As we are wont to do before every Grand Prix, we preview the upcoming race with a look at the chances of everyone on the grid in the Formula One Power Rankings. As it’s a new season, it’s a fresh set of rankings. Well, it’s a fresh set except at the top because I’m not expecting the front quarter of the grid to be very different.
Power Rankings
F1 Power Rankings: Singapore Grand Prix
When you’re on the road, it’s hard to keep track of the Formula One scheudle. I was so out of the loop that I missed that Roberto Merhi has been replaced for five of the next seven races by Alexander Rossi. Rossi sits P2 in GP2 so it’s not like he’s coming out of nowhere. But being an F1 rookie and running for Manor, I don’t rate his chances that well. Whose chances do I like? That’s why we have the Power Rankings.
F1 Power Rankings: Hungarian Grand Prix
While the death of Jules Bianchi weighs heavily on the grid, the drivers and teams of the Formula One World Championship are back in action this week as they go to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix. While the Hungaroring is a dreadfully dull circuit that seldom provides action, there have been exceptions. At the very least, it gets us ready for Formula One’s summer break that will see four weeks between Hungary and Belgium.
F1 Power Rankings: British Grand Prix
It comes but once a year. It’s not Christmas but Homecoming. The teams of the Formula One World Championship get their annual trip to Silverstone which allows them to enjoy some home cooking and to sleep in their own beds. For seven of the teams, the British Grand Prix is their home race so there is a lot of pride on the line as the factories clear out and the behind the scenes folk make their annual pilgrimage to the track for a Grand Prix.
That being said, even with pride on the line, it’s still a Mercedes world and everyone else is racing in it.
F1 Power Rankings: Canadian Grand Prix
It’s time for the best race of the Formula One World Championship season! I might be a little biased but the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve always proves to be one of the more interesting Grands Prix that we see each season. Either we get some great battles or something incredibly weird happens or there’s a highlight reel crash. The teams love the party atmosphere in Montreal and the fans love the racing action in Montreal. This race is a win-win for everyone involved.
F1 Power Rankings: Monaco Grand Prix
I hope that everyone is geared up for this Sunday. It’s the annual Memorial Day 1,250. From 8:00 AM EDT through to sometime around 11:00 PM EDT, there’s motorsport of some sort on TV . While there’s the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600, the day kicks off with the Monaco Grand Prix.
Last year, it was Nico Rosberg who came out on top of the battle of Monte Carlo. This year, he heads into the race with momentum after scoring his first win of the season. Can he make it two in a row?
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 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 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.
The Lowdown 