In the end, Lewis Hamilton strolled to the 2014 Formula One world championship, comprehensively beating his only real threat, teammate Nico Rosberg.
Hamilton won 11 races to Rosberg’s five and would have wrapped up the title before the season finale in Abu Dhabi had it not been for the controversial double points on offer.
With Hamilton clearly getting the better of Rosberg, the only real hope of a threat to Hamilton’s supremacy lies in engine developments for rival manufacturers, given the dominance of the Mercedes package.
But, at present, the rules prevent major developmental changes to the current powerplants, under the controversial engine freeze regulations.
Mercedes has seemingly stalled on talks to open up the engine regulations to allow rivals Ferrari and Renault the chance to close the gap with much-needed upgrades.
Remember, too, Ferrari appears to be a rabble with a third new boss in eight months, leaving new recruit Sebastian Vettel with a big task of motivating a lost team, while Renault’s slow progress curtailed Red Bull Racing’s championship defence.
So Mercedes could be set for another season of domination in 2015, unless the incoming Honda and partner McLaren can produce something special.
Honda had a lacklustre start in testing at Abu Dhabi this week with McLaren test driver Stoffel Vandoorne completing just three laps in the first public test session of the new engine, not too dissimilar to the problems Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari experienced leading into 2014.
Honda’s pedigree as an accomplished engine manufacturer will be on the line when the new turbocharged V6 hybrid enters Formula One from next season.
As the 2014 season proved, the series is very much an engine formula under the new regulations, so Honda represents some hope for an end to the Mercedes rule.
McLaren will soon confirm Fernando Alonso as its lead driver, a high-profile recruit from Ferrari making a return to the team where he endured a controversial season alongside rookie sensation Hamilton.
As we’ve seen from Alonso at Ferrari, the former world champion can drag an uncompetitive car into positions it doesn’t belong.
Equipped with a competitive McLaren Honda, Alonso has the ability to take it to Hamilton’s Mercedes. But first he needs Honda to deliver the engine he needs.
It could be an uncomfortable atmosphere at McLaren Honda, given the strained relationship between McLaren boss Ron Dennis and Alonso after the latter’s tumultuous season with the team in 2007.
Many are suggesting that Alonso’s surprise move back to McLaren is merely a compromise, getting out of the turmoil at Ferrari and waiting for potential openings at Mercedes or elsewhere from 2016.
But if Honda produces a weapon, Alonso could be the one true hope for a competitive 2015 season.
Formula One fans will be hoping that’s the case, otherwise it could be the case of another Hamilton and Mercedes cakewalk next season.
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