After a long winter period, the new Formula 1 season is now upon us with new drivers, a new circuit and even a new team to look forward to in 2016.
Despite yet another season dominated by Mercedes and predominantly Lewis Hamilton last year, there is a sense of optimism that only the opening round of a new F1 season brings along.
Whilst some are hoping the gap between the German marque and Ferrari has been eroded, along with others hoping that new team Haas F1 get off to a flying start, Grand Prix Times’ Andy Young looks at five things to look forward to in the 2016 F1 season.
1. Mercedes vs Ferrari
After the sheer dominance of Red Bull and particularly Sebastian Vettel between 2010 and 2013, many were utterly thrilled when the Milton Keynes-based outfit suffered a tough 2014 season and beyond when Mercedes rose to the top of the pecking order.
However, once the 2015 season began it became abundantly clear that Red Bull’s previous authority at the top had been not only replaced but bettered by the German marque.
Whilst some fans – particularly those of Hamilton – gleefully tuned in each week to watch their man shoot off into the distance with only team-mate Nico Rosberg for company on the odd occasion, others began to slide into a state of boredom.
Admittedly some may liken Mercedes and Hamilton’s dominance to that of Vettel and Red Bull’s, but there’s no denying that during the latter’s time in the limelight other teams such as McLaren and Ferrari were still regular race winners.
Since the 2014 season only six out of the 38 races competed have been won by a team other than Mercedes, making the 2016 season a very important one indeed at the front of the order.
Although Mercedes are still clear favourites heading into the new year of F1 racing, many within the paddock – including reigning champion Hamilton – firmly believe Ferrari has caught up with the German outfit.
Whilst Hamilton expects Rosberg to be his main threat, the Briton has admitted both he and Mercedes are in for a good fight at the front.
And such a fight is imperative for the health of F1, which is undeniably at an all-time low.
For the casual fan the thought of Mercedes once again locking out the front-row of the grid and bolting off into the distance during the race is far from exciting, so therefore even the slightest chance of a battle between two of the sport’s biggest manufacturers is mouth-watering.
Realistically Ferrari’s chances of actually securing championship success is slim, however there’s no denying that renewed competitiveness from the Scuderia will greatly assist the sport’s future popularity.
Now there’s something you wouldn’t have heard in 2004!
2. Pastures new in Azerbaijan
In the last decade a whole host of new venues has been added to the F1 calendar.
Whilst some such as Valencia, India and South Korea have failed to make a lasting impression, others such as Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Austin have been incredibly popular.
For 2016 yet another new venue has been added to the calendar, with the European Grand Prix set to return, this time around the streets of Baku in Azerbaijan.
Admittedly Azerbaijan is far from the first nation that springs to mind when it comes to potential F1 races, with others such as Argentina and South Africa usually cropping up when the subject of new additions to the calendar is raised.
However, the 3.732 mile Baku street circuit has already gained considerable interest from both fans and members of the paddock alike, and just like Singapore it could well be a fantastic addition to an already bulging calendar.
The track will consist of 20 corners and will once again be designed by Hermann Tilke, the man behind the design of the majority of the sport’s most recent venues.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso has spoken highly of the new circuit, stating that it will be the most memorable venue on the entire calendar this season.
The inaugural race around the streets of Azerbaijan will take place on June 19.
3. Revised qualifying format
For 2016 there will be a revised qualifying format introduced, after many weeks of uncertainty throughout winter testing.
Since 2006 F1 has run a very popular elimination-style qualifying format, whereby the slowest six or so drivers were eliminated during the first segment, a further six or so in the second segment which ultimately led to a “top ten shootout” where the eventual battle for pole position would ensue.
By and large the same format will remain in existence for the new season, albeit with several heavy modifications in a bid to spice up the action.
For 2016 Q1 will last for 16 minutes, with one driver being eliminated every 90 seconds after the first seven minutes.
This will eventually see 15 cars progress into Q2, where the same rules will apply, this time with a driver being eliminated every 90 seconds after the first six minutes.
Eventually eight cars will remain and will progress into the final part of qualifying, which will last for 14 minutes.
Once again a driver will find themselves eliminated every 90 seconds after five minutes, eventually leaving only two drivers out on track with a chance to secure pole position.
On paper the revised format certainly looks intriguing, however whether it actually spices up the action and creates excitement and unpredictability is another matter altogether.
There has already been strong criticism over the new qualifying rules, with even F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone stating he prefers the 2015 format.
Niki Lauda is also against the new format, whilst fellow countryman Gerhard Berger thinks it could make things more interesting, but ultimately isn’t enough to improve the spectacle of the sport.
Regardless of the divided opinions within the paddock, the first true indication as to whether the new format works or not will come during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix in only a few days’ time.
4. Pirelli’s new tyre regulations
Since Pirelli returned to the sport in 2011, tyre selection has become even more of a focal point of an F1 weekend.
With the Italian supplier providing a vast range of tyre compounds each weekend, from super soft to hard compounds, the art of tyre conservation has become as important to a team and driver as ever before.
Once again the regulations regarding tyre usage has been greatly altered, along with the introduction of yet another tyre compound ahead of the new F1 season.
For 2016 Pirelli will introduce an Ultra Soft tyre compound, which will only be on offer at street circuits.
Beforehand Pirelli would provide the teams with two different compounds for each race weekend.
However for 2016 they will provide three compounds instead, with each driver able to choose how many of each compound they wish to use for the weekend.
For instance reigning champion Hamilton has selected one set of medium tyres, and six of both the soft and super-soft compounds for the Australian Grand Prix weekend.
This is in comparison to the Manor duo of Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto, who have both opted for four sets of the medium and soft tyre compound, along with five sets of the super-softs.
Admittedly the new regulations may appear somewhat confusing at first, but as the season progresses and drivers become more avant-garde with their personal selections, the various strategies throughout each race weekend could prove highly interesting.
5. Haas F1’s debut season
For the first time since 1985 an American F1 team will line-up on the F1 grid in the form Haas, with Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez behind the wheel.
Although the outfit will enjoy a strong technical partnership with Ferrari, the team will be primarily based in North Carolina, along with their NASCAR Sprint Cup team.
With the success of Austin’s Circuit of the Americas since 2012, America’s interest in F1 has soared.
This has therefore seen Haas F1’s popularity increase dramatically throughout winter testing, with all eyes firmly fixed firstly on who their driver line-up would consist of before then switching attention to the overall reliability of their new car.
During pre-season testing the team managed to complete 412 laps, the least out of all the teams and 67 behind Manor.
Despite this statistic the team head into the new season full of optimism and confidence, with the aim of securing points from the word go during their debut season.
Whilst achieving points during their debut season will undoubtedly be tough to begin with – unless there happens to be an utterly chaotic opening few races – there’s no denying that there close partnership with Ferrari could well prove vital as the season progresses.
With the midfield section of the order notoriously competitive, expect Haas to certainly feature heavily alongside the likes of McLaren, Sauber and Renault.
The outfit has two drivers who are fully capable of fighting consistently in the midfield, which will set them up well for what promises to be a highly interesting debut season in F1.
