We are barely a few hours away from the commencement of the most ecstatic racing fest of the year. The 2016 Formula One season is about to unleash itself on the kaleidoscope of our dreams, hopes and king sized bets. Beating the cacophony of everyday life, F1 is back again to instill hope, belief and music of the screeching engines to the frenzy of television sets and the ensemble cast at the pit crew and team garages.
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A promise to enthrall drivers and spectators alike in a competition that is second to none in the magnanimity of what's at stake, March 20th will be the place to party as Melbourne will witness the sensational season opener.
Putting things into perspective
As always, the stakes are incredibly high in a contest where man, machine and technology unfurl an incredible intermingling to demonstrate the thrill and gravitas of perhaps the world's most interesting sport. With 2014 and 2015 being ruled by the pairing of Briton, Lewis Hamilton and German, Nico Rosberg, F1's herculean talents, such as Williams and Red Bull fell flat on their face in front of a dominant Silver Arrows show.
At the same time, no mention of 2015 season can be ever rendered complete without mentioning Ferrari's sporadic revival. Sebastian Vettel, powered by a gradually resurgent Raikkonen managed to draw some aces in a largely Mercedes-dominated show. But, this is Formula One. At the end of everything, unpredictability reigns supreme. And as the laconic Finn Kimi Raikkonen said, races aren't won on paper.
While Mercedes will be aware of the looming threat of a Ferrari keen to settle score with their arch-rivals, the Totto Wolff and Niki Lauda powered thinking station at Brackley will throw caution to the winds.
Can Ferrari overtake Mercedes?
In the 66th year since the inception of Formula One racing way back in 1950, the odds are seemingly stacked in favor of the most popular racing team, and also F1's most successful one. Ferrari upsetting Mercedes is evidently the tagline, the optimists are resorting to. While 2014 was a bitter nightmare and quite possibly Ferrari's worst competitive season in several decades, 2015 spurred a revival and many positives, truth be told.
Four-time World champion, Vettel's impressive form in his first ever season for the Maranello based outfit lifted the spirits of the Italian team. Those 10 hefty podium finishes certainly made the champagne taste better than before. One thing is sure that the lover of speed and some Vodka, Kimi, who managed to bag 3 podium finishes when compared to none in 2014, too enjoyed the party.
But, despite their impressive showing Ferrari didn't manage to curtail the vociferous form of Lewis Hamilton, who despite losing out to Nico in the final three races at Texas, Interlagos and Yas Marina, lifted the driver's title for a second consecutive time, taking his tally of world championships to 3, having first tasted glory in 2008.
What's changed for Ferrari and Merc?
But, this is a new season. At the completion of the 21 high octane races in the pinnacle in the world of motor-racing, we shall have amongst us a truly deserving victor. Who knows whether that may or may not be from the Silver Arrows. While talk is cheap and performance counts, the grapevine has it that Ferrari have produced a thumping speed wagon that will give zesty boost to Sebastian Vettel, who will be keen to dominate over Lewis.
In the pre-season testing at the elegantly designed Circuit de Catalunya (Barcelona), Ferrari fielded what many call a radical, even revolutionary upgrade from the last year in the form of the brand new SF-16 H. The red and white livery comes with an impressive push-rod suspension that enabled Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel to lead the pecking order.
Mercedes' Paddy Lowe, emphasized on the Brackley-based outfit's revolutionary new product in the form of the F1 WO7 Hybrid for the 2016 season, stating that the team have another championship winning car. Is Vettel listening?
The new addition to the tally of 21 races
In a season where one is to witness extravaganza and unparalleled excitement, the inclusion of the Baku City Circuit, at Azerbaijan will only add to the thrill. The inclusion of the Azerbaijan G.P., slated for June 19, is being keenly anticipated. The circuit, marked with 20 turns and a track length of 6.006 km, shall bring in plenty of excitement and, drifts and turns in the abundantly beautiful European Caucasus.
That said, let us deep dive into the driver arrangement to understand the 2016 season with greater comprehension.
Ferrari vs Mercedes: the new rivalry reaches the tipping point
It doesn't matter which team you support or which driver you hail the greatest. All talk out there is about the most formidable rivalry in the fashionable world of Formula One.
Sebastian Vettel versus Lewis Hamilton shall be the key battle to watch out for. While their respective teammates had their own moments last year, with Kimi recorded 3 podium finishes and 2 flying laps, Rosberg's form peaked in the second half of the season, where he finished with back to back wins at USA, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
But with the entire chunk of the season yet to be sliced by drivers out there, there is already a commotion in the team garages. Hamilton, having already stated his intent to continue his sparkling form will be ready to go out all guns blazing in order to stop the Sebastian Vettel charge. The German, however, shall be hoping to make things count from the word go at Melbourne instead of waiting for the late season to pick up form.
Ferrari's Arrivabene, who's stuck with Kimi for 2016, insists that the Iceman shall do what it takes to give Vettel's championship hope in the new season a realistic chance. Bold and experimental, Ferrari's incredibly delightful design with the adoption of the push rod suspension, something whose absence Kimi cribbed about during 2014 shall add better handling to the smashing new looking car.
Vettel vs Hamilton in numbers
Lewis is an international superstar and in the grand fest of F1 where nothing can be taken for granted, Mercedes will be hoping that either of their drivers stand aloft the podium when the season ends. Hamilton's own record is an astonishing one, bolstered by 43 victories, 49 poles and 87 podium finishes. Fans would hope that the mighty German Vettel does his best in upsetting Hamilton's party. And, he's got the confidence and importantly, the stats in the kitty.
Having bagged 4 world championships punctuated by 42 victories, 46 poles and 79 podium finishes, Vettel is surely a guy you Lewis would be keen to keep off from his Merc's tail. On the circuit, both Sebastian and Lewis are utterly competitive, boasting of a proficiency in handling the speed wagons.
Off the track, while they don't exactly throw towels at each other, the playful rambling of the champagne on the podium may not necessarily indicate a peculiar fondness for each other.
What can Max, Alonso and Bottas do?
One would also hope to see some spectacular stuff by the Netherland born Max Verstappen, the 18-year-old top draw at Toro Rosso. Already tipped as the guy to beat a few years down the road, Max will be hoping to take his first race win in 2016. Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso however, will be eagerly hoping to extract the maximum from their MP4-31, the newborn from the McLaren-Honda factory.
After all, if their car doesn't fire, their respective careers would be in flames, on reckons. The big news in the form of Renault making a comeback through the RS 16 and an optimistic Force India-Mercedes although with their team principal, Vijay Mallya in the doldrums would be hoping to match the pace and efficiency of F1 WO7 Hybrid, the new samurai from Mercedes' stable, and everyone's 'car to beat'. Williams Drivers', Felipe Massa, who recently announced no intentions of quitting F1 despite failing to make it count in the last two seasons will be hoping for the young Finn, Valtteri Bottas to lead the charge.
All that said, we will refrain from indulging in mental math. It's best to have the likes of David Croft take us through the spectacle of international sport's most glitzy fest. It's lights out and away we go!
