This is just a blunt article. I love Formula One. It's always been very entertaining. However, in recent years I've felt rather ambivalent towards it. Mainly because I can no longer watch every race live because I refuse to give any more money than is necessary into the pockets of Rupert Murdoch and those money-grabbing whores over at Sky. So here is it, the definitive list of what we can do to make the world's most expensive sport both more cost-effective and exciting.
Get Rid Of Bernie
I really like Bernie Ecclestone. He is incredibly likeable. The problem is, he is becoming more and more of a caricature of Sepp Blatter and you all know how I feel about him. If you need any prompts, I loathe Blatter. I truly believe that he is a cancer on football. That's why I'm so worried about Bernie. He can't say or do anything right in my eyes at the moment. He's changed the rules so the engines are more fuel efficient, then says that he wants them back to the old V8s. He's also said that, if teams can't afford to compete in F1, they should just leave. I honestly think that he's starting to lose his grip on reality and that's a sad thought. He needs to go before he makes a massive blunder and ruins the sport for generations.
Make The Rules Less Restrictive
I don't understand this 'token' system for engine upgrades this season. Actually, I don't even think the designers do. I'm all for there being a specific formula for the engines but it needs to be more 'all powerplants must be petrol powered V6 turbo engines with a specific capacity not exceeding 1600cc and co-powered by a single electric motor or four separate motors attached to the wheels.' Then leave it at that. See what they come up with and let them develop each and every idea to their heart's content. Push the boundaries, that's what F1 should be about. Push the boundaries of speed, technology and of the human brain. They should also de-restrict stuff like the size of the wings and wheels (but only supply certain width tyres of course).
Re-Introduce Refuelling
This might be a controversial idea with regards to cost-effectiveness, but hear me out. If you keep the rules regarding the tyre changes the same (you have to use at least one set of each tyre compound in a race) then you have pitstops. You also keep the rules regarding the amount of fuel you can use in a race (100kg). However, the change is that you no longer have to start with all 100kg on board. In fact, you can start with any amount of fuel on board that you like. This means that cars can be fitted with smaller fuel tanks for faster racing. Lighter cars burn less fuel so, more cost effective. Everyone who remembers the refuelling era misses the moment when the fuel hose doesn't detach from the car properly and is dragged down the pit lane attached to a 200mph car. It added more drama! It would also add an element of strategy in how big the fuel tank is. Should it be bigger so the car can go for longer stints between stops? Or smaller so there are more stops but the lap times are quicker? So much more interesting!
I know this is not a well-read blog but F1 is becoming stale and boring. You want Audi to compete? F1 needs to change. It needs to change so we have 26 or 28 cars on the starting grid and not a pitiful 18 with only 11 finishing. Sort it out, or the masses will lose interest. Where will the money come from then?
Friday, 1 May 2015
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Champions League Loss May Be Greatest Defeat Of Wenger's Career
So here's a question, who is going to win the Premier League? Chelsea? Manchester City? What if I throw Arsenal and Manchester United in the mix? Suddenly, this season becomes a hell of a lot more interesting than what it was at the beginning.
When the season started, Chelsea ran away with it. There was even speculation that they would achieve the impossible and emulate the Arsenal team of 2004 and go through the entire season unbeaten. With Diego Costa up front and Cesc Fabregas pulling the midfield strings, they looked impressive. But their facade has faded of late and that has allowed teams to exploit their vulnerabilities. Which means they are dropping points. Their position as champions elect is becoming increasingly tenuous.
Their closest rivals, and reigning champions, Manchester City also don't look like they did last year. For some reason they have been very disappointing this season and yet find themselves in second place, six points off the top spot. Anyone else think that's a little unfair? Well, not when you consider how poorly the rest of their rivals are playing, it's not that surprising. Their run in isn't difficult but they will drop points in the form they're in.
This is where it gets interesting, right now Arsenal are only one point behind City. They play Manchester United and Chelsea in the last ten games so if they can pick up points against them, they might just be in the running. They've won the last eight games on the bounce at home, which puts them as the in form team for this run in. Getting knocked out of the Champion's League might just be the best thing to happen to Arsenal.
Without the minimum of two extra games to play, Arsenal can now concentrate on their domestic season. A strong showing against United in the FA Cup last week proves that they still have the ability to beat tough opposition. Although United's season has been little more than mediocre. The fact they're parked in fourth is proof of how wildly average the rest of the Premier League has been.
