The 2014 Formula One season that begins this Friday is one of the most anticipated in recent years. Infiniti Red Bull Racing, a team that has dominated F1 over the last half-decade, have had a horrid preseason in which they failed to show any signs of being able to match their rivals, after dramatic rule changes in the sport that promise to turn Formula One on its head.
Daniel Ricciardo is one member of Red Bull that has acknowledged the difficult circumstances that his team are faced with. “Not to play it down, I think if we can finish and start the season with some points, considering the winter we have had, I don’t think we will be crying,” Ricciardo said when asked about expectations for this weekend.
Red Bull’s problems will almost certainly be rectified, as they have working for them some of the most experienced and intelligent engineers known to Formula One. However, the improving process is unlikely to be swift, meaning that other F1 manufacturers will be looking to snatch the crown that is currently looking fragile upon the heads of the Red Bulls.
One team that undoubtedly have their eyes on 2014 world championship glory is Mercedes AMG Petronas, who showed in preseason testing that their car is among the quickest in F1. Lewis Hamilton, who won the driver’s championship back in 2008, will be relishing the chance to regain the title after falling to Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull on numerous occasions in recent years.
Hamilton has been ranked by many experts as their favourite for this season’s championship, including former F1 driver and BBC F1 reporter David Coulthard, who thinks Lewis Hamilton will outdrive his Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg. He said: “I have to believe Lewis’s speed and outright instinctive racing ability will put him ahead of Nico at the end of the day. He’s my favourite for the championship, absolutely, although he’s been playing it down.
“I’m not saying that because I’m supporting the Brit, because I have a very high regard for Nico. But with Lewis we know he’s won the championship, we know he’s gone wheel to wheel with Fernando [Alonso], we know he’s done so many amazing things.”
“With Nico, he’s won three races, he’s done it really well, he’s shown good speed, he’s intelligent. But with Lewis there is a spark, with Michael [Schumacher] there was a spark, with Fernando there was a spark, with Kimi [Raikkonen] … there have been these sparks. But Nico has contained it all very nicely. Maybe that makes him the Alain Prost of his era, or maybe it means he’s not going to do it.”
The first race of the 2014 campaign is due to take place in Melbourne on Sunday, with practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday.
Mercedes are the clear favourites to have one of their drivers cross the line first with even Red Bull boss Christian Horner admitting that “it wouldn’t be a surprise if they finished two laps ahead of everyone in Melbourne.”
Although the race looks to have been won by Mercedes already, all must remind themselves that anything can go wrong for anyone in Formula One. The first race of the season is always fascinating and this one certainly promises to be no different.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter –@LastWordWinter. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our Motor Sports writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
Main Photo:
