2016 Formula One Mid-Year Report

Formula One – MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS, Hungarian GP 2016. Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg;

What has happened so far in Formula One this year?

• The 2016 season, as predicted, will be another Mercedes benefit. The Brackley team has maintained the upper hand in the power unit department in relation to their rivals. The Mercedes package still delivers more bang than either the Ferrari or the Renault power units.

• The Drivers Championship will once again be contested between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, with either driver capable of taking the trophy home. But both will need to fight tooth and nail with his teammate to acquire the silverware, leaving everyone else to try again next year. With the exception of the Spanish Grand Prix, the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team has scored in each and every race.
• Analysts have pointed out that Rosberg has been rattled of late. His dip in performance in relation to Lewis’ dominance has been attributed to the formers inability to fight for the lead when he gets bogged down or drops to the mid-field. Talk around the paddock and in various forums is that Nico will win only if he is in front, and unchallenged. Nico has also been criticized for his driving style. The German has a move that “pushes” rivals out of the circuit to avert an overtaking move.
• Hamilton, for his part, has been making some moves on the track that are seen as bordering on the absurd. Either that, or maybe he just sees a gap where mere mortals don’t. Despite that, the defending champion has so far stamped his authority by winning six of the last seven races, and now leads the drivers standings by 19 points.
• McLaren has vastly improved compared to last year, by leaps and bounds. After the 2015 British GP, the points tally for both Button and Alonso was just a measly five points. For 2016, they now have 41 points, which by the way also exceeds their 2015 points total of 27 points. McLaren are on the upswing and might once again be a podium contender by 2017.
• Kimi Raikkonen has had the better of his friend and teammate. The Finn leads Sebastian Vettel 122 to 120 points. Vettel has had a run of misfortunes and has failed to finish in three races so far this season.
• Max Verstappen is the only driver to have won a race this year, other than the Mercedes boys. Max won his very first GP in Spain in very impressive fashion, by holding off both Ferraris in the closing stages.
• Mercedes has to keep the emotions, and egos of their drivers in check. Taking out one’s teammate is a cardinal sin in F1. In the instances that the Merc pair did come together, the results has always been disastrous for one or both (Spain and Austria)
• The battle for the title “best of the rest” is still between Red Bull and Ferrari. The Team from Milton Keynes has a 14-point lead in the constructors champion over the Scuderia. With the Red Bull challenger improving steadily after each and every race, Ferrari is now in dire straits and needs something magical over the summer break to take the fight to Red Bull.
• Lewis Hamilton has nearly exhausted his power unit allocations for the year. Any changes to his gearbox, turbo and other components afterwards will bring a corresponding penalty and drop him further down the order. Should this happen, challenging for the win or just maintaining his points lead will be difficult for the Brit, benefitting Nico Rosberg in the title chase.
• Kimi Raikkonen has signed on for another year with the Scuderia. This ensures continuity in Maranello. Plus it always helps in the negotiations that your best friend is your teammate, is a four-time champ and has got your back. The Finn has always been ranked as one of the best drivers in F1.
• Five drivers have yet to score a single point this season: Messers. Gutierrez, Palmer, Ericsson, Nasr and Harayanto.
• In the Constructors Championship, it is only Sauber that has not scored among the eleven teams. Manor, via the heroics of Pascal Wehrlein, has scored its maiden point in Austria.
• Rookie team Haas F1 has debuted impressively by finishing in the points in the first two races, but since then has tapered off. Romian Grosjean found his mojo again later to score again in Russia and Austria. Haas F1 is now 8th in the constructors standings, just behind McLaren and ahead of Renault, Manor, and Sauber.

The remainder of the F1 calendar still has a lot to offer. With power circuits like Spa, Monza and Austin still to be run, and technical courses like those in Japan, Singapore and even Mexico, fans know full well that the battle for the championship is very much far from over.