Arsenal have the opportunity now to seize on the increasing mistakes of their rivals and take the Crown for the first time in eleven years. We also might be able to make that double happen again, you never know.
Through the years, Tottenham fans have come to discover one thing: never write off the Arsenal.
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
A World Cup Post-Mortem
I do love watching cricket. There's something about sitting at Lord's with a cold pint in your hand and watching a Test match that just has the word perfection wrapped around it. I feel almost the same for One Day matches and Twenty20, which is why I was extremely disappointed (but not at all surprised) when England were knocked out of the World Cup this year after several withering displays.
Their only win of this wretched campaign came against Scotland. Says it all really. Six years ago at the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup, England were beaten by The Netherlands. A year before that, my uncle took his pub cricket team on a tour of the Netherlands to play against their national team in three matches. Facing them were eight of the eleven players who would go on to beat England the following year. My uncle won two out of the three matches.
Whilst my love for the long format of the game has no equal, I can't help but feel it's being championed at the expense of the shorter versions. Have we ever really excelled at any major international tournament? No. Why? Because we always have one eye on the next tour, whether it be at home or away. The problem is that if we forsake the short game for Test cricket, we risk dragging the form we have in the ODIs and World Cups into our long game.
Take this year, for example. We have four (yes, four!) Test cricket tours in 2015. Well, the first test of the last tour starts on Boxing Day and stretches into next year, but I'm still counting it. First, we're off to the West Indies for three tests, less than five weeks after our disheartening World Cup showing. Then, roughly two and a half weeks after the final ball is played in Bridgetown, we're in North West London, at the home of cricket, to play against New Zealand. At the beginning of July, we're in the Welsh capital to kick off this little-known cricketing phenomenon called The Ashes!
I know what you're going to say at this point, that teams for the shorter formats are picked with different criteria to Test cricket, and you're right. However, the coaching staff is broadly similar and if there's no confidence in them then there's no confidence within the team, no matter which players you pick. Alastair Cook should stay on as Test captain, I think he's done brilliantly personally, and I still believe that he's the right man to lead this team. He's still one of the best batsmen we have to offer on the world stage. His omission from the World Cup squad may come as a blessing in disguise as he won't be tainted with the abject failure of his peers.
So where did it all go wrong for England? Well, it didn't help that we started against the co-hosts who had beaten us twice in ODIs in January. Our problem was that we didn't learn from those defeats. We never thought, 'Hey, we're doing something wrong here, how can we stop doing it wrong and do it right instead?'
We followed that up with one of the lowest ODI run totals of all time. It was so low that New Zealand might as well have brought some fans on to play instead. They needed less than thirteen overs to crush a deplorable England. Then we beat Scotland and everyone shit themselves thinking we had a chance to win the World Cup. Turns out, this is very English as we do it every time there's a major tournament in any sport.
Who should take the blame for our loss against Sri Lanka? The bowlers. Without a doubt the most pathetic display ever. Six bowlers with just one maiden (Broad) and only one wicket (Moeen) to show for their 284 balls bowled. This need to be sorted out. Quickly.
I'm looking forward to the Tests this summer, not least because I hope to get to Lord's at some point. But if England manage to recreate their short game form into their Test form, I might not even bother, because it would be an utter waste of time.
Louis van Gaal And The Amazing Excuse Machine
First of all, let's get one thing straight. I am an Arsenal Season Ticket Holder. I try and make it to as many home games as I can. I could have had a ticket to watch the biggest FA Cup fixture ever last night but I had to go to my job this morning so decided against it. Arsenal played brilliantly and, I thought, thoroughly deserved to be the team to go through to the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley. This isn't about that. This isn't even about Danny Welbeck and his match-winning goal on his return to Old Trafford.
No, what this is about is the loathing I have in my bones for people who cheat at professional sports. I have no love for Lance Armstrong, Dwain Chambers and Tyson Gay. None whatsoever. They should be ashamed of what they have done and the damage they have done to their respective sports. You want my opinion on them? Lifetime bans. You want to cheat? You should pay the ultimate price. That should be the punishment. No grey areas.
