling of the chassis after his stop and was the fastest man on the track for some time. The car is slower than the Williams by a larger margin than the Benetton team expected, but with the Renault powering the B196 they shouldn't be far off the pace. Podium is likely, a win an outside possibility.

• Jean Alesi made a silly mistake in the race and was never really in the chase in qualifying at the 'Ring. A lot of the Tifosi will still cheer him on so he should drive well with the crowd pushing him. Qualifies well, races well. A win isn't impossible, but if either Williams gets in front in the race, there could be difficulties. More likely a podium place will be waiting for him.

• Gerhard Berger qualified below Alesi again and the team still haven't managed to get his airbox problem fixed., so he should be slower than Jean again. The races seem different so if he gets a good start he could get a podium but I can't see him winning... this time.

Ferrari

• Slower than it's rivals, definitely, but still faster than the rest of the field. The car seemed to be better than ever last weekend, with the pukka 1996 car running for the first time since Melbourne. The engine brought an early bath for one driver but seemed to work for the other so it looks a bit hit and miss. Podium positions are not unlikely if it goes well but a win is almost certainly beyond them at the moment.

• Micheal Schumacher drove a storming race last weekend and was obviously wringing the best from the F310. Still faster than everyone on track (and possibly a match for Senna if he was still with us), he can make it onto the podium if the car stays together but I don't think he'll make the top step.

• Eddie Irvine retired because of an engine problem at the Nurburgring but couldn't manage his qualifying form in the race. He seems to have sorted some problems with the chassis as his grid position reflected, but needs luck to get anything other than the tail end of a top 6 finish.

Marlboro McLaren-Mercedes

• Oh dear. I cast McLaren from the ranks of the top four and they choose that time to come good. Hakkinen's engine letting go on his first lap was a bad start, but Coulthard drove well in qualifying and Mika wasn't too far behind. The chassis and engine still need work but they definitely look good for positions if they finish.

• Mika Hakkinen had the bad luck to have his engine break but things were made worse when the T-car had to be reset from Coulthards settings to his before he could qualify. Still he didn't do too badly, yet seemed to loose the plot in the race and didn't really trouble anyone. Should drive well as long as the car finishes. Top 6 likely but I can't see another podium coming.

• David Coulthard drove a blinder to drag his car onto the top end of the grid. What really impressed was his start. 5th to 2nd was great and he drove sensibly for the whole race to take a deserved 3rd. Hopefully he'll go well but this is only the second time he's driven here so he could be disadvantaged. Points aren't byond him but a podium probably is.

Benson and Hedges Jordan-Peugeot

• What can I say? Both cars ran well and qualified relatively well last weekend. Points for both cars and no apparent problems bode well for Imola. The Peugeot power should see them at the sharp end again. Points and maybe a podium.

• Rubens Barrichello drove hard after a good start and managed (just) to keep Hill at bay. The Brazilian has come a long way this year and is fulfilling some of his promise. Unlucky not to get on the podium but it can't be far away now.

• Martin Brundle obviously hasn't got the car set up to his liking yet but still races well. Nothing spectacular about his performance but had a safe run to pick up points. Points are a possibility but I can't see him getting onto the podium.

Red Bull Sauber-Ford v10

• The Sauber pairing ran relatively well last weekend with both cars qualifying in good positions. This can be put down to a higher revving version of the Ford v10 engine and not to any chassis improvements. The chassis is said to be quite good and the team can hope for a point or two if both cars make the finish.

• Heinz-Harald Frentzen drove well and retired. If the car makes it to the end, he can't be ruled out of the points positions. Herbert closed the gap in qualifying and this must worry the German who has crushed all his team-mates so far.

• Johnny Herbert drove his Nomex socks off in qualifying to get closer to Frentzen than anyone else has in a fair fight. This should encourage him and a fired up Herbert can do great things. I'd like to see points but don't think we'll see them with reliability problems and the cars ahead.

Arrows-Hart

• The only noticeable change to the team since TWR took over is the colour scheme but the chassis is good. The big problem this weekend will be the Hart engine. Imola is a circuit that needs a powerful engine, even in it's new format and this will hold back the drivers. Not likely to score.

• Jos Verstapppen qualified relatively well (for an Arrows) but wasn't that hot in the race. The Hart seems to be letting him down more often than not and it makes me wonder if he's being a bit rough on it in trying to make a name for himself. Points are not out of the question but unlikely.

• Ricardo Rosset had a poor qualifying session but finished the race last weekend but he can't hope for much. No points and a grid slot a second (at least) behind Verstappen.

Tyrrell-Yamaha

• It's going all pear shaped for the team that helped Jackie Stewart to the World Championship. Both cars disqualified at the European GP was a bit harsh but as they were well out of the points it's all academic. The car is promising, as is the engine, but just can't get up to the pace required to get points. Their place in the constructors top 10 is secured already but they need results soon. No points unless the track suits the car.

• Mika Salo drove well after being hit by a careless Alesi near the start and finished a lap ahead of his team-mate before disqualification for being underweight. Very fast but struggling in the Tyrrell. Points if a lot of cars drop out or if the car suits the circuit.

• Ukyo Katayama can't have long left in F1 at this rate. The team has long since stopped revolving around him and this seems to have effected him. He is fast and the Italian circuits seem to be good ones for him. Hopefully he'll finish but I don't see him getting any points.

Ligier-Mugen Honda

• Reliable as ever, the Ligier team seem to be able to get both cars to the finish in most races. Some of this is the engine of course, but it makes you wonder what they'd do with a big budget and a works engine. No chance of points without divine intervention.

• Olivier Panis drives well but needs to get out of Ligier. Faster than Diniz but one of the slower mid-fielders. A bit ambitious in his attempt on Irvine last weekend but still driving well. Points if a lot of cars drop out, otherwise no chance.

• Pedro Diniz is crap, lets face it. Last weekend finally proved it for me. So much slower than Panis it was silly and his failure to see the obviously faster Williams of Hill baring down on him just go to show that money talks (or is that money shouts?). His only redeeming factor in F3000 was his qualifying and now that's down the pan we should see the back of him.

Minardi-Ford ED

• The only race the Minardi team is in is with Forti. They seem to be winning and the drivers are quite good. The engine is very, very poor compared to every other so they haven't got a hope in hell.

• Pedro Lamy is slower than both of his 1996 team-mates but manages to keep it going once the race has started. I don't recollect seeing him at the Nurburgring and I doubt we'll see him this time either. Errr... no points.

• Giancarlo Fisichella Drove relatively well last weekend but I doubt the cars ability to get into the points unless something goes wrong.

Forti-Ford Zetec-R

• The FG03 is here at last. I suppose they will get ahead of the Minardi's at some point but the new chassis won't work too well at first I fear. I think they'll both retire but I hope they prove me wrong.

• Luca Badoer should qualify his Forti for the race (and maybe get in front of Rosset if last weekend is anything to go on). No hope of points really.

• Andrea Montermini outqualified his team-mate for the first time last weekend but I don't think it will happen again. A new chassis may get him into the race but he's not going to get any points is he.