First perceptions of the 2016 season

[rjbetty]

Hm... Some things we can agree on, which doesn't happen with the two of us much

Mercedes

I guess this depends on point of view as there's a case to be made for both sides. I do agree that Hamilton would have kicked up more of a fuss of moving over, but I always felt that rather than arrogant selfishness, it's much more about being worried his team aren't in his corner. I understand a team order would have been hard to take given the huge misfortune already suffered this season. Then again, I'm not sure Hamilton would be as slow as Rosberg was in Monaco.

Red Bull
...but I cannot think much of the way he talks when things go wrong. It sort of brings up memories of Alonso at his worst. Slamming the team in public is still considered one of the cardinal sins.

Verstappen. I'm undecided. I admire his driving, at least on days when he remembers that the transparent bit of the helmet goes to the front.

I think you're being way too harsh on Ricciardo, who has hardly made a slur. It's not like he's in the habit of being negative either, so it must have been quite a mess-up to push him this far. Thinking about it though, I think he does realise Verstappen is the future so Dan's time to make his mark is limited, and he can see this opportunity slipping out of his grasp through no fault of his own.

As for Max, the kid is only 18, so has a lot of gaps to be filled in, which he will do.

Fezza
I'm not sure I agree with all your points on Vettel, but then you certainly expected that No driver drives at his best in a car that's going backwards.

But now Marchionne starts to undermine the atmosphere with his incessant pressure. Arrivabene is being questioned, Kimi too. His real weakness is his need for harmony in the team, something you arenb't afforded in the shark tank that is F1.

Well I have to say this is what it was like for Alonso all these years. How hard must it have been to keep going when the team got worse every year without fail? I always think Fernando did a remarkable job to show the patience he did, only to be criticised heavily when the slightest frustration finally, finally, started to leak out, which I'd say is more than understandable. I think he managed better than pretty much anybody.

Speaking of which, am I the only one who's thinking Ferrari's season looks like it may be going the way of 2013, after a promising yet unfulfilled start?

I totally agree the blithering Marchionne is the weak link here. Reminds me so much of reading in James Allen's Michael Schumacher book how Schumacher, Brawn and Todt had to form a protective cocoon around themselves to shield them from the ranting di Montezemelo. And yeah, I think Seb is of a gentler nature than most (and easier to like now he's away from Horner and Marko), so really needs a good atmosphere. He, Kimi, Arrivabene and Allison (Can't see it being long till he's next in line in Marchionne's sights if things don't improve soon) really need to stick together right now.

Williams
As for Williams, I noticed after I'd posted that I hadn't bolded the headline properly. On reflection I decided to keep it that way since it proved a fitting illustration of how sadly anonymous the team are becoming as the Mercedes PU's advantage continues to be whittled away.

Force India
Agree on Checo, he's definitely much improved and I think it may have to do with the characteristics of this year's car, because the simultaneous drop in Hulks performance looks a bit too coincidental.

...it is almost overlooked that, while not as obvious as with RIC, Hulk was equally shafted by his team. He was called in way too early (seven laps before Checo)

I hadn't thought about car characteristics, this is a good point. As for Hulk, well it's encouraging to realise he didn't lack the pace. That podium should have been his, but I still believe the day will come for one of my favourite drivers.

Welcome back, rj.

...finally there is a glimmer of hope in F1... hope that someone might challenge Mercedes in F1... But possibly next year, and not 2016

Force India - Probably going to bank their P5 in Constructors again. Pérez has impressed me. In Sauber and also McLaren he was quite inconsistent and error-prone, but now seems like a better race driver than Hülkenberg.

STRSainz is good, but I get the impression that while he is good in qualis, he is not that impressive in races.

McLaren - They won't get any mercy from me, still their usual rubbish self... McLaren chassis is decidedly average.

Haas - they have pretty much replaced Sauber in the pecking order. An inspired career move by Grosjean and TBH Gutiérrez isn't far behind him, just has suffered lots of unluck. Surprise of the season still.

Renault - clearly an interim season... and... hire a proper driver in place of Palmer. Perhaps the future could look decent in 2017 and beyond.

EDIT: I remember rjbetty once wrote that he predicts McLaren to finish in top3 every year, because one day it must be true.

Thanks Jens

Hopefully 2017 will be even closer, but I wouldn't be surprised if the gaps open out and it's all about aero again like before. Also be careful what you wish for, as Red Bull might enter a period of relative dominance again, which we only recently came out of. Overall things actually look less interesting for next year and I may not even bother at all.

Perez is far more consistent than 2012, and tbh I think that Sauber was actually a rocketship that in Alonso's hands would definitely have challenged for the title, but the drivers were just that inconsistent.

I agree totally with Sainz. Interestingly, Franz Tost predicted this before the 2015 season.

@McLaren: Lol, I had hoped for better too. Looking closer though, they reckon they just had problems with tyres in Monaco. The chassis definitely isn't top, but I think it's still pretty good, yet only really on the level they were previously (2010-11). Better than Williams anyway. I think they can do better than they show as it looks like Button could have fought for 5th in Bahrain. Given that complete rookie Vandoorne finished 10th, I think with regular drivers there could have been a small chance of 5th and 6th there.

As for Haas, that's a good point that they've taken Sauber's place. I worry for next season though as I think things will get hard for them...

I can see Renault cancelling development on 2016 and concentrating on 2017 soon. If Kvyat doesn't lose his head and his career completely (not looking too great right now) then I can see him making a decent home here, as he still has a lot to give.

Haha if McLaren don't get it right next year (and I'm not really seeing it unless they change structure) I will start to accept they aren't really going to.