IT was inevitable the announcement Juan Pablo Montoya would be joining McLaren in 2005 would cause a stir in F1.

The news, a full 12 months ahead of the Columbian's defection from Williams, gives the gossip-mongers a year to speculate - so long, in fact, you suspect the fall-out could become a little wearing, even by the time the first race roars off the grid in March.

Of course, the sport is used to its silly season, which usually starts around July as teams and their drivers begin to look at the options for the following year.

But the Montoya affair and the fact so many contracts come to an end this season means the annual game of musical chairs has already started - and could leave more than one established name dumped unceremoniously on their backside.

David Coulthard still seems a likely candidate, despite McLaren's protestations this week that the team have made no firm decisions on their 2005 line-up.

Raikkonen and Montoya would seem the Silver Arrows' most likely pairing, although Raikkonen has pointed out rather impishly his current contract could allow him to move if he wished.

Nevertheless, some would argue Coulthard would do well to begin courting Williams for Montoya's vacant seat, although the smart money at the moment seems to be on young gun Jenson Button replacing the Colombian, particularly if he impresses in his first season as team leader at BAR.

Rubens Barrichello is also reported to have made it clear he wants his own future at Ferrari sorted out before the 2004 campaign gets under way and perhaps he deserves some reward for his loyalty to the Schumacher cause over recent seasons.

But the F1 paddock isn't known as the Piranha Club for nothing and Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve are among the former world champions who have suddenly found reputations are sometimes worth about as much as a gallon of fuel in a sport renowned for its money and politics.

So as 2004 begins, it seems all anyone in F1 can say for sure is that they are living in interesting times - although some more so than others!