This is pretty much the same attitude I have for football players who dive. Now, there are those who will point to the 2006 Champions League Final when Emmanuel Eboue went down a little too heavily to win the free kick which ultimately gave Arsenal the lead. To them I say, yeah, that annoyed me, but we were always going to score first so leave it out. Last night, I witnessed two horrific actions by Man Utd players trying to con the ref into giving away either a penalty or a free kick.
We are also not talking about kids in their first season in the top flight. Adnan Januzaj was the player touted as being Moyes' saviour last season as he strung together several impressive performances that almost single-handedly kept the Scot in a job. Whilst not a seasoned professional, he should know by now the limits of what he can get away with - and why he should never test them. It was a pathetic attempt by a player who should not have been out of his depth to con the referee. However, whilst Januzaj's dive was blatant and the referee (not often I say this) absolutely correct in his decision to book him, I cannot describe the blood-boiling hatred I now have for Angel Di Maria.
Throughout the years, Arsenal and Man U have had some epic encounters. Pizzagate springs to mind, the 1999 FA Cup Semi as well. So do the many tussles between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira. Two incredible and iconic captains who remain loved in nearly every section of Old Trafford and the Emirates. I have a lot of respect for Manchester United and the majority of their fans, in the same way I know they have respect for Arsenal. The teams and players have respect for each other. Di Maria showed none of this in his actions last night.
In the 77th minute of an otherwise firm, but calm, match, Di Maria dived, clearly and obviously, in full view of the referee. In accordance with the laws of the game, he was shown a yellow card by Michael Oliver. As Oliver was walking away, the £59.7m Champions League Winning summer signing from Real Madrid inexplicably pulled on the back of his shirt in an attempt to protest his innocence.
Such a show of disrespect to the referee, to his fellow players, to the fans and to the occasion was swiftly met with his second yellow card in 30 seconds and followed by a red card. As the commentator put it, "Michael Oliver took him to one side, composed himself and sent him on his way."
What was going through his head when he grabbed the back of a referee's shirt we may never know, but it was the lack of respect shown that has me spitting mad. Louis van Gaal didn't exactly ingratiate himself to me afterwards either. I get why such a huge signing can't just be benched as a result of one foolish action, but seeing as how poorly he has played this season compared to last, it probably wouldn't hurt the team to have the British record signing staying away for a few games. Me? I'd have sacked him on the spot. He can find another team. If any Arsenal players behaved in that way, I wouldn't care if they came back to score the winner in the Champions League final, I'd never love them.
I hate cheats, they are a cancer for sport. I fully advocate a straight red card for anyone caught diving. Angel Di Maria deserves everything he gets for what he did last night. Him and Januzaj ruined an otherwise epic encounter between two of football's most famous rivals. I say this to LVG, get your house in order. Turns out a £16m invesment in one of England's finest strikers is better than anything you can do. So stop whining, honeymoon is over. Be a man and realise that the whole team needs an overhaul. I'd start with that questionable Argentinian.
Monday, 9 February 2015
Phillip Hughes - Sport's Tragic Loss
Tom Fordyce has written an excellent article about why a sportsman's death can be felt so painfully whilst many others go relatively unnoticed. I would like to echo those sentiments and write about my own thoughts regarding 25 year old Phillip Hughes' shocking death that has engulfed the cricketing world and beyond.
First, though, I would like to extend my sympathies to Hughes' family and friends and to the many Australian cricket fans who also mourn his passing. Sean Abbott is also in my thoughts as there is no way to describe what happened than anything other than an accident. A 'freak' accident if you will. It's not an easy incident to get over but it looks as if the entire community are right behind him and have offered him their full support in these troubling times.
Tom draws parallels between Hughes' death and that of Ayrton Senna two decades ago at Imola. Adrian Newey, best know for producing Championship-winning McLaren's and Red Bull's, was chief designer at Williams at the time of the accident. Twenty years later, it still haunts him. Senna's death, and that of fellow F1 driver Roland Ratzenberger a day earlier, marked a sea change in the safety of Formula One cars that has resulted in no deaths since that fateful weekend.
That's not to say that there hasn't been incidents and accidents since then. Jules Bianchi is still in hospital in Japan after his Marussia came off the track at Suzuka and collided with a rescue crane while it was removing another car that had crashed into the barriers at the same corner. Five years ago, Felipe Massa was seriously injured when suspension spring from compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car came off on the entry to turn four at the Hungarian Grand Prix and hit him on the helmet roughly an inch above his left eye. He would not return until the beginning of the following season, some eight months later.
