Ball’s now in the Mercedes court
Does Vettel’s win in Malaysia mean we have a real fight in F1?
FERRARI’S surprise win at the Malaysian Grand Prix two weeks ago was just the lozenge needed to soothe the irritation of total Mercedes dominance; but was the shock result a serendipitous stroke of luck, or do we actually have a championship fight on our hands this season?
With only two races under our belts in 2015 it’s probably too early to make long term predictions, but the sight of red-overalled Sebastian Vettel atop the podium, ahead of both Mercedes drivers last time out offers at least some hope to F1 fans weary of seeing Lewis Hamilton as victor. Up until Malaysia the current World Champion had won seven out of the past eight races, with team-mate Nico Rosberg following him across the line in five of those.
While it’s possible that Ferrari, under the leadership of new team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, could have unlocked a serious turn of pace in the off season, it’s a safer bet to assume Mercedes was simply caught with its guard down at Sepang. The Italian team itself said that the key to its win was an advantageous cooling package and tyre-preserving aero setup which gave Vettel the upper hand in Malaysia’s searing heat. An unlucky Kimi Raikkonen also demonstrated the new Ferrari’s hot weather performance by charging through the field to finish fourth after a first-lap puncture.
The stage is now set for round three, which happens this Sunday in China. The Shanghai circuit has a history of unpredictable weather, but temperatures should be a lot cooler than those experienced in Malaysia – meaning a possible return to status quo could be on the cards. With victories in 2008, 2011 and 2014, Hamilton is also the most successful driver in China, and another this weekend is a real likelihood. His Mercedes team says it’s reacted to the Ferrari wake-up call and will take every measure to ensure the threat is stymied going forward.
The Shanghai International Circuit is 5.4km long, and despite three long straights around 80 percent of each lap is spent in corners. The track’s surface is smooth but highenergy corners and multiple hard braking zones makes this race tough on tyres. Supplier Pirelli says that turn 13 – a long, banked righthander – exerts so much pressure on tyres that their contact patches increase significantly from when a car is stationary. If the race stays dry, expect another two-stop strategy similar to what led Hamilton to win here last year.