THE STORY OF THE DECADE

After the movie-script story of Brawn’s against-the-odds 2009 glory, the 2010s get underway with four predictable years of Red Bull dominance and Sebastian Vettel’s annoying finger (pictured). Red Bull has built its credibility block by block, and the acquisition of Adrian Newey elevates the team from pitlane party jocks – a kind of 21st century Hesketh – to genuine threat. In 2014 the pendulum swings to hybrid power and AMG success – since Brawn no team but Red Bull or Mercedes has won a title. Hamilton matures from youthful sensation to F1 elder statesman, Fernando Alonso sinks his career with poor decision-making, the drag reduction system makes overtaking at once more prevalent and less exciting, and Bernie bows out, ceding control of the sport (and it remains a sport, for now at least) to Liberty Media. F1’s critical next chapter opens in 2020.