In rallying, former Formula One driver Robert Kubica was involved in a serious accident whilst at the Ronde di Andora rally. After a seven-hour operation, and two further operations, he was still never able to get back to racing in F1 again due to the partial severing of his right hand.
To be honest, they're not that comparable. The world of 200+mph racing is far removed from the slightly slower pace of Test Cricket. This is probably the reason that there's more shock globally at the death of Phillip Hughes. He was only 18 months older than I am, at the peak of his career. A wonderfully talented opening batsmen, he really came to everyone's attention in July 2013. In what was a real see-saw of a match and one of those classic Test Matches, one moment shone through. Debutant Ashton Agar came two runs short of maiden century, for Australia, in the Ashes, in England, batting at number 11. His partner for what was then a record 10th wicket stand? Phillip Hughes. A calming influence at the other end of the wicket, Hughes guided Agar through his innings and constantly gave him encouragement. A true professional in the best sense of the word.
As with Senna's death in '94, the safety of the sport has been called into question. Almost immediately, England captain Alastair Cook said that the sport has never been safer. This is the case, as it stands. There has been a redesign of the helmets and, although there are still areas of the head that are exposed, these are the most safe design style without losing any of the batsmen's vision, which would be even more dangerous. It all goes back to the circumstances. Senna's death was preventable had the same safety standards we have today been enforced. In cricket, as many people have said, the bouncer is something the fast bowler has in his armoury, The short-pitched ball delivered once every two or three overs just to unnerve the batsmen and disrupt their rhythm is something that we have all come to enjoy watching. Removing that would make cricket a dull game to watch. Generally, a bouncer is followed within the next couple of balls by one that is going straight on the stumps or a teaser just off or just leg that the bowler hopes will be edged to one of his teammates waiting at slip or leg slip.
An accident. A freak accident. There have been 100 cases in history of what happened to Phillip Hughes, with only one of them resultant of a cricketing injury. It is a shame that someone who still had such a long and potentially prosperous career ahead of him will not have that opportunity and there's nothing that we can really learn from the incident. It's just a senseless waste. I really feel for Sean Abbott as well. I just hope that in time he can return to the sport and make a name for himself once more.
First, though, I would like to extend my sympathies to Hughes' family and friends and to the many Australian cricket fans who also mourn his passing. Sean Abbott is also in my thoughts as there is no way to describe what happened than anything other than an accident. A 'freak' accident if you will. It's not an easy incident to get over but it looks as if the entire community are right behind him and have offered him their full support in these troubling times.
Tom draws parallels between Hughes' death and that of Ayrton Senna two decades ago at Imola. Adrian Newey, best know for producing Championship-winning McLaren's and Red Bull's, was chief designer at Williams at the time of the accident. Twenty years later, it still haunts him. Senna's death, and that of fellow F1 driver Roland Ratzenberger a day earlier, marked a sea change in the safety of Formula One cars that has resulted in no deaths since that fateful weekend.
That's not to say that there hasn't been incidents and accidents since then. Jules Bianchi is still in hospital in Japan after his Marussia came off the track at Suzuka and collided with a rescue crane while it was removing another car that had crashed into the barriers at the same corner. Five years ago, Felipe Massa was seriously injured when suspension spring from compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car came off on the entry to turn four at the Hungarian Grand Prix and hit him on the helmet roughly an inch above his left eye. He would not return until the beginning of the following season, some eight months later.
In rallying, former Formula One driver Robert Kubica was involved in a serious accident whilst at the Ronde di Andora rally. After a seven-hour operation, and two further operations, he was still never able to get back to racing in F1 again due to the partial severing of his right hand.
To be honest, they're not that comparable. The world of 200+mph racing is far removed from the slightly slower pace of Test Cricket. This is probably the reason that there's more shock globally at the death of Phillip Hughes. He was only 18 months older than I am, at the peak of his career. A wonderfully talented opening batsmen, he really came to everyone's attention in July 2013. In what was a real see-saw of a match and one of those classic Test Matches, one moment shone through. Debutant Ashton Agar came two runs short of maiden century, for Australia, in the Ashes, in England, batting at number 11. His partner for what was then a record 10th wicket stand? Phillip Hughes. A calming influence at the other end of the wicket, Hughes guided Agar through his innings and constantly gave him encouragement. A true professional in the best sense of the word.
