QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED
Simmer down, oh inquisitive one. All will be revealed in time...
Is Fernando Alonso F1’s most ‘complete’ talent? Probably. But his decision-making sure looks fawed. Back in 2010, he talked romantically of seeing out his career at Ferrari, but by the time his friend and mentor Stefano Domenicali was ousted, last April, that ambition was looking forlorn. Apparently Alonso didn’t speak to Domenicali’s successor Marco Mattiacci – himself replaced late last year by the formidable Maurizio Arrivabene – for three months, and the way was clear for a return to McLaren, itself embarking on a renewed and emotionally charged partnership with Honda .
That triumvirate provides one of 2015’s major talking points. With ex-Red Bull aero guy and Adrian Newey protégé Peter Prodromou on-board, the new car looks lovely, but the Honda powertrain looked worryingly fragile in pre-season testing. It could turn out to be another frustrating season for Fernando.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel appears poised to lead a reboot at Maranello. A major reshufe in the technical department, and the arrival of the politically savvy Arrivabene (ex-Philip Morris, but also a leading fgure on the F1 commission), should promote Ferrari to the sharp end once again. And let’s not forget Kimi, either, who – regardless of what misdirection was going on pre-season – was positively efusive about the SF-15T. “This year is a completely diferent story. We’ve improved in all areas.”
A more powerful Ferrari engine – to the tune of 80bhp – should also help Sauber , and the Mercedes unit in the back of the Lotus chassis will make them podium contenders again. But it’s the Toro Rosso driver line-up that might provide the most entertainment. Carlos Sainz, Jr – son of the great Spanish rally star – only got the gig when Kvyat transferred to Red Bull, while his teammate, the 17-year old
“2015 COULD BE ANOTHER FRUSTRATING SEASON FOR FERNANDO ALONSO”
Max Verstappen , is talked of by those in-the-know as the most outrageous natural talent since Ayrton Senna. Expect an amusing side order of teen petulance to go with the pace.
F1’s ongoing cash crisis is a less amusing sideshow. As we go to press, there are rumours that Marussia may return, and clouds of doubt are hovering over Force India’s future. F1’s Strategy Group met in February to discuss improving the spectacle, primarily by increasing engine power to 1,000bhp and pumping up the downforce levels. Ferrari’s new boss is leading the charge for more “rock ’n’ roll” in F1, whatever that means, but a proposed overhaul for 2017 means more cost. Pegging that back should encourage new teams to join, expanding a severely depleted grid. As ever, the self-interest of F1’s biggest players will dictate the outcome.