Formula One in 2018 will be all about new identities. Whether it is new drivers, rebranded team profiles or even the redesigned logo for the sport itself – there has been plenty of changes for Formula One during the off-season to look forward to.
Looking ahead at the curtain raising Australian Grand Prix this weekend, here are my key questions for Formula One in 2018 to answer, both with the on-track results and off-track happenings.
Can Mercedes AMG be dethroned?
The big question that we must ask every season, regardless of whether the outcome may already be known. Mercedes AMG stand upon the brink of achieving something that no other team has done before in Formula One; which is win five consecutive constructor’s titles.
While being peerless for the first three years of the hybrid era, which commenced in 2014 – the Silver Arrows were met with a challenge from Ferrari in 2017, though it quickly dissipated.
The Brackley based squad were playing the cards close to the chest over the pre-season, having concentrated on race simulations and ran primarily on Pirelli’s medium tyre. It is unknown what the ultimate pace of the W09 EQ Power+, which is a point of concern to any challenger.
What is known, is that the car is less of a ‘diva’ like it was in 2017 and still holds its significant power advantage. It’ll take any rival outfit, two drivers to consistently outscore Mercedes AMG to have any hope of stripping them as the top team.
(Image supplied by AMG Petronas Motorsport).
Who’ll win the ‘Fight for Five’?
Lewis Hamilton versus Sebastian Vettel was a dominant narrative for the Formula One championship in 2017, and while the title teetered away from the latter into the hands of the now four-time world champion – it is expected for these two to square off once again.
The ‘Fight for Five’ as it can be labelled, will see both Hamilton and Vettel vie for an unprecedented fifth title; a feat which only Formula One immortals in Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio have achieved.
Ferrari and Vettel will have to work to prevent the same cracks appearing again, that destabilised their title tilt in 2017. While Hamilton must employ the composure and serenity which took him to that fourth crown.
Both drivers will be expected to have the company of their teammates as well in the mix for race wins, as well as the added threat from the improved Red Bull to look out in their rear-view mirrors for.
Will McLaren become podium contenders again?
McLaren’s start to 2018 was inauspicious, as they suffered a déjà vu in the form of a lack of track time during the pre-season, due to reliability issues.
Though despite the brouhaha caused by their low mileage during testing, the now Renault powered McLaren outfit are confident that those problems won’t plague them during the season – starting with Melbourne.
When the MCL33 did manage to yield some running on-track, there were some desirable lap-times produced which gives hope that on their day; McLaren could possibly snag that elusive podium of which they’ve missed since 2014.
More encouraging would be, if McLaren were able to develop enough to by the end of the year, be on pace with Red Bull for example – now that they both share the same power-unit.
(GEPA pictures/Christian Walgram).
Who’ll finish fourth in the constructor’s standings?
Despite having been owned deservedly by Force India for the past two seasons, its unlikely that the underdogs in pink will be finishing the constructor’s championship in fourth by season’s end.
With teams such as McLaren, as explained above and even the works Renault squad having made significant inroads over the off-season – the battle for fourth will be even more hotly contested, than in previous years.
Force India cannot be written off completely, though with bigger budget teams such as McLaren and Renault making the gains they are, it is difficult to see the pink panthers stay on the level.
Especially too, with the Ferrari powered Haas being tipped as the ‘surprise package’ of the year by its rivals and the Honda powered Toro Rosso a dark horse itself – with the Japanese manufacturer’s true strengths yet to be realised.
Whoever finishes fourth this season, will have had to have scored a podium or multiple to ensure that advantage on points.
What will the Silly Season produce?
Every Silly Season in Formula One is always tantalising, though 2018 is set to be quite significant with a high potential for major movement between the top teams and drivers.
The prized seat being desired by many will be that of Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes AMG, who while would be deserved to keep his seat – will have to work to fight off the lures of Daniel Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon or any other prospective candidate.
Ricciardo himself is off-contract with Red Bull and while the energy drinks giant was swift to resecure the service of Max Verstappen for the long-term, there seems to be no hurry to lock in the popular Aussie.
Ferrari may also have a position up for grabs, if they decide not to retain Kimi Räikkönen for an umpteenth season. Rookie and Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc is being groomed to step up to the Scuderia, though if the Monégasque driver is not ready – there are always stopgap options from the mid-field to explore.
And that’s not even scratching the surface! With plenty of seats on the line of 2019, expect plenty of drama throughout this latest Formula One Silly Season.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
If it doesn't rain that is! Though if we get a mixed grid from Saturday, then we could have an entertaining race come Sunday - despite the wet session not really being indicative of every team's true pace.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
He will be the biggest name to make a move arguably and already this early in the season, is his future a hot topic for discussion. Hamilton has warned him not to 'alienate' Red Bull in negotiations, though there are rumblings that Dietrich Mateschitz has it in mind already that the team will be without the Aussie next year.
Scott Pryce
Roar Rookie
Qualifying on Saturday afternoon is when the gloves are off. We will get to see who is where. I'm desperately hoping we are going to see other challengers taking it to the top teams, testing really doesn't tell much, at least not always. Yet there is much talk of the improvement of many of the mid grid teams and confidence levels increasing that we just might see some other contenders stepping up for podiums. Torro Rosso for me are the biggest dark horse, their driver signing and association with Honda have been quite clever. We have a two time WEC Champion in one of the STR13's with little pressure on his expectations and Honda, a proven engine supplier, will not have wasted their time with McLaren, really Mercedes are the only team that has mastered the Hybrid era. By all accounts it is a very relaxed relationship between Torro Rosso and Honda which is providing good signs. The status quo will remain but they will be chased by a more ambitious group of mid grid teams hopefully giving decent racing.
Adam Heap
Roar Rookie
For me the big questions is where Ricciardo ends up in 2019. Could legitimately go to Ferrari or Mercedes, or stay at Red Bull. Bottas and Raikkonen would be dropped without question if their teams believe Ricciardo would benefit their team and win them titles, and he could - is one of the top five drivers on the grid, and probably one of the top two or three for overtaking. I personally believe he'll replace Bottas and give us a cracking three-way battle for the title with Hamilton and Ferrari next year.