As with Senna's death in '94, the safety of the sport has been called into question. Almost immediately, England captain Alastair Cook said that the sport has never been safer. This is the case, as it stands. There has been a redesign of the helmets and, although there are still areas of the head that are exposed, these are the most safe design style without losing any of the batsmen's vision, which would be even more dangerous. It all goes back to the circumstances. Senna's death was preventable had the same safety standards we have today been enforced. In cricket, as many people have said, the bouncer is something the fast bowler has in his armoury, The short-pitched ball delivered once every two or three overs just to unnerve the batsmen and disrupt their rhythm is something that we have all come to enjoy watching. Removing that would make cricket a dull game to watch. Generally, a bouncer is followed within the next couple of balls by one that is going straight on the stumps or a teaser just off or just leg that the bowler hopes will be edged to one of his teammates waiting at slip or leg slip.
An accident. A freak accident. There have been 100 cases in history of what happened to Phillip Hughes, with only one of them resultant of a cricketing injury. It is a shame that someone who still had such a long and potentially prosperous career ahead of him will not have that opportunity and there's nothing that we can really learn from the incident. It's just a senseless waste. I really feel for Sean Abbott as well. I just hope that in time he can return to the sport and make a name for himself once more.
Sunday, 8 February 2015
Five Weeks To Go - F1 Countdown
With just the one test over with, two more coming and Melbourne only five weeks away, I thought I'd run through what I think of the teams, the drivers and the rules ahead of the new Formula One season.
Mercedes Still The Team To Beat
After a seriously impressive 2014, Mercedes came to the first test in Jerez in high spirits. I'm almost certain that they left feeling even better. Barring a few electrical and engine problems, they clocked up an impressive 1,419 miles of running with their (sort of) new engine. Including a whopping 157 laps in their first day in the new car, which hadn't seen the light of day up until that point. the car clearly isn't afraid of doing the mileage, and neither are the drivers with Lewis Hamilton claiming, "117 laps today felt fairly easy." To do well over a race distance and still feel relaxed, that's an amazing feat. Why are they getting paid so much if it's this simple? Maybe I should have a crack, I don't know.
This season is shaping up to be another titanic battle between the Mercedes teammates. Rosberg, to his credit, limped home in the last race of the season in 2014 but I'd expect him to be well in the mix come Abu Dhabi. I doubt as if Hamilton will have such a run around this year. Having got to grips with the new rules last year, Nico Rosberg will be motivated to show that he can be the better driver.
Red Bull Struggle Again
Despite the fact Daniel Ricciardo won three races in 2014 and was the closest competitor Mercedes had, that Renault engine is dreadful. If it weren't for Adrian Newey and his team of technical wizards, they wouldn't have even had a sniff of the championship. As it was, the miracle workers from Milton Keynes worked their magic and made up lost ground with possibly the best chassis they've ever developed. As an unfortunate by-product, the new kid on the block made a quadruple world champion look incredibly ordinary. Small wonder Vettel left for Ferrari, at least if he loses there, it would be to another previous world champion. A very quiet first test is reminiscent of last season where reliability forced them to do very little running in the build-up to Melbourne.
What will happen with the new driver lineup of Ricciardo and Kvyat? One thing is for certain, Vettel moving on can do no end of good for this team. When things aren't going his way, Vettel has a tendency to turn into a stroppy teenager. Whereas Ricciardo is rarely seen without that wide Aussie grin. If they can get on top of their reliability probles, there's no reason why they can;t be racing for podiums this season.
Fear the Ferrari
Lap times are notoriously unreliable during winter testing, as BBC Sport loves telling people. However, they always have straplines like 'Raikonnen Ends Jerez Test On Top.' Yeah, thanks for that. Looking at the lap times, it does seem as if Ferrari have got on top of the stupid problems that plagued them last season. It wasn't so much the lack of pace on the track that was the problem but the extremely Italian bickering and arm waving occurring off it. At least they seem to have it under control, for now. The management reshuffle has actually done the team some good, they look more focused and better for it. The car looks good out there and, hopefully, it will bring the Scuderia back to winning ways.
Vettel will have met his match in Raikonnen. The ice-cold Finn is calm and fast. His comeback in 2012 was impressive, considering he was driving a Lotus. Vettel is no stranger to tough competition, but he will have to learn a thing or two from his new team and teammate if he is to cut it at Ferrari. This season, I don't expect there to be a number one or two at the team, so Vettel will have to race on Raikonnen's terms, not on his own and I wouldn't imagine for him to enjoy that so much.
Will Williams Return To Winning Ways?
I sure hope so. Claire Williams is one of the best people in the paddock. Her energy and enthusiasm for racing makes her the perfect person to step into her father's massive shoes. Sir Frank, taking a step back from frontline management as he careers into his seventies, must have watched last season and smiled. With the Mercedes engine in the back, a wonderfully flamboyant Brazilian and a calm collected Finn behind the wheels, there is nothing this team cannot achieve. The pace of the car in a straight line is immense. If you thought 2014 was a good year for them, strap yourselves in and watch what a truly motivated and historic team can do when they believe that they have a fighting chance for the championship for the first time since Jacques Villeneuve.
Retaining the driving lineup was crucial for success. Attempting to bed in a new driver while he learns the different controls of the new wheel whilst also learning a whole new car and potentially a new powertrain can be exhausting. Felipe Massa and Valteri Bottas both drover superbly last year, so I expect them to be high up by the business end of the season.
Are Honda Hiding Something?
With just 72 laps completed over four days, most would consider the test in Jerez to have been a failure for the new McLaren-Honda team. But then, most wouldn't have been paying close attention. This is a brand-new power unit, not an improvement on last year's model. This means that Honda have had a full year to watch their rivals' engines and work out the best ways forward. Barring any serious problems, I'd imagine the new car to be running well at the next test in Barcelona and to get some serious mileage under its belt. What I picked up on most importantly was something Ron Dennis said, that the engine was only running at '50% power' for the entire test. Now, I know that's almost likely a ruse to put the other teams off, but even if it was running at 85%, that still means that the power output could easily match that of the Mercedes. That, coupled with the best rear end of any car so far to break cover, could mean that McLaren are about to emerge from the dark ages they have found themselves in recently.
Alonso is back. Is there any more I need say on the drivers? Probably. Jenson Button has been retained, which is a shame for Kevin Magnusson but, ultimately, the right decision. The last time Fernando Alonso sat in a McLaren, it was next to a 22 year old Lewis Hamilton, and that didn't go down well. The expertise he brings to the team, along with being recognised as one of the, if not the, finest driver of this generation, will be invaluable for the new team. Button has been with them since 2010 and is a fan's favourite thanks to his smooth driving style and his ineffable charm.
The New Rules
Not many, just a few that prevent the front of the cars looking like they're compensating and the ditching of double points (yes!). Also, the reintroduction of nearly everything getting resolved by a drive-through penalty or a stop-go penalty. This means that, in almost all cases, the race will be won or lost on the track, rather than after a lengthy stewards enquiry. James Hunt would be pleased.
All in all, this will be a spectacular season. I'll certainly be watching come Melbourne! Although, please can we just have the season ending in Brazil every year? Why do we have to go to Abu Dhabi? It's not a good circuit!
Mercedes Still The Team To Beat
After a seriously impressive 2014, Mercedes came to the first test in Jerez in high spirits. I'm almost certain that they left feeling even better. Barring a few electrical and engine problems, they clocked up an impressive 1,419 miles of running with their (sort of) new engine. Including a whopping 157 laps in their first day in the new car, which hadn't seen the light of day up until that point. the car clearly isn't afraid of doing the mileage, and neither are the drivers with Lewis Hamilton claiming, "117 laps today felt fairly easy." To do well over a race distance and still feel relaxed, that's an amazing feat. Why are they getting paid so much if it's this simple? Maybe I should have a crack, I don't know.
This season is shaping up to be another titanic battle between the Mercedes teammates. Rosberg, to his credit, limped home in the last race of the season in 2014 but I'd expect him to be well in the mix come Abu Dhabi. I doubt as if Hamilton will have such a run around this year. Having got to grips with the new rules last year, Nico Rosberg will be motivated to show that he can be the better driver.
