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

Mercedes

Well, if anything, the team order proves pretty much what they think of Nico's chances to win the title. It wouldn't make sense for them actually, as Rosberg would just get more expensive to retain or (even worse) could take the #1 to another team should he chose to run it. I still think they wouldn't have dared making such a request of Lewis, whom from a business point of view everyone at Merc would want to win.

Red Bull

I agree that RIC has been the driver of the year so far, 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. It might not be good for his career to have an image of publically pilloring the team, especially now as he finds out why Seb ran into so many "unfortunate situations" in 2014. Marko has found a new golden boy and Danny will certainly know what that means.

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. But he is definitely starting to show that he puts himself under way too much pressure. And he had more petulant radio moments than Vettel, and that's quite an achievement.

Fezza

Oh dear. What can you say, They've been a monumental clusterf*** so far.

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. The biggest problem here is the outside influence. One thing that was almost overlooked during the four years of Red Bull was that Vettel was lobbying for signing Kimi and get rid of Webber. And that was at a time when Kimi was still winning races.

The reason for that is simple. Vettel is like an indicator for the atmosphere in the team. Last year at Ferrari there was a very good atmosphere, and he really likes Arrivabene. Also Seb and Kimi are the first proper friends as team mates since Senna and Berger. But now Marchione 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.

Williams

Massa is past it and Bottas seems to be going nowhere. That chassis must be ridiculously bad if you manage to end up 8th and 10th with the still best-by-a-good-margin engine.

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. He also seems to be one lucky bugger, because the Monaco result was flattering him a bit.

With all eyes on the monumental blunder by Red Bull, 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) when the full wets were still going well. Subsequently he was released into traffic behind the Massa train. He can't really buy much from Fernleys apology after the race as he still waits for his first podium, something he should have easily scored here, considering how well he had qualified.

Toro Rosso

Verstappens promotion looked harsh, but it had been planned way before Sochi. It was also the correct decision from a business point of view. They have invested a lot of money in Verstappen, so the last thing they needed was watching him walk off to Mercedes or Ferrari. A promotion to the A team was the way to go. Marko just handled it in his usual arrogant style and they could have been less hard on Kvyat, but then that's how things have always been at RB. Once you fall out of favour or are no longer of use for them, they'll just drop you. Everyone who signs up to the Red Bull Junior Program knows that.