Welcome back to my whistle-stop preview of what promises to be an exciting new Formula 1 season. In part 1, we looked at the new technology and rules set to grace the track. This time we’ll look at the teams from Ferrari to Red Bull!
First off, Ferrari – team principle Stefano Domenicali and drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. Ferrari started off strong in 2010 but quickly lost pace and were forced to chase McLaren and Red Bull in the standings. Although performance picked up mid-season, the team orders row drew most of the team’s limelight. Alonso narrowly lost out on the title to Vettel in the very last race of the 2010 season. Is 2011 the season for Ferrari and Alonso?
On to Force India. This team, led by Vijay Mallya, finished 7th in the constructors’ standings last season. Adrian Sutil has remained with the team this season, but Vitantonio Liuzzi has been replaced by 24 year old, British driver, Paul di Resta, who made is F1 debut at the Australian GP last season when he replaced Adrian Sutil during P1 and finished 11th. Although he doesn’t have as much experience as the majority of the drivers this season, I think he may be one to watch.
Now HRT-Cosworth (Hispania Racing). These are one of 3 teams that finished the season with 0 points in both standings. The team is starting the season by replacing both of their drivers: Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi will be joined by Narain Karthikeyan, who became India’s first Formula 1 racing driver when he joined Jordan Racing in 2005. Since the 2005 season, Karthikeyan has test driven for Williams and Spyker (formerly Jordan). This may prove to be a difficult season for Hispania, who have failed to learn from their mistake last season and are the only team starting without having tested their cars once again.
Team Lotus (Lotus-Cosworth) are the second team to finish the season with no points on either score board. The team’s 2010 drivers, Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen remain with them. Regardless of the team finishing with 0 points, they were regarded as being amongst the best of the 2010 season’s newcomers. With this in mind, it’s entirely possible that we can expect bigger and better things from these talented, young drivers and the strong alliance formed by team principal Tony Fernandes and technical chief, Mike Gascoyne, in this coming season.
Now, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. These guys missed out on the 2010 constructors’ title by a mere 44 points. There’s no denying that team principal Martin Whitmarsh and drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton make a formidable team but, can they repeat the successes they secured in 2008 and 2009 when Hamilton and Button took the drivers’ championship respectively? The team’s lowest point came in 2007 when they were stripped of constructors’ points and find US$100million for benefiting from possessing confidential Ferrari data. But, it must be handed to them that, since this quite serious offence, they’ve gone from strength to strength having found a strong racing team in Button and Hamilton and, last season, pioneering the F-Duct technology.
Next up for a once over is Mercedes GP Petronas F1 and their comeback kid, Michael Schumacher, driving alongside Nico Rosberg. Last season was Petroas’ debut for the sport and great things were expected of both them and former F1 great Schumacher. The team finished 4th in the constructors’ championship (284 points behind the leader) and Schuey finished 9th, 2 places and 95 points behind his team mate. Both the team and their drivers know what to expect from each other, the cars and (most of) the circuits. In my opinion, this season will see both the team and Michael going bigger and harder than 2010. One to watch? This writer thinks so!
Red Bull. Last season, Red Bull won both the constructors’ championship and the drivers’ championship, which was taken by Sebasitan Vettel. It should be noted here, however, that the team’s second driver Mark Webber led the drivers’ board for most of the season, pulling off some incredible driving right from the start. Team principal, Christian Horner, has decided to remain with Vettel and Webber as first and second respectively. Can Vettel take another title or will Webber snatch it? Can Red Bull repeat both titles this season?
So, that’s the first 7 teams dissected and inspected. Up next, Renault to Williams. See you there.
Another cracking read! You’re a writer who clearly knows their stuff, and how to convey it informatively and elegantly. Future editions keenly awaited. And, of course, the start of the season …