Red Bull Struggle Again
Despite the fact Daniel Ricciardo won three races in 2014 and was the closest competitor Mercedes had, that Renault engine is dreadful. If it weren't for Adrian Newey and his team of technical wizards, they wouldn't have even had a sniff of the championship. As it was, the miracle workers from Milton Keynes worked their magic and made up lost ground with possibly the best chassis they've ever developed. As an unfortunate by-product, the new kid on the block made a quadruple world champion look incredibly ordinary. Small wonder Vettel left for Ferrari, at least if he loses there, it would be to another previous world champion. A very quiet first test is reminiscent of last season where reliability forced them to do very little running in the build-up to Melbourne.
What will happen with the new driver lineup of Ricciardo and Kvyat? One thing is for certain, Vettel moving on can do no end of good for this team. When things aren't going his way, Vettel has a tendency to turn into a stroppy teenager. Whereas Ricciardo is rarely seen without that wide Aussie grin. If they can get on top of their reliability probles, there's no reason why they can;t be racing for podiums this season.
Fear the Ferrari
Lap times are notoriously unreliable during winter testing, as BBC Sport loves telling people. However, they always have straplines like 'Raikonnen Ends Jerez Test On Top.' Yeah, thanks for that. Looking at the lap times, it does seem as if Ferrari have got on top of the stupid problems that plagued them last season. It wasn't so much the lack of pace on the track that was the problem but the extremely Italian bickering and arm waving occurring off it. At least they seem to have it under control, for now. The management reshuffle has actually done the team some good, they look more focused and better for it. The car looks good out there and, hopefully, it will bring the Scuderia back to winning ways.
Vettel will have met his match in Raikonnen. The ice-cold Finn is calm and fast. His comeback in 2012 was impressive, considering he was driving a Lotus. Vettel is no stranger to tough competition, but he will have to learn a thing or two from his new team and teammate if he is to cut it at Ferrari. This season, I don't expect there to be a number one or two at the team, so Vettel will have to race on Raikonnen's terms, not on his own and I wouldn't imagine for him to enjoy that so much.
Will Williams Return To Winning Ways?
I sure hope so. Claire Williams is one of the best people in the paddock. Her energy and enthusiasm for racing makes her the perfect person to step into her father's massive shoes. Sir Frank, taking a step back from frontline management as he careers into his seventies, must have watched last season and smiled. With the Mercedes engine in the back, a wonderfully flamboyant Brazilian and a calm collected Finn behind the wheels, there is nothing this team cannot achieve. The pace of the car in a straight line is immense. If you thought 2014 was a good year for them, strap yourselves in and watch what a truly motivated and historic team can do when they believe that they have a fighting chance for the championship for the first time since Jacques Villeneuve.
Retaining the driving lineup was crucial for success. Attempting to bed in a new driver while he learns the different controls of the new wheel whilst also learning a whole new car and potentially a new powertrain can be exhausting. Felipe Massa and Valteri Bottas both drover superbly last year, so I expect them to be high up by the business end of the season.
Are Honda Hiding Something?
With just 72 laps completed over four days, most would consider the test in Jerez to have been a failure for the new McLaren-Honda team. But then, most wouldn't have been paying close attention. This is a brand-new power unit, not an improvement on last year's model. This means that Honda have had a full year to watch their rivals' engines and work out the best ways forward. Barring any serious problems, I'd imagine the new car to be running well at the next test in Barcelona and to get some serious mileage under its belt. What I picked up on most importantly was something Ron Dennis said, that the engine was only running at '50% power' for the entire test. Now, I know that's almost likely a ruse to put the other teams off, but even if it was running at 85%, that still means that the power output could easily match that of the Mercedes. That, coupled with the best rear end of any car so far to break cover, could mean that McLaren are about to emerge from the dark ages they have found themselves in recently.
Alonso is back. Is there any more I need say on the drivers? Probably. Jenson Button has been retained, which is a shame for Kevin Magnusson but, ultimately, the right decision. The last time Fernando Alonso sat in a McLaren, it was next to a 22 year old Lewis Hamilton, and that didn't go down well. The expertise he brings to the team, along with being recognised as one of the, if not the, finest driver of this generation, will be invaluable for the new team. Button has been with them since 2010 and is a fan's favourite thanks to his smooth driving style and his ineffable charm.
