Sports
2015- The Formula One Season Ahead
A look at the 2015 F1 Season
Max Verstappen (Source: Joey Franco)
Max Verstappen at the 2014 US Grand Prix
(Source: Joey Franco)
(Source: Joey Franco)
Just days from the inaugural Grand Prix of the season which will take place at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia- the lead up to the season has been anything from ordinary. Team shakeups, the habitual regulation changes, and even a McLaren mystery has kept fans on the edge of their seats troughout the "winter season".
Rule Changes
Altough not nearly as dramatic as last years evolutionary, or revolutionary changes- some new changes to the formula have been implemented. Most notably is the scrapping of the infamous double points season finale. The double points Abu Dhabi showdown was met with much criticism from both fans and the teams. Formula 1 chief Bernie envisioned a championship where the final three races woudl award double points. Ecclestone's vision will not become a reality, at least not in this season.
Altough not nearly as dramatic as last years evolutionary, or revolutionary changes- some new changes to the formula have been implemented. Most notably is the scrapping of the infamous double points season finale. The double points Abu Dhabi showdown was met with much criticism from both fans and the teams. Formula 1 chief Bernie envisioned a championship where the final three races woudl award double points. Ecclestone's vision will not become a reality, at least not in this season.
Newcomers
The cycle of life continues in F1 as some drivers leava nd make room for the newcomers. This year's notable rookie is Scuderia Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen, son of former Formula One pilor Jos Verstappen. Verstappen will make history with the Italian team on March 15th as the youngest pilot to race in teh sport at 17 years and 166 days. The Dutch rookie set the pace diring the third morning of the pre-season Barcelona tests, outpacing world champion Lewis Hamilton by 1.4 seconds.
The cycle of life continues in F1 as some drivers leava nd make room for the newcomers. This year's notable rookie is Scuderia Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen, son of former Formula One pilor Jos Verstappen. Verstappen will make history with the Italian team on March 15th as the youngest pilot to race in teh sport at 17 years and 166 days. The Dutch rookie set the pace diring the third morning of the pre-season Barcelona tests, outpacing world champion Lewis Hamilton by 1.4 seconds.
Speed
It looks like the second season of the new turbo hybrid era will feature faster cars than the maiden year. During this year's Jerez tests, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen set a fastest lap of 1:20.841, more than two seconds quicker then Mclaren's Kevin Magnussen a year earlier at 1:23.276.
Ferrari Renaissance
After a disasterous year for the Maranello based team, 2015 is set to be the comeback year for Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel will make up the most successful driver pairing in F1 this year with five championships between the two. There has also been a massive shakeup and yellow slips circulating the team, starting from the top (Luca Di Montezomolo) to the team principal where Maurizio Arrivabene steps in for Marco Mat
It looks like the second season of the new turbo hybrid era will feature faster cars than the maiden year. During this year's Jerez tests, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen set a fastest lap of 1:20.841, more than two seconds quicker then Mclaren's Kevin Magnussen a year earlier at 1:23.276.
Ferrari Renaissance
After a disasterous year for the Maranello based team, 2015 is set to be the comeback year for Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel will make up the most successful driver pairing in F1 this year with five championships between the two. There has also been a massive shakeup and yellow slips circulating the team, starting from the top (Luca Di Montezomolo) to the team principal where Maurizio Arrivabene steps in for Marco Mat
McLaren Conundrum
One of the most anticipated comebacks was of Honda power to F1, and of the legendary partnership between McLaren and Honda. The hype may have been simply just that- hype. The eyes of the world were dissapointed as the livery of the vehicle remained silver, as it had been throughout the Mercedes partnership- many were hoping for a return to the orange and white colors of the Senna/Prost years. Fernando Alonso's second stint at McLaren has also taken an unexpected turn. After a difficult test period, the Spaniard crashed his Mclaren MP4-30 at the Circuit de Catalunya outside of Barcelona. Alonso will sit out the season opener in Australia.
One of the most anticipated comebacks was of Honda power to F1, and of the legendary partnership between McLaren and Honda. The hype may have been simply just that- hype. The eyes of the world were dissapointed as the livery of the vehicle remained silver, as it had been throughout the Mercedes partnership- many were hoping for a return to the orange and white colors of the Senna/Prost years. Fernando Alonso's second stint at McLaren has also taken an unexpected turn. After a difficult test period, the Spaniard crashed his Mclaren MP4-30 at the Circuit de Catalunya outside of Barcelona. Alonso will sit out the season opener in Australia.
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