In the final part of ESPNF1's end-of-year review, we asked our panel to put their necks on the line and make some predictions for the year ahead. Specifically we asked for their driver and team to watch as well as asking them what they would change in F1 to make the sport better.

Sir Stirling Moss reckons closer barriers would improve racing © Sutton Images Enlarge

One Change to make the sport better

"At the moment drivers have huge run-off areas at most tracks and they can get away with huge mistakes. The best race of the lot is Monaco because they have no margin for error and personally I'd like to see all the circuits lined with Armco. We're talking about drivers who are meant to be the best in the world, so they should be able to stick to the black stuff and face the consequences if they don't. I'd also like to see points awarded for pole position and fastest lap."

Sir Jackie Stewart, three-time world champion: "More overtaking but how to achieve that is another story altogether."

Sir Frank Williams, nine-time constructors' champion: "Some of the run-off areas are too far away from the fans. And each circuit must have at least two obvious overtaking points."

Gerard Lopez, RenaultF1 majority shareholder: "Have the drivers design their own tracks!"

Tonio Liuzzi, Force India driver: "I think KERS is a good start to improve overtaking but I'm not sure about the moveable rear wing."

Sam Bird, GP2 driver: "I liked the fuel pit stops because you could play with strategy a bit more. So I'd like to see that return."

Laurence Edmondson, ESPNF1 Deputy Editor: "Bring back manual gearboxes and foot-operated clutches. The best way to promote overtaking is to make the cars more difficult to drive and increase the chances of a mistake. A missed gear was a vital ingredient to action in the past and sequential paddle-shift boxes put an end to that. What's more, if drivers were happy to operate their F-ducts with just one hand on the steering wheel through Eau Rouge, they shouldn't be any complaints about shifting manually."

Driver to watch in 2011

Who will be the driver to watch in 2010? © Getty Images Enlarge

"Sebastian Vettel for sure, because I stick by saying he is the fastest driver out there. But if he makes any mistakes I think Fernando Alonso will be there, just as he was this year. Robert Kubica is also bloody quick and makes races exciting by fighting from the midfield. If Renault builds him a car that's quick enough we'll see the very best from him."

Sir Jackie Stewart: "Sebastian Vettel for the same reason."

Sir Frank Williams: "Red Bull and Toro Rosso reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo."

Gerard Lopez: "I'm going to say Robert Kubica and put him down for a race win or more."

Tonio Liuzzi: "Lewis Hamilton."

Sam Bird: "I think it will be interesting to see how Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez get on in 2011, so I'll be watching that with interest because I raced against them this year."

Laurence Edmondson: "Nico Rosberg should be in a position to take the first win of his career in 2011, given that Mercedes shifted its focus to next year's car at a very early stage. He was one of the top drivers in 2010 and should finally have the car to show his true potential."

Team to watch in 2011

Will there be a surprise in the pack in 2011? © Sutton Images Enlarge

"Force India I think have done a very good job in 2010 and I think they will continue to do so in 2011. They have the Mercedes engine and they are learning to build a very good car around that. I'm not saying they'll be running at the front but I expect them to make gains compared to their rivals."

Sir Jackie Stewart: "Red Bull to see whether they have the outright ambition to win back-to-back titles."

Sir Frank Williams: "No comment."

Gerard Lopez: "McLaren."

Tonio Liuzzi: "Force India."

Sam Bird: "Mercedes."

Laurence Edmondson: "Mercedes 2011 development started early and many of the engineers that were behind the all-conquering 2009 Brawn are still at the team. They had a lapse in 2010 due to uncertainty about the team's future in the close season and several failures to get the F-duct to work at the races, but neither of those factors will apply in 2011."