The New Rules
Not many, just a few that prevent the front of the cars looking like they're compensating and the ditching of double points (yes!). Also, the reintroduction of nearly everything getting resolved by a drive-through penalty or a stop-go penalty. This means that, in almost all cases, the race will be won or lost on the track, rather than after a lengthy stewards enquiry. James Hunt would be pleased.
All in all, this will be a spectacular season. I'll certainly be watching come Melbourne! Although, please can we just have the season ending in Brazil every year? Why do we have to go to Abu Dhabi? It's not a good circuit!
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Autumn Internationals - Big Tests Await England
England v Fiji. That's that match that is going to kick start the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham Stadium on the 18th September next year. So, with a little over 11 months to go until that day, I thought I'd take a look at England's prospects against the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights in a few weeks' time.
Let's start with the big question on everyone's minds: Danny Cipriani, will he be picked? After seeing some of his club performances, I think it would be remiss of Stuart Lancaster not to pick him. He has been outstanding so far since his return to English club rugby. I could write a full history and bore you all with it, but suffice it to say that both Cipriani and Bath's George Ford both attack flatter and quicker than current first choice outside half Owen Farrell. Although I believe Farrell is a more complete player in his ability to allow the centres to stretch themselves, the wingers to operate with freedom on the flanks, his intelligence at first receiver and his strength as first defender, the speed that Cipriani brings to both attack and a rushing, blitz defence can't be discounted, especially against the pacey in-hands movement of the NZ backline.
All-round there is a serious improvement in England and their in-hands play. This was highly evident in their recent tour of New Zealand. Even though they lost all three tests, they ran the hosts very close in the first two encounters. Considering these matches were played away from the comfort and security of Twickenham, I wouldn't put it past England to thrash them come November. A big call seeing as this is a record-breaking NZ team.
Moving on to the issue of Steffon Armitage, I can't see why the RFU won't allow Stuart Lancaster to pick Armitage as an 'exceptional circumstance' player, with the exceptional circumstance being that he has played incredibly well since moving to Toulon and deserves his place in the England setup. His potential omission must be a bit of a relief for Chris Robshaw as it means there isn't someone who could challenge him for his openside role within the England team. Whilst I believe a solid challenger to his position might bring out the best in Robshaw, handing him the captaincy and telling him to get on with it has already achieved that aim. He is, by far and away, the most hardworking of all the England players. His leadership has inspired this team. I know I've leapt to his defence before, but I can't see another stand-out individual in this squad. No disrespect to any other members of the England squad intended.
The Six Nations will be competed in by broadly the same squad of players that play this Autumn, but I'll talk about that closer to the time.
Let's start with the big question on everyone's minds: Danny Cipriani, will he be picked? After seeing some of his club performances, I think it would be remiss of Stuart Lancaster not to pick him. He has been outstanding so far since his return to English club rugby. I could write a full history and bore you all with it, but suffice it to say that both Cipriani and Bath's George Ford both attack flatter and quicker than current first choice outside half Owen Farrell. Although I believe Farrell is a more complete player in his ability to allow the centres to stretch themselves, the wingers to operate with freedom on the flanks, his intelligence at first receiver and his strength as first defender, the speed that Cipriani brings to both attack and a rushing, blitz defence can't be discounted, especially against the pacey in-hands movement of the NZ backline.
All-round there is a serious improvement in England and their in-hands play. This was highly evident in their recent tour of New Zealand. Even though they lost all three tests, they ran the hosts very close in the first two encounters. Considering these matches were played away from the comfort and security of Twickenham, I wouldn't put it past England to thrash them come November. A big call seeing as this is a record-breaking NZ team.
Moving on to the issue of Steffon Armitage, I can't see why the RFU won't allow Stuart Lancaster to pick Armitage as an 'exceptional circumstance' player, with the exceptional circumstance being that he has played incredibly well since moving to Toulon and deserves his place in the England setup. His potential omission must be a bit of a relief for Chris Robshaw as it means there isn't someone who could challenge him for his openside role within the England team. Whilst I believe a solid challenger to his position might bring out the best in Robshaw, handing him the captaincy and telling him to get on with it has already achieved that aim. He is, by far and away, the most hardworking of all the England players. His leadership has inspired this team. I know I've leapt to his defence before, but I can't see another stand-out individual in this squad. No disrespect to any other members of the England squad intended.
The Six Nations will be competed in by broadly the same squad of players that play this Autumn, but I'll talk about that closer to the time.
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