Formula One 2016: What to look forward to
Jacaranda FM sports editor Trevor Cramer takes a look at what lies ahead for Formula One fans and petro heads in the 2016 season, which gets underway in Melbourne this week.
As we approach late March, it's time for adrenalin-charged Formula One motor racing to churn the emotions again.
Formula One fans and petro heads worldwide will have no more of the withdrawal symptoms that have plagued them
for three months.
They are set to get their fix of high-speed action again as the 2016 season gets underway at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne,
Australia this weekend.
Formula One may have become a touch boring to the layman, as Mercedes have pulverised all before them in the past three seasons with their superior speed and reliability.
One could therefore probably forgive the Mercedes team, with Hamilton and Rosberg still in the cockpit of the improved W07 machines, for feeling a sense of invincibility as they attempt to leave their rivals behind again.
So the burning question is obviously whether fierce rivals Ferrari can close the gap on Mercedes or whether Red Bull are capable of recapturing their former glory.
Hamilton will be chasing his fourth world championship, having comfortably wrapped up his third title last season with three races still remaining. Rosberg, however, seems determined not to play bridesmaid to his all-conquering teammate and some interesting on-track duels could be in prospect.
Ferrari are banking on Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikonen to up their game and start driving that famous red Italian car across the finish line first much more frequently than their maegre three wins last season.
With the highly talented duo of Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo at the wheel, one can't see many reasons why there is only one way -- and that's up -- for Red Bull this season but they desperately need to iron out some of their reliability issues.
Similarly McLaren will have to grapple with chronic reliability issues and should be performing far better with two former world champions in Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button to steer their challenge.
New investment in Williams suggests they are determined to better their third place finish in the constructor's championship, with two more than capable drivers in Valtteri Botas and Felipe Massa.
Force India, with their new VJM09 engine under the hood, may also nail down a good few podiums this season courtsey of Nico Hulkenberg and former McLaren driver Sergio Perez.
With Toro Rosso having ditched their Reanult engines and switched to Ferrari this year, the talented duo of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jnr may go at least one or two better than their best finish of fourth.
The rest, one can't help feeling, should be bracketed as also-rans.
Renault's return to F1 will be keenly watched, as they swallowed up the financially troubled Lotus team, the Swiss Sauber team are ailing under financial strain, while the Mercedes-backed Manor team and the Haas outfit may also struggle to keep up with the big players.
As the starter traditionally growls out at the start of every F1 race -- " GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES !
Drivers and Teams:
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg
Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel & Kimi Raikonen
Williams: Valtteri Botas & Felipe Massa
Red Bull: Daniil Kvyat & Daniel Ricciardo
Force India: Sergio Perez & Nico Hulkenberg
Haas: Estaban Gutierrez & Romain Grosjean
Toro Rosso: Max Verstappen & Carlos Sainz jnr
Sauber: Felipe Nasr & Marcus Ericsson
McLaren: Jenson Button & Fernando Alonso
Renault: Jolyon Palmer & Kevin Magnussen
Manor: Pascal Wehrlein & Rio Haryanto
Formula One Race Calender 2016:
18 March - Australia
03 April - Bahrain
17 April - China
01 May - Russia
15 May - Spain
29 May - Monaco
12 June - Canada
19 June - European GP -- Baku
03 July - Austria
10 July - Britain
24 July -- Hungary
31 July -- Germany
28 August -- Belgium
04 Sept -- Italy
18 Sept - Singapore
02 Oct -- Malaysia
09 Oct -- Japan
23 Oct -- USA
30 Oct -- Mexico
13 Nov -- Brazil
27 Nov -- Abu Dhabi