After a seemingly endless winter period, we are back on the road again for the 2015 Formula One season. The season opens in Australia at the Albert Park Circuit. Although it appears as more of a circuit, it is indeed a street circuit. This track has a tremendous amount of speed and the drivers will spend a lot of the lap going at full throttle. It is certainly faster than the average street course. Teams will have to setup the car to be quick, but can’t neglect the level of handling and braking power that this track requires. This is the most forgiving street circuit on the calendar, as the track is wider and the walls aren’t always directly at the edge of the track. Drivers will have more room to make mistakes, unlike tracks like Singapore or Monaco, which require absolute perfection.
Sad news this weekend, as we find the Sauber F1 Team in some rather serious legal trouble with their former test driver, Giedo van der Garde. He has sued the team for a breach of contract, demanding that he be able to claim his contracted seat as a Sauber full-time driver. We saw both Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson in the car for second free practice session, after the team missed the first session. According to reports, Sauber team principal, Monisha Kaltenborn may face time in prison for this violation. In better news, Van der Garde has stated that he is giving up his right to race in the first race and that he will allow Sauber to race as planned while the legal teams work out an agreement.
In a shocking turn of events, it appears as though the Marussia team – now known as the Manor F1 Team – has been saved. The team paid their entry fee and were confirmed for the 2015 entry list during the tests in Barcelona. They have contracted Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi for the season and have built a 2015 car, after being denied when they requested permission to run their previous car. However, it appears as though we won’t see them in the race, as the result of an engine software issue that is prevented the car from running as planned.
As for the racing, Mercedes will be working to defend their World Constructors’ Championship title and Lewis Hamilton will be defending his World Drivers’ Championship title. The team had a stunning car last season and their car appeared to be performing well during pre-season testing in Jerez and Barcelona. The team didn’t claim all of the top times, as the fans were anticipating, but many believe that the team were “sandbagging” and still have a lot more left to give. The Mercedes power unit still seems really powerful, but it would appear as though the Ferrari power unit was the engine to have in the pre-season testing.
Last year, this race gave use a few shocks, retiring the favourite to win, Hamilton; and the 2013 World Drivers’ Championship winner, Sebastian Vettel. What can we expect for this year’s event?
With front row of the grid locked out, Mercedes is looking to get a 1-2 finish, as they did many times in 2015. Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time of the qualifying, but without the amazing save that he had done when he got pole position last season. Nico Rosberg has also been very successful in the practices and didn’t finish too far off of his teammate. However, Hamilton appears to be more consistent here. As long as there are no mechanical issues like last season, the team should be able to get a 1-2 with Hamilton leading.
Both Ferrari cars also look very promising this race. Sebastian Vettel scored a P2 in the final free practise session and got fourth on the grid. Teammate, Kimi Räikkönen, will be starting right behind after he earned fifth on the grid. He was fairly consistent, hovering around the fifth position for most of the sessions in the weekend. He should be good enough to defend his fifth position in a much improved Ferrari. Vettel has proven that he should be capable of advancing to the bottom step of the podium.
It is difficult to predict the fourth place finisher. Valtteri Bottas would be a good pick, however, it is unknown whether he will even take place in the race, as he is being treated for back pain. The Williams car was competitive last season and has been competitive in the testing and other sessions. It would not be a shock for him to get P4. If Bottas does not compete in the race, then I believe that the Daniel Ricciardo can take the place. Despite the issues that Red Bull have been having so far in 2015, their car should be capable of getting a P4 result.
It is very exciting to finally have Formula One back. Weather shouldn’t play a factor in the race, as there is no rain forecasted for the entire week. I’m looking forward to seeing where everyone finishes and seeing who will have the edge in the 2015 season.
