Mercedes: the team to beat for the Drivers' and Constructors' Championship this year. F1 W08 EQ Power+ looks fast and reliable in testing with many laps. Lewis Hamilton looks to regain his title after losing it last season. While, Nico Rosberg has gone into early retirement, meaning in comes Valtteri Bottas; who looks fast in testing.
Red Bull: Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are retain for another season. Retain the Renault power units for another season under the Tag Heuer name, maybe still around 50-70bhp less than the Mercedes power units. If the RB13 is on the right track Red Bull may shine. Top three in the constructors' standings must be their target at Red Bull this season.
Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen are retain for another season. SF70H looks fast in testing, better car, better power units in testing so far. Challenging for both championships is a must for Ferrari.
Force India: Out goes Nico Hulkenberg to Renault. In comes Esteban Ocon alongside Sergio Pérez for another season. VJM10 looks like an evolution from the VJM09 from last season. Looks fast in testing, and possible for Force India to retain fourth in the constructors' standings once again this season.
Williams: Out goes Valtteri Bottas to Mercedes, how much of an impact will the team miss Bottas skills? time will tell. In comes Lance Stroll alongside Felipe Massa who is retain for another season. FW40 looks fast in testing, fourth in the constructors' standings must be their target this season at Williams ahead of the likes of Renault, Force India and Toro Rosso.
McLaren: Jenson Button has gone into a sabbatical season meaning in comes Stoffel Vandoorne alongside Fernando Alonso for another season. McL32 looks like a very unreliable car in testing due to the new Honda power units new layout, the worst unreliable team in testing. If the power units from Honda are reliable and more powerful (maybe still around 80-100bhp less than the Mercedes power units) later in the season, McLaren might be a contender for podiums.
Toro Rosso: year old Ferrari power units are out, Renault power units are back in. While, Carlos Sainz, Jr. and Daniil Kvyat are retain for another season. STR12 look fast in testing. A few podiums may happen this season and fifth in the Constructors' standings might be the realistic target for Toro Rosso this season.
Haas: Out goes Esteban Gutiérrez and in comes Kevin Magnussen alongside Romain Grosjean for another season. The Dallara built VF-17 looks fast in testing matching times of Renault, Toro Rosso, Force India and Williams. Retaining eighth in the Constructors' standings might be the realistic target for Haas this season.
Renault: Out goes Kevin Magnussen to Haas. In comes Nico Hulkenberg alongside Jolyon Palmer for another season. R.S.17 look fast in testing. A few podiums may happen this season and fifth in the Constructors' standings might be the realistic target for Renault this season.
Sauber: Out goes Felipe Nasr and in comes Pascal Wehrlein alongside Marcus Ericsson for another season. C36 looks reliable in testing. But, with the team using year old power units from Ferrari which will be a handicap, could be 30bhp behind the 2017 spec and then some throughout the season so possibly scoring points early in the season might be the realistic target for Sauber this season despite where they finish in the Constructors' standings this season.
So predictions time, who's going to win the World Drivers' Championship this season for 2017? My prediction is Sebastian Vettel for his fifth World Drivers' Championships this season because of performance and reliability in testing. The improvements from Ferrari might be enough for Vettel to win this seasons title.
But, if Vettel doesn't step up Lewis Hamilton could take his fourth World Drivers' Title if things goes his way. Don't count out either Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen will also challenge for this years title as-well. Don't even count out both Red Bull drivers as-well, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen will go into this season as the dark horses for this season title if both Mercedes and Ferrari drivers' struggle. It will be another close drivers' championship once again this year in my opinion, as it might go down to the wire just like last season.
My top three prediction for the Drivers' Championship are:
1st Sebastian Vettel
2nd Lewis Hamilton
3rd Valtteri Bottas
Constructors' Championship: I will predict that Mercedes to win the constructors championships once again. And don't forget Ferrari and Red Bull, they will be certainly be challenging the constructors championship as-well.
My top three prediction for the Constructors' Championship are:
1st Mercedes
2nd Ferrari
3rd Red Bull
Predictions for this weekends Australian Grand Prix in the next post, for now, Bye.
No comments:
Post a Comment