F1 Speeding To A Start

It’s one of the best times of the year.  And I’m not talking necessarily about March Madness.  I’m talking about the start of the open wheel season…more specifically, the Formula 1 year.  Yes, as we all (including myself) pay 24 hour a day attention to the March Madness, but just don’t forget that the race for the World Championship begins this weekend in Australia.

This year is going to be wild just because there is a feeling around the paddock that sleeper teams (Mercedes AMG Petronas F1, Lotus F1) may do well, while dominant teams (Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren Mercedes) may struggle.  This is due in large part because of various rule changes.

With that being said, one can expect Red Bull Racing to still be right up there at the end of the year.  It is turning out to be a very special team.  If Sebastian Vettel keeps winning, he will begin to be compared more and more to Michael Schumacher’s domination in the early 2000s.

Can anyone catch Sebastian Vettel this year?

Now, it’s that time of year again where I make predictions.  And just like your March Madness brackets, there will be plenty of red ink used to fix these at the end of the season.

Season Champion: Sebastian Vettel.  Until someone can consistently beat the two-time defending champion, you must go with him.  His streak right now was like Jimmie Johnson’s in NASCAR heading into last year.  You have to pick the guy who has proven himself.

Sleeper:  Two former World Champions.  There is something weird about calling guys like Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen sleeper picks.  But, to have a driver as old as Schumacher who has struggled recently (compared to the standard he set in the early 2000s) and a driver coming back to F1 in Raikkonen after a couple years off, people count them out.  Few are picking them to be competitive ALL THE TIME, but they have the talent to.  And their teams will be much improved!

Disappointment: Felipe Massa.  Unfortunately for the man who was ALMOST the World Champion until the final turn of the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, this will be it for him at Ferrari.  He’s on the hot seat and I just don’t see Scuderia Ferrari keeping him after this year.  It’s not that he’s a bad driver.  It’s just he is clearly second fiddle at Ferrari.  And there are too many better teams than Ferrari this year.  His final position in the standings will not reflect his talent again.

It all starts early Sunday morning, when the grid hits Albert Park, Melbourne for the Qantas Australian Grand Prix.  In this one, I am going to go with Michael Schumacher.  Yes, he’s old.  Yes, he’s had a disappointing couple of seasons since he came back.  But, there’s something about that Mercedes team this season that could something special.  And why not set the tone for the season at the first race?