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.
Power Rankings
F1 Power Rankings: Australian Grand Prix
Just because it’s season preview time doesn’t mean that we can’t continue with some usual features on the blog. As we are wont to do before every Grand Prix weekend, it’s time for the Formula One Power Rankings. Ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, it’s a look at who is most likely to do well at the open round of the 2015 Formula One World Championship.
F1 Power Rankings: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
So we’ve reached the final race of the 2014 Formula One World Championship. Normally, the 17 point gap between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg would be insurmountable under normal circumstances. However, thanks to the wonder that is double points, he’s not out of it yet. A couple of positions between the Silver Arrows can mean the difference between a championship and 2nd place.
You know, I didn’t like the idea of NASCAR’s new Chase format (or any of their Chase formats) but it worked brilliantly in practice. I don’t think double points is going to win anyone over unless Lewis wins the title. Even then, no one will like it.
F1 Power Rankings: Brazilian Grand Prix
We’ve reached the two to go mark of the 2014 Formula One World Championship. Despite the fact that Lewis Hamilton has won ten of 17 races so far, he still hasn’t clinched the championship. He can’t even clinch it this weekend. A combination of bad luck and ridiculous double-points rule threaten to make a farce out of the 2014 World Drivers’ Championship.
As for the Brazilian Grand Prix Power Rankings, the only way they can be made a farce of is if a monumental downpour screws up running on Sunday. Actually, I’d quite enjoy the chaos of a monsoon race.
F1 Power Rankings: United States Grand Prix
There are three races left in the season and a maximum of 100 points left on the board for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The pair are separated by only 17 points but Nico needs to sweep the final three races and get some luck if the pair 1-2 every race. A non-top-two finish completely screws up those permutations but a non-top-two finish would almost certainly end Nico’s chances.
There’s a lot of pressure heading into this weekend’s race if you’re running for the championship.
F1 Power Rankings: Russian Grand Prix
Though most of the Formula One fraternity is still focused on the events last weekend in Japan, the 2014 Formula One World Championship rolls on as the tour makes its first appearance in Russia. I’d imagine that if we weren’t talking about Jules Bianchi’s accident and rules changes that should be made, we’d probably be talking about the politics of racing in Russia but it’s probably for the best that we don’t talk about that now. Let’s look at the power rankings for the first Russian Grand Prix in 100 years.
F1 Power Rankings: Japanese Grand Prix
It’s amazing how much can change in the span of just two hours. Nico Rosberg rolled out to the grid ahead by 22 points and an electrical glitch left him trailing by three points after the two-hour Singapore Grand Prix. Now, it’s Rosberg playing catch-up as we reach a string of tracks that play into Lewis’ hands. It looks like luck may determine who wins the World Drivers’ Championship this year.
F1 Power Rankings: Singapore Grand Prix
Formula One has left Europe for the final time this season as we embark on a six-race flyaway portion of the calendar to conclude the season. A six-race flyaway swing that’s worth seven races worth of points but six races nonetheless.
The important question over the next couple of races is whether Lewis Hamilton has gotten out of his own head enough to win the Championship. Pressuring Nico Rosberg into a mistake in Monza was a win in itself. Now that he has momentum, the pressure is on Rosberg to capitalize on his street circuit strength this weekend in Singapore. We’re closing with some strong Hamilton circuits so Nico has to capitalize on every opportunity he has.
F1 Power Rankings: Italian Grand Prix
After the last race, all the Formula One fraternity and fans want to know about is whether Mercedes is about to implode. With Nico Rosberg haphazardly colliding with Lewis Hamilton with the early stages of the Belgian Grand Prix, the two seem ready to come to blows on track. I’d imagine that the pair are at great risk of doing something stupid. Daniel Ricciardo for 2014 World Drivers’ Champion perhaps? Well, not according to this week’s power rankings.
F1 Power Rankings: Belgian Grand Prix
After four weeks off, Formula One is back for the second half of the season and the run for the Championship. It might be a two-horse (or is it two-arrow) race for the World Drivers’ Championship but it might still be a knockdown, drag out brawl for the title so long as the two drivers are on even footing with equipment.
First up is the Belgian Grand Prix at the historic Spa-Francorchamps Circuit. All the drivers claim to love it but only one will truly be happy on Sunday. Who will that be?
The Lowdown 