GOODBYE SHARK FINS; HELLO HALO
What you need to know as the 2018 F1 campaign kicks off in Melbourne
This weekend’s Australian Grand Prix marks the start of the new Formula One season. Here are five storylines to follow.
THE BIG THREE
Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull. These are the titans that will battle wheel-to-wheel for championship glory in 2018.
At least, that’s the hope. Alas, reality and hype too often collide in F1, littering the track with disappointing results.
Truth is, Mercedes has faced little credible competition since the switch to V6 turbo hybrid engines in 2014, leaving the Silver Arrows with a sweep of the constructors’ and drivers’ titles each year.
Mind you, Ferrari and Red Bull did make inroads last season, winning eight of 20 races between them. That equalled their tally for the previous three campaigns combined.
Still, winter testing produced little evidence that either squad — or any other — is in strong position to knock Mercedes off its privileged perch anytime soon.
Does that mean another drivers’ crown for Lewis Hamilton to add to his four?
Too early to call, of course. But don’t be surprised if it all looks eerily familiar after the go-lights blink in Melbourne.
LANCE STROLL
The Montreal native enters his second F1 season with the benefit of having raced at all the tracks last year, a definite plus.
Still, he arguably faces more pressure this time around given that he’s been thrust into a leadership role of sorts with the Williams team — at the ripe old age of 19.
That’s because Stroll finds himself with a new teammate — Sergey Sirotkin, 22, of Russia — who has zero Grands Prix under his belt. So the young Canadian becomes the senior partner by default.
Last season, after a slow start, Stroll held his own against the now-retired Felipe Massa of Brazil, finishing just behind his veteran teammate in the drivers’ standings. That was good. This year needs to be better. Williams does not have the car to compete against the Big Three, but the best measure of any driver is how he fares against his teammate. Stroll knows he must stay ahead of Sirotkin over the course of the season.
Anything less will be seen as a failure — and a potential hazard
on the road to a long and successful career at the highest level of racing.
THE HALO
Last year, it was the “shark fin” engine cover. This year it’s the “halo” over the cockpit. Ugly and uglier.
Seen from above, the halo that is meant to protect the driver’s head in the case of an accident or flying debris makes the car look like a beach flip-flop. (Which explains why a sandal company was quick to slap its logo on McLaren.)
Aesthetics aside, there are concerns about the safety of the, er, safety device.
Some drivers have complained it obstructs their view. In Melbourne, a set of start lights has been repositioned to ensure drivers can see them.
Not only that, spectators and television viewers will find it more difficult to recognize individual drivers as they zip by with helmets obscured by the halo.
Well, at least F1 had the good sense to ban the shark fins this year.
OH, CANADA
It wouldn’t be the Canadian Grand Prix without some sort of off-track controversy, so it comes as no surprise that renovation costs at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are reported to be ballooning.
It seems the initial $32.6 million estimate for upgrades to the paddocks, garages, hospitality areas and more risks climbing to at least $76.2 million, judging by contractors’ bids, according to La Presse.
The big question is how the anti-car crusaders running city hall will react. Remember, these are the folks who pulled the plug on Formula E because of the cost and inconvenience.
Imagine the scheming going on in the mayor’s office now.
For the record, the 2018 edition of the Canadian GP comes to Île Notre Dame June 8-10.
ALFA ROMEO
It’s always heartening to see an iconic car brand — as opposed to, say, an energy-drinks giant — lend its name to F1.
And few are as iconic as Alfa Romeo, where Enzo Ferrari got his start before setting up a car factory of his own you might have heard of.
The first two F1 championships were won in Alfas — Giuseppe Farina in 1950 and Juan Manuel Fangio the following year.
Now, the brand is back, albeit in the role of title sponsor in a “multi-year technical and commercial partnership” with the Sauber team.
Still, that Alfa logo is a sight to behold, harking to an era when race cars sounded like race cars and drivers were fearless.
Halo? Hell, no.