Automotive Business Review February 2015 | Page 45

Formula One from the Inside

2015: Expect a year of
surprises
Despite the mandated ‘freeze’ on Formula One engine rules for 2015, this year could nevertheless spring a
number of surprises. The undeniable dominance of the Mercedes-Benz V6 engine package drew significant
criticism from rivals in 2014 which became more vociferous when it was rumoured that the rules forbidding
performance improvements were to be strictly enforced.

F

ortunately for Renault and Ferrari
and even Honda there seems to
have been a rethink on the part of
Formula One’s Strategy Group which has
now conditionally given manufacturers the
green light to “upgrade their engines after
the start of the season”.
One of the most talked about changes
on the driver front has been Fernando
Alonso’s departure from Ferrari with two
years remaining on his contract. Following
years of under-performance by the red
cars, the Spaniard was lured away by a big
money offer from McLaren. There he will
join Jenson Button in cars powered by the
new Honda power unit.
In another driver move to hit the headlines,
Sebastian Vettel has vacated his seat at
Red Bull in favour of Daniil Kvyat, the Toro
Rosso rookie. This clearly demonstrates
Red Bull’s commitment to its young
driver programme, showcased by Daniel
Ricciardo’s incredible 2014 season. Kvyat
and Ricciardo should make for an exciting
pairing.
Vettel is headed for Ferrari, a team
in apparent chaos after the Alonso’s
departure. He joins Kimi Raikkonen who
struggled in 2014, ending the year with less
than a third of the points of his team-mate.
The ‘Ice Man’ made it clear that the
Ferrari’s lack of front-end grip and feel
compromised his driving style. Will Ferrari
get it right this year? New Ferrari chairman,
Sergio Marchionne, says Ferrari “made
too many mistakes” in past seasons but
expects the team’s restructuring to bear
fruit.
Champion constructor Mercedes-Benz
retains Lewis Hamilton, now a double world
title holder, and Nico Rosberg who together
won an impressive 16 out o