Caporegime
So, as testing comes to an end and the first race looms on the horizon, what have we learnt? Among the confusion of times on different tyres, different strategies and different fuel loads, what can we pick out for the season coming?
My thoughts:
McLaren look much better placed than last year, while Red Bull are looking strong they seem a little less composed that in the past few years. I'm hopeful that we'll see a genuine two way fight between these two teams this year.
Ferrari, however, seem to be struggling. The new car isn't the platform they were looking for to challenge from season start. Mercedes, meanwhile, seem to have taken a step forward and Lotus look like they've got quite the package this year and with Kimi they've got a driven with staggering pace - when he wants to show it. I can see these three teams slugging it out for the third place slot, although I expect the depth of Ferrari's pockets and talent pool to tell as the season progresses.
Back a bit from the sharp-end, Force India are looking fiesty, as are Toro Rosso and Sauber, I expect regular points from all three teams. Sadly, the once great Williams team doesn't look to be halting their slide into backfield ignomy.
Caterham don't look to me like they've made the stride forward they need to catch the more established runners, but I don't expect them to have difficulty leaving HRT and Marussia in their dust. Hopefully, on a good day, we'll see them genuinely place in front of one or more cars from the midfield.
The rest of the new teams? Not even a single day's testing? I expect them to fail to qualify for the first race, and maybe even the second too. Another season of propping up the leaderboard is all they can hope for.
My thoughts:
McLaren look much better placed than last year, while Red Bull are looking strong they seem a little less composed that in the past few years. I'm hopeful that we'll see a genuine two way fight between these two teams this year.
Ferrari, however, seem to be struggling. The new car isn't the platform they were looking for to challenge from season start. Mercedes, meanwhile, seem to have taken a step forward and Lotus look like they've got quite the package this year and with Kimi they've got a driven with staggering pace - when he wants to show it. I can see these three teams slugging it out for the third place slot, although I expect the depth of Ferrari's pockets and talent pool to tell as the season progresses.
Back a bit from the sharp-end, Force India are looking fiesty, as are Toro Rosso and Sauber, I expect regular points from all three teams. Sadly, the once great Williams team doesn't look to be halting their slide into backfield ignomy.
Caterham don't look to me like they've made the stride forward they need to catch the more established runners, but I don't expect them to have difficulty leaving HRT and Marussia in their dust. Hopefully, on a good day, we'll see them genuinely place in front of one or more cars from the midfield.
The rest of the new teams? Not even a single day's testing? I expect them to fail to qualify for the first race, and maybe even the second too. Another season of propping up the leaderboard is all they can hope for.