Preview of F1 2016

[jens]

Considering that Ferrari didn't start until 1939 and during the war... how was this possible?

Enzo Ferrari was the team boss and Scuderia Ferrari team was running the Alfa Romeos in 1930s.

During the recession in early 30s Alfa Romeo pulled out as a works team and Enzo bought their cars to set up his team.

[zako85]

F1 in 2016 can be summarized in four words: It's gonna be shit.

The post nominated for the 2016 winter break Captain Obvious award.

[Tazio]

Enzo Ferrari was the team boss and Scuderia Ferrari team was running the Alfa Romeos in 1930s.

During the recession in early 30s Alfa Romeo pulled out as a works team and Enzo bought their cars to set up his team.

That's right mate

After Alfa Romeo officially withdrew from Grand Prix racing Nuvolari drove for Enzo Ferrari's team, Scuderia Ferrari, who ran the Alfa Romeo cars semi-officially. In 1933 he won Le Mans in an Alfa Romeo as a member of Ferrari's team, and a month later won the Belgian Grand Prix in a works Maserati, having switched teams a week before the race.^[3]Mussolini helped persuade Ferrari to take Nuvolari back for 1935

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qwfl4Rg7FE

[N. Jones]

I guess Honda isn't ready to shed last year's image??

[Nitrodaze]

F1 in 2016 can be summarized in four words: It's gonna be shit.

It may not be quite as shite as you put it. There are lots of opportunities for some surprises to turn up. I think vettel is going to be strong. And Mercedes do not seem to know what to do with their drivers. A strong Ferrari challenge may upset the apple cart abit and turn the season into a real seat edge season. I really hope it does.

[zako85]

And Mercedes do not seem to know what to do with their drivers.

Oh, the tragedy of being rich, having the best engine, by far, and two very good drivers. Mercedes will not be able to cope with this, I predict.

[jens]

Oh, the tragedy of being rich, having the best engine, by far, and two very good drivers. Mercedes will not be able to cope with this, I predict.

Yeah... Mercedes seemed to cope with it fine in 2014 and 2015 by taking 1-2 in Drivers Championship and a combined 16 wins out of 19 in both seasons.

Unless Ferrari is a genuine match to Mercedes or at least very close (0.1-0.2s off the pace), it would take a monumental blow up by Mercedes to make this championship truly close.

In this era of very high reliabilty rates I wouldn't bet on it much though. Mercedes can afford a couple of DNFs and still win titles with relative easy. If it was the 1980s, it could be a different story,... We could see the dominant team retiring with blown turbo engines from half of the races, and this could make the championship really open indeed... But alas this is 2016, not 198X!!

[Nitrodaze]

If Ferrari turns out to be a damp squid by the end of the 3rd race, then you can say the die is cast for this season with another easy Mercedes title win. If not, then boys hang on to your hats, as it could be really down to wire before we know whats what. I hope this is the case.

[Nitrodaze]

I think Mercedes may be vulnerable this season because of the equal pairing of their drivers which is obviously causing them problems. It is bizzarre that they have equality between a triple world champion and a driver yet to win one title. Just doesn't make sense. You would think now they have found the win assuring driver, they would focus their campaign around that driver. I have sneaking feeling that they would not have the luxury of allowing their drivers to race each other with a possible Ferrari revival that could take advantage of the squabbling in Mercedes and maybe steal the title. It only takes one point as Mclaren found in 2007.

[Firstgear]

...... It is bizzarre that they have equality between a triple world champion and a driver yet to win one title......

Given that the 'title-less' driver is of the same nationality as the team itself, I think it would be a little more difficult and an unpopular decision to designate him as a quasi-official #2. Remember, when they entered F1 a few years ago, they started with an all German driver lineup. I don't think that was a coincidence. Their ultimate goal, understandably for a German car manufacturer, would be to have a German driver winning the crown.