In this week's column Ann Bradshaw sums up the season from her viewpoint, the problems with qualifying, says farewell to the outgoing drivers, the dramas some of the teams suffered and revels in the return of Alex Zanardi to motor racing…

It is a long time since I have seen so many Grands Prix on TV and so few in the flesh. However, I have enjoyed sitting watching what goes on and seeing it from a true fan's point of view. This way I had to take as gospel what the commentators were saying and then read magazines and, of course, the Atlas F1 website to find out the inside stories.

At the end of all of this I think we fans have had a pretty good year. The racing has been fast and furious. Overtaking has returned to Formula One, and at the end of the season we were not certain until the chequered flag came out who would be crowned the new World Champion.

Michael Schumacher had to work for his money. Kimi Raikkonen proved he is a champion of the future and capable of taking on the big boys. Juan Pablo Montoya showed touches of brilliance but still had some unfortunate lapses that I am sure he has come to rue at the end of the season.

The one part of the whole package I did not enjoy was one lap qualifying. While those of us who were sadistic sat on a Saturday afternoon praying for rain at about 2.30pm local time, I cannot applaud anything that is artificial in what is one of the most sophisticated sports in the world. Surely we want the best man to win in the best car. We want the teams to raise their game and not pray for someone else to have a problem or for the heavens to open to give them an advantage.

Talk in a Grand Prix paddock often centres round retirements, and hardly a week went by without a story suggesting that David Coulthard was going to concentrate on his night job - running a hotel in Monaco - and vacate his seat at McLaren for Juan Pablo Montoya to step in. As I write this nothing of the sort has happened, but there are several other drivers who may have to hang up their helmets, although this will not be their own choice.

Number one on that list is Jacques Villeneuve. Sadly we didn't realise in Indianapolis that it would most likely be his last race. He has entertained and is a real racer, but now it seems unlikely he will be on the grid when the lights go out in Melbourne on the 7th March. He was mentioned as a player in the Coulthard scenario, as it was suggested he would go back to WilliamsF1 when JPM went off to McLaren. This now seems highly unlikely, and I am sure Jacques has no desire to go to one of the less competitive teams that still has a vacancy.

Peter Sauber decided to make both of his drivers redundant, and so Heinz Harald Frentzen and Nick Heidfeld are on the streets. While there may be a straight swap with Heidfeld taking up the vacant spot as a Ferrari test driver occasioned when Felipe Massa was re-signed for Sauber, I cannot see Frentzen finding a seat. The ones that are left need money to secure them, and I don't get the feeling that someone with a lot of money is going to stump up to prolong the 36-year-olds career.

While I don't feel particularly sorry for the two Germans I do have some sympathy for Justin Wilson. He did a good job at Minardi, although I have to admit with expectations for that team always low this is not that difficult. He then got thrust in the limelight when Jaguar dispensed with the services of Antonio Pizzonia. I have to hold my hand up here and admit I was fairly disgusted with the treatment of Antonio, but having said that I did not wish any bad luck on Justin. I have only met him briefly but found him extremely pleasant, and without doubt he has ability. Sadly for him the Jaguar team did not provide him with a car to show his talents. Now with rumours of them wanting a lot of money for this seat I have to be pessimistic about his chances of being in Grand Prix racing in 2004.

I expect we will also have seen the last of Ralph Firman, another man who needs money to keep his seat at Jordan. He came amid considerable hype and after an unsteady start seemed to pick himself up. Sadly here was a team that, despite the win in Brazil, went on a downward slide during the year, and even if Ralph came up with the money I am not sure quite what he could prove.

I am delighted to say Minardi is still alive and kicking. Grand Prix racing needs Paul Stoddart and his dedicated team, but I am at a loss to know how they can keep going in a sport where money seems to fly around like confetti. I doubt Jos Verstappen will be there next year. He was, to put it politely, very rude about the team in the Dutch press. For me this sort of thing is uncalled for - if you have an issue with a team go to your team owner and state your case - airing your dirty linen in public does no one any good and only demoralises the team.

While year after year Jos seems able to find wealthy backers perhaps it could be the end of the road. Since he started his F1 career in 1994 he has changed teams like most of us change our clothes, but perhaps this has been his last drive. I would be disappointed not to see him out there, as I think he is a good driver and a nice person, but perhaps the writing is on the wall for him.

If I were in the habit of giving awards I would give the Houdini Award for the greatest survival story to BAR. They have spent the year looking like the team that could do nothing right. Mark Webber in the Jaguar put in some great performances and this rather overshadowed what Jenson Button was doing. They had retirements when things were looking to be on the up and, of course, the knives were soon out for David Richards, who was accused of doing no better than former team boss, Craig Pollock.

