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Nico Rosberg in the Uber Dominant Mercedes at
Barcelona's final Winter Test. (Image source: f1fanatic.co.uk)
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Ho Hum, get set for another year of two
Panzerwagons painted primarily silver decimating the competition...
Somehow I'm guessing Y'all don't need to be
Rocket Scientists to figure out that unfortunately the Mercedes Benz duo of
reigning triple world champion Lewis Hamilton and sidekick Nico Rosberg will
once again demoralizingly dominate the driver's and Constructors title chases,
as they've seemingly toyed with the opposition during winter testing by
clocking unprecedented mileage in lieu of topping the time sheets; having run a distance of 20 Grands
Prix in eight days with just a single transmission failure on the final test day!
But is it Mercedes fault that the competition cannot stop Thy Silver Arrows
supremacy? Or more feasibly the FIA and FOM respectively due to their inability
to craft a precise future path for the sport, i.e.; rules stability, which in
turn would potentially lead to the arrival of more major auto manufacturers? I
mean SHIT! They cannot even decide if they'll SCREW UP Qualifying or not! Since
what was wrong with having multiple cars nipping for Pole by being last across
the timing stripe in Q3?
Although
definitely not a fan 'O Luca D's, I'm guessing he's got a valid point in
claiming Formula 1 needs to reinvent itself...
And whilst not overly enamoured by thee
Ronster', nee Ron Dennis, I do believe his claim that the only way for a modern
day Formula 1 Constructor to compete for the world championship is tied to
being aligned as a "Works" F1 entity, for which only four currently
exist: Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and
Honda.
As not really sure who's PU (Power Unit)
between Honda and Renault's is better? As they currently fight for third fiddle
with Ferrari P2 - clambering uphill after the Mighty Merc!
Unfortunately, regardless of A-L-L the PR
Speak, I see the Top-3 finishers in the Almighty Constructors championship
remaining unchanged in 2016, i.e.; Mercedes besting la Scuderia (Ferrari) for a
third consecutive Constructors crown with Team Willy', aka Williams F1 once
again claiming the final podium step.
Although I'll once again hope for Williams,
with this year's FW38 chassis to bring Valtteri Bottas his debutant Grand Prix
victory, while seeing Felipe Massa atop the podium would also be wonderful,
just doesn't really matter who gives Sir Frank his first winner's trophy since
Pastor Maldonado's 2012 win.
Yet where things get interesting, and tricky
for Mwah is the certain to be hyper-intense Scrum for Best 'O Rest Midfield
runners, for which Red Bull seemingly is the wildcard due to the unknown
quantitative amount 'O horsepower its Swiss Timepieces, nee Tag Heuer badged
Renault Power Units can thump out?
While the Force India's seem to be continuing
their upwards trajectory, albeit perhaps
in light of diverting Attenzione away from embattled VJ Duh Playah' - who
wrongly was given a $75m "Golden Parachute;" SHEISA!
Meanwhile you'd have to say the Jury's still
out upon Red Bull's 'lil Seester, nee the little Bulls, aka Scuderia Toro
Rosso, who theoretically should be improved with Maranello PU's bolted to their
Backsides, albeit they'll be utilizing year old Ferrari Power Units, which will
be interesting to see how they stack up vs. le Reggie?
As the team I'm probably most excited about now
is Renault, largely due to its two Hard Chargin' Young Gun drivers, as I'm
looking forward to seeing who comes out on top between MAGS' JR, nee Kevin
"Bacon" Magnussen v JOLY', aka Jolyon Palmer.
As both are second generation drivers, with
Magnussen having won the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series title and Palmer
winning the 2014 GP2 championship, as both definitely belong in the sport with
more than a single year contract to their current employment status, but
Formula 1 is a brutally cruel sport!
As the main Questione towards le Reggie for
2016 being whether Renault has gotten to grips over its horsepower deficiency?
Not to mention chassis Aerodynamics, for which we'll need to give Bob Bell and
his staff time to expound upon.
Although James Allen mentioned upon Winter Testing
wrapping up that they've given up 60 horsepower after the switchback from the
preferred Mercedes PU to "Works" Renault status; YOUCH!
And then there's McLaren, as will the Honda
PU progress this season - or still be a glorified GP2 'lump? And how long will
"Fredrico Suave" (Fernando Alonso) enjoy toiling mid-pack? And will
this be Bloody JENSE's (Button) Swan Song? And more importantly will McLaren
ever return to the winner's podium step?
As originally I
was gonna comment that I thought McLaren would fault from its lowly P9
Constructors standing to fifth this year, but now I'm not so certain...
Funny how fast
opinions change. As I'm still intrigued over how Manor progresses, but mightily
PEEVED over it's taking mucho Indo'
Dinero vs. American talent, i.e.; Alexander Rossi!
With that said, our final three runners seem
a mixed bag, with Sauber, Manor and new Boyz Haas battling royally over not
being last place on the Constructors points table.
Sauber seems waning, having only ran their
2016 challenger, the C35 during the second and final test, thus theoretically
playing catch-up?
Reportedly the new Manor Racing MRT05 is an
astounding four seconds-a-lap quicker vs. its predecessor, albeit now utilizing
current specification equipment, especially the mighty Merc' PU! As its only
weak link is its Pay Driver Rio Haryanto, who seems to be on an ultra steep
learning curve. But Yuhs get what you paid for; Err for taking Thy cash Mr.
Fitzpatrick!
Which just leaves us with the much ballyhooed
Haas, the first American flagged Formula 1 racing team since ironically, Carl
Haa's Lola FORCE effort of 1985-86.
And regardless of A-L-L the controversy over
their 'Uber close la Scuderia links, with many likening them to a Ferrari
B-Team, nonetheless they're definitely suffering the initiation phase of
running for the first time ever in anger, having suffered teething problems -
including a front wing failure on Day-1 NO less!
Thus, I'm not so certain anymore that they'll
be able to outscore Manor Points-wise in their debutant F1 campaign, as it
looks like it'll be a long season for Romain Grosjean who deserves better.
While NO idea where Esteban Gutierrez will wind up standings wise...
