For the first midseason test of the 2015, all the teams, except Manor-Marussia, stayed on after the Spanish Grand Prix for more running at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona. While the teams have already run two pre-season tests and a Grand Prix weekend at the track in the last three months, teams are still doing development work.
Formula One
F1 Spanish Grand Prix: The Other Guy
For all the passion that the Spanish have for motorsports, they really do have a terrible Grand Prix. The Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona has been absolutely dreadful since they put in the Tilke-chicane in the final sector. They can support four MotoGP races but I’d put it down to high ticket prices and terrible racing as to why Spain can seem to barely support one Formula One Grand Prix.
Anyway, there was a race yesterday in Spain. For the first time this season, Nico Rosberg found his way to both the pole and the top step of the podium as he scored his first win of 2015.
F1 Power Rankings: Spanish Grand Prix
After a three-week break, the Formula One circus resumes for the month of May. For the first time this season, the teams will be able to enjoy home cooking just a little bit longer as the European portion of the season begins in Spain.
What will the move to Europe bring? Some new aero upgrades, races starting at a more reasonable time for North American fans and probably more of the same at the head of the field. Until there are some serious changes to the rules formula, we’re going to be waiting a long time to see if Mercedes slips.
F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Lights, Sparks, Action
While Ferrari is back in contention this season, the battle that fans are focusing on isn’t silver vs. red. The big battle is between Hamilton vs. Rosberg. Having missed out on pole and finish behind Hamilton in each race, the Bahrain Grand Prix could have been the turning point for Nico’s season. Either he could turn it around and prove himself a contender or he would fall out of the hunt before returning to Europe.
While there were some promising moments during the race, Rosberg once again collapsed under the pressure. Even before his big mistake, he was never going to win. The winner was, once again, Lewis Hamilton.
F1 Power Rankings: Bahrain Grand Prix
It’s time for the first back-to-back Grands Prix of the season as the teams make the trip from Shanghai to Bahrain for the Bahrain Grand Prix. It’s interesting to see that the opinion is mixed heading into this race. Despite this being a night race, many expect the heat and tarmac to have a big effect on tyre degradation. That would seemingly play into the hands of Ferrari but who would count out the Silver Arrows.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: The Song Remains the Same
The old adage is two’s company and three’s a crowd. I’m wondering if the podium is getting a little crowded for Mercedes’ liking. Sure, the Mercedes team came through with another 1-2 finish with Lewis Hamilton again winning the race. However, Sebastian Vettel came home third for his third-straight podium with Ferrari.
Normally, that would be the most tidbit of info to titillate the Formula One press but there was so much fun to be had this weekend in Shanghai.
F1 Power Rankings: Chinese Grand Prix
For the first time in over a year, Mercedes was defeated on raw pace. It would normally be such a small moment but considering that the Silver Arrows have been dominant since the launch of the new rules formula in 2014, this was a massive moment for Formula One. Now, we might have a competition on our hands.
For this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, it will be a battle between the Mercedes and Ferraris for supremacy. Which team will come out on top? This week’s Formula One Power Rankings tries to answer that question.
F1 Malaysia Grand Prix: Be Careful What You Wish For
During the press conference following the Australian Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg made a comment to the effect of that it would be great if Ferrari would catch up to Mercedes. After this weekend, I think Nico is regretting his words. Not only was Rosberg outqualified by a Ferrari, he was outraced by a Ferrari. In fact, Sebastian Vettel outraced the whole field as he took his first win as a driver for Scuderia Ferrari.
F1 Power Rankings: Malaysia Grand Prix
Two weeks removed from the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, and there are two things that F1 fans are hoping for: 1) More than 11 cars crossing the line at the end of the race; and 2) A race that isn’t so ungodly boring that it puts people to sleep in the middle of it. Our first trip to a Hermann Tilke designed track may help us answer the question of which of the Mercedes drivers will have the advantage this year and who is the favourite in the battle for 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship.
F1 Australian Grand Prix: The First Step to Immortality
After a three-month off-season and a month of testing, it’s all to do again for the stars of Formula One. As is tradition, Formula One returns for another year with the Australian Grand Prix. While a new season often starts with a lot of questions, the only real question that most are asking is Lewis or Nico?
The first step in answering that question came in the first race of the season. Unlike last season, it was Lewis who took first blood and won the first race of the 2015 World Championship. Considering all the drama that happened during the weekend, it was almost as if the battle at the front of the field was just a backdrop to everything happening off-track.
The Lowdown 