Then suddenly, like magic, the team turned round its fortunes and in the final race of the year, thanks to reliability - something Jacques seemed to lack - they leapfrogged the competition to claim the coveted fifth place in the Constructors' battle. Apart from the personal satisfaction this must have given everyone at Brackley, this will have also guaranteed the team considerably more money for 2004.

While I am still in award mode then I suppose the Hero to Zero Award should go to Jordan. That win, mentioned above, came out of the blue, and while it was in exceptional circumstances remember the saying 'to finish first, first you have to finish'. Sadly the podium pictures do not reflect the result but at the end of the day Giancarlo Fisichella has the trophy on his mantelpiece and EJ the money in his bank.

Unfortunately the goodwill this brought a team that has always been very popular was soured when EJ decided to take Vodafone to court for welching on a sponsorship deal. Only EJ and his marketing people know the true story of what went on and why they brought this case, but to the casual, but interested, onlooker this seemed foolhardy in the extreme. Surely the embarrassment this caused their sponsor, Benson & Hedges, must have been considerable.

Add to this the anger felt by Vodafone and the team it sponsors, Ferrari, and there does not seem to be any way that EJ could have come out of this a winner. During the case his good name was blackened and eventually his bank account was reduced by US$1.67million to pay Vodafone's legal costs. I can see the only winners in this case were the legal people. Formula One looked silly, and it cannot have given Vodafone much confidence for its future sponsorship negotiations.

I must also mention Rubens Barrichello for playing the superb supporting role to Michael. One day someone please make him your number one and let us see what he really can do. The man doesn't have a bad bone in his body and I think he is one of the sports best ambassadors.

Up to now I have focused on the drivers, but spare a thought for the poor technical staff. They spend most of their year in wind tunnels and then come out into the sunshine every other weekend to see how well they have done. Not the most glamorous life, but very well paid. Nowadays they can make as much difference to the performance of the car as their drivers can, and to reward them for this their wages often match those of the superstars.

Again this is an area where rumours abound as to who is switching teams and who may be hanging up their drawing boards. This year the rumour mill has gone into overdrive about the future of Mike Gascoyne at Renault F1. He has given the team an amazing car and Fernando Alonso his first win. Renault are back in the winners circle and surely Flavio Briatore must be certain that soon he will make his French paymasters very happy by giving them a championship. They have two very good drivers and all looked set.

Sadly for them the rumours, often denied, have proved to be true. The deal that has been offered to Gascoyne by Toyota has proved too tempting, and he is off to Cologne for next year. I would love to know how much he is being paid - I suspect it may even be more than Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta's wages combined!

Finally before I sign off I want to report what for me was one of the most emotional and enjoyable weekends of my year. The final round of the European Touring Car Championship was in Monza the weekend after Suzuka, and there we saw the competitive return of one of the nicest drivers to ever sit in a cockpit. Alex Zanardi, two years after his horrendous accident in Germany where he lost both legs, was behind the wheel of a racing car. He drove a BMW 3220i for BMW Team Italy-Spain. It was a joy to have him back in the sport and he was an inspiration to all of us. He wanted no special treatment, although the team had moved his clutch and throttle controls to the steering wheel.

He kept us all amused, and even joked about when he was going to change his legs for the driving versions. He is admired world-wide, and for me another amazing gesture was made by Jimmy Vasser and Tony Kanaan. They both had such affection for Alex that they decided to come to Monza to see him. They didn't mention this to him, so when they walked in the garage it was a complete surprise for him. I love motorsport, and when I see events like these happen realise that there is still a human side to it.

Well those are my thoughts for another year and now, with the rest of you true racing fans worldwide, I shall just wait with anticipation the start of next season.

About the author:
Ann Bradshaw - Annie - began her motor racing career as a teenager, helping out her brother in local rally races in England, where she grew up. In the 1970s she organised motor racing events in England, and was later the press officer for the RAC MSA - the motorsport governing body in Britain. In mid 1980s, she became press officer to team Lotus, where she worked with Ayrton Senna. Shortly after, she moved to the Williams team and was working there for several years, when once again she found herself working with Senna. She worked with Damon Hill after the Brazilian's death, and moved with the British Champion to Arrows. She also worked with the Panoz team in the United States, before becoming a freelance press officer, now working with Compaq and BAR among others. Annie joined Atlas F1 as a regular columnist in April 2002.