A multiple world champion hailing from Germany trying to resurrect Formula One's most famous name and putting them back to where they, and many others, feel they should belong: at the pinnacle of the sport. Now where have we heard that before?

Well for Sebastian Vettel, following in his hero Michael Schumacher's footsteps, he hasn't started off too badly has he? 11 podiums in his first 15 races for Ferrari, including three wins in Malaysia, Hungary and Singapore, has seen the quadruple world champion off to a mighty impressive start with the Prancing Horse.

He's currently splitting the two dominant Mercedes' of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in the World Championship with four rounds of the 2015 season remaining. Whilst an unexpected chase for a fifth crown in his first year with the Scuderia will utilmately fall short (with Hamilton on the brink of becoming only Britain's second triple world champion after Sir Jackie Stewart), the foundations are already seemingly set for Vettel and Ferrari to challenge the all conquering Silver Arrows on a much more regular basis in 2016.

Of course, barring a lot of late misfortune for Hamilton and Vettel somehow picking up the pieces and miraculously snatching the title, this will be Ferrari's eighth season in a row without a driver's title, a barren run, which for the sport's most successful team, is simply not good enough.

Felipe Massa was champion for a matter of seconds in 2008, Fernando Alonso looked as if he was going to become the Tifosi's new hero, especially after winning on debut in Bahrain in 2010. Despite the Spaniard coming oh so close that year and in 2012, Alonso fell short of his goal of winning a third title; a goal which, at this moment in time, looks unlikely of ever being fulfilled. 

Alonso was maximising, if not exceeding, the car which he had at his disposal, getting every last morsal out of a car which was much inferior to Red Bull and McLaren. There was never a sense that a Schumacher era was ever to materialise again at Ferrari.

Instead, it was Vettel's era, sweeping to an astonishing four straight titles, with sheer speed and consistency helping him to break all sorts of records. Now, we are potentially looking at a Hamilton era, but Ferrari have been a thorn in the Mercedes side this year on a few occasions.

But if we are to witness the first Ferrari drivers' champion since 2007 next season, scarlet red needs to land more knockout blows on metallic silver, rather than a few jabs here and there.

And that brings us on to Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari's last world champion. Ask any die-hard Formula One fan who the current greats of the sport are, and it's fair to say, three names will commonly appear: Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso. That's not to say that Raikkonen isn't a world class driver.

But having been quite clearly back-up to Alonso last year, the same has happened this year with Vettel, and that won't be changing anytime soon. Whilst Kimi is one of the most popular guys on the grid, with his few words and no-nonsense attitude, many expected this year would be his last in the sport.

He does get another shot next year, but with the Finn turning 36 in a matter of days, age isn't on his side and he probably will step aside in twelve months' time. So, if that were to be the case, who replaces Raikkonen and becomes Vettel's next team-mate?

One Flying Finn for another?

It's been well documented over the last few months that Valtteri Bottas could be the man to replace his fellow countryman, but he must wait at least another year for the second Ferrari seat to become available. It did seem that talk of replacing Raikkonen (before it was confirmed Kimi was staying) was effecting Bottas and that has been showing in results.

He's been solid, if unspectacular this season, albeit a little bit disappointing too; many thinking he would push on for regular podiums, maybe even his first win or two, yet that hasn't been the way. Yes, Williams themselves have not been as competitive, but Bottas hasn't swept Massa out of the water as some were thinking. 2016 could be a decisive year for Bottas' career, one in which he is being tipped as a future world champion.

The One with the Infamous Smile

An intriguing prospect could be Daniel Ricciardo becoming Vettel's team-mate again, although Vettel himself might not like the sense of deja vu. The Honey Badger, seemingly smiling no matter what, has endured a difficult year, with just the one podium to his name, compared to his first three wins in F1 a year ago, as he became the first Vettel team-mate to outscore the German.

Red Bull's future in the sport is of course in the headlines at the moment, with still no engine for next year, so it could be the case of Ricciardo not being on the grid for his home race for the season opener in Melbourne come March. There's no doubting Ricciardo's talents and Ferrari will be keeping their eye on the young Aussie.

Force India for Forza Ferrari?

Poor Nico Hulkenberg. Whenever it comes to the big teams getting a new driver, he always misses out, despite always being linked with them. The Hulk is now one of the sport's main stayers, but he has still yet to manage to get on the podium, with his best moments in F1 coming in Brazil; his one and only pole in 2010 and leading the majority of the 2012 race.

Time is ticking for the German to get a seat which will get him on that podium. You can't exactly rule out Sergio Perez either; Formula One's most underrated driver? Unlike his current team-mate, Checo knows how to get top-three finishes, as shown with his brilliant drive to 3rd in Sochi this past weekend. He has experienced a big seat before, filling the hefty boots of Hamilton at McLaren in 2013. That didn't exactly go to plan for the Mexican, yet that expreience has only benefitted him and he would be much more prepared this time around.

Young Max

With Bottas not pushing on as many thought this year, is Max Verstappen now at the front of the pecking order to replace Raikkonen? It would undoubtedly be a major shock if Verstappen isn't a world champion in his career, and he has already shown at the slender age of 17 (now 18) he has a mature head on very young shoulders.

He's bold. He's ballsy. He has no fear. Just look at his near 200mph, around the outside, move at Blanchimont on Felipe Nasr at the Belgian Grand Prix. The kid is already very good and the question is: how good can he be? Ferrari may want to find out themseleves. Suggestions they could possibly provide next year's Toro Rosso with this year's engines could very well prove that point.

A Quick Stop at Haas

With Ferrari providing their power in their debut campaign, Haas could start with a bang once the five red lights turn green in Australia. Not a race winning bang, but the biggest of optimists are hoping for podiums. That's the risk Romain Grosjean has decided to take, as he looks to challenge for top-three places regularly. At the back end of 2013, when Vettel was winning a record nine races in a row, Grosjean was the only man really getting anywhere close to the German. The Frenchman has admitted himself his move to America's new team could be the quick (may well be literally) stepping stone to get him in contention for Ferrari in 2017. A strong start for Haas could be a career-defining move for Grosjean.

'Racing For Jules'

Driving for Ferrari in F1 is pretty much every racer's dream; that's as special as it gets. But it's probably right to say that, whoever does take Raikkonen's seat, whether it's in 2017 or later, will know it won't be just their dream they'll be making a reality, they'll also be in the position which would have been Jules Bianchi's.

As Vettel poignantly said on team radio following his first win in Hungary: "Merci Jules, cette victoire est pour toi. [Thanks Jules, this victory is for you]. You will always be in our hearts. We know that sooner or later Jules would have been a part of this team." And Vettel is spot on. Whoever becomes his next team-mate will not only be racing for themselves, but they'll be racing for Jules as well.