Total domination in any sport is fascinating for a short period of time but excruciatingly boring if an entire season becomes the unchallenged realm of one man, woman or team.
– #Quiz360: Win dinner for two at Media Rotana
All sport is supposed to be about competition, not repetition and Formula One is particularly vulnerable to the predictable.
It seems like yesterday when Lewis Hamilton was celebrating his second world title in Abu Dhabi after a campaign that was wholly dominated by Mercedes and yet here we are about to start a new campaign and it seems nothing much has changed.
Last season the rivalry between Hamilton and his team-mate Nico Rosberg kept us interested while the other teams became also-rans.
Thankfully, the double-points gimmick introduced for the final race of the season in a farcical bid to keep the season alive until the Abu Dhabi finale wasn’t required.
And on the eve of another new season it looks like Mercedes and its two drivers are once again way ahead of the rest after the pre-season testing sessions with the German outfit looking even better equipped with a faster car than last season.
There is the possibility that some teams may have been hiding their true potential but it seems pretty clear that Mercedes have the march on the rest and having ended the dull domination of Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel last season are now taking a stranglehold on the sport themselves.
The Hamilton/Rosberg rivalry, now being compared with the legendary battles between McLaren team-mates Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, will again grab our attention for a while but unless it gets more intense, which is unlikely, that also is in danger of bec-oming monotonous, particularly as Hamilton is likely to win that particular battle again, simply because he is the better driver.
That’s why it’s important for Formula One that the potential that now exists at Ferrari, Williams and McLaren in particular is realised because they have a real chance to make this season one of the best ever.
It’s unfortunate that the renewed partnership between McLaren and Honda, such a potent force between 1988 and 1992, appears to have got off to a disappointing start with teething problems restricting the amount of laps they were able to put in during pre-season testing.
They are also missing Fernando Alonso who won’t start his campaign until the Malaysian grand prix following the testing accident which left him concussed.
By the way, expect to hear more about that crash in the coming weeks because I am sure we haven’t been told what really happened.
Both McLaren and Honda have too much experience in Formula One for this not to work but it’s a question of how much time they need.
Yesterday, Jenson Button said patience was the key. Fair enough, but we need them winning races again and the sooner the better.
Ferrari, so disappointing over the past few years despite the admirable efforts of Alonso, look to be in better shape coming into this season after a management shakeup and the signing of Sebastian Vettel.
The German replaced McLaren-bound Alonso and has plenty to prove after such a dismal defence of his title at Red Bull last year.
Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen also needs a good season after his pathetic performances when he was blown away by Alonso but the new car looks to be competitive.
Then there is Williams who had a fabulous 2014 with two drivers who appear to be the perfect fit with the experience of Felipe Massa and the exciting young talent of Finn Valtteri Bottas.
They look like they will be even more competitive than last season and could get the win that evaded them last year.
The Australian Grand Prix will also see the youngest ever driver to start an F1 race in Max Verstappen who is 17.
Much has been made of his age but at the end of the day it’s how good you are not how old you are, but he adds another interesting angle to this season.
Let’s hope that Mercedes don’t leave everyone trailing for more than a few races and that some of the most famous names in this sport step up to the plate and make a real fight of it.
