Part 1 of Formula 1 2015 Season Review (the teams)

Two parter Formula One season review of the 2015 season. In this post I will review each team of 2015. Which, I will say one sentence that will be positive with each team. And one sentence that will be negative for each team. So starting with Mercedes below.

Mercedes:
+ As you were from 2014, Best car and drivers on the grid with the F1 W06 Hybrid, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, with 18 poles, 16 race wins, a Constructors' Title and a Drivers' Title with Lewis Hamilton.
- Bad races in Hungary and Singapore, apart from that great season from Mercedes.



Ferrari:
+ Some great race performances from Sebastian Vettel concluding with race wins at Sepang, Hungaroring and Singapore, meaning Ferrari are back to winning ways after last season with no wins.
- And despite the SF15T is much improved then its predecessor, its not fast enough then the Mercedes from overall race pace, however a much improved engine and car from Ferrari.



Williams:
+ Some great performances from Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa this season, which includes podiums for Massa at Red Bull Ring and Monza, Bottas at Montreal and Mexico City, retaining third in the constructors' is a great positive for Williams.
- Lost too many podiums in the season with either their race pace or going wet into a race such as Silverstone where both drivers go have been on the podium.



Red Bull:
+ impressive performance from Daniil Kvyat in Hungary and Daniel Ricciardo in Singapore collecting a second place each for both drivers, despite having an under performing race car throughout the season.
- An unreliable and underpowered from Renault power unit this season, the Renault power units are still around 70-90bhp less than the Mercedes power units; fourth in the constructors' its not good enough, with the lateness of the engine deal on which power unit will use next season (which is now a TAG sponsored Renault power unit) may cost Red Bull next season.



Force India:
+ Some impressive performances from Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Pérez this season, which include a third place finish for Pérez at Sochi, which conclude with a fifth place finish in the constructors' for Force India.
- VJM08 came too late to testing with car being too slow that cost them points earlier in the season; Force India could have finished fourth in the constructors' if the car was fast enough at the start of the season.



Lotus:
+ Impressive third place finish for Romain Grosjean at Spa, the E23 Hybrid has been a much improvement from the unreliable E22.
- Financial questions from the second half of the season has been the main headlines for the Lotus F1 Team in 2015, includes unpaid taxes and paying former drivers, Renault bought the team for 2016, Enstone-based team now back as Renault which means teams future is bright for now.



Scuderia Toro Rosso:
+ Both Carlos Sainz, Jr. and Max Verstappen are showing why they are in Formula 1 with some great performances, and some impressive drives from both Carlos Sainz, Jr. and Max Verstappen that may put him in a top team in 2017 season.
- An unreliable and underpowered Renault power units has cost Toro Rosso more points then they have this season, back to year old Ferrari power units next season.



Sauber:
+ 0 points last season, this season 36 points a much improvement from the team which includes a fifth place finish for Felipe Nasr in Melbourne.
- Giedo van der Garde court case was a very negative thing for the team at the start of the season, also mid-season development from Sauber has cost the team more point then they should.



McLaren:
+ A fifth place finish for Fernando Alonso at the Hungaroring last time out.
- 181 points last season, to this season with only 27 points, a very unreliable car due to the new Honda power unit unreliability, power units are over 100bhp behind of the likes of Mercedes power units; the worse season in McLaren history under Ron Dennis, its going to be a make or brake year for Honda next season to be competitive, overall an embarrassing season from McLaren Honda.



Manor-Marussia:
+ A miracle for the team to be even on the grid this season, not below 107% mark in qualifying is a big help for the team despite using 2014 Ferrari power units and 2014 car, twelfth place finish for Roberto Merhi at Silverstone, and for Alexander Rossi in Austin; Mercedes power units for next season.
- A strong 2016 car is a must, if not the new Hass F1 Team will overtake Manor Team next season.



In part 2 of Formula 1 2015 Season Review my top 10 Formula 1 drivers of 2015. And my final thoughts of Formula 1 2015.

But for now, end of post for now. A new post soon. Bye.