After an eventful summer season break, Components 1 is again.
With 10 races crammed into lower than three months, it’s going to be a spring to the end. Even after 13 Grands Prix to offer us a way of the present pecking order, there are nonetheless lingering questions.
After we hit pause on the F1 season there have been groups in turmoil, groups heating up, engines overheating, and driver adjustments for subsequent yr.
Earlier than the season resumes this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, let’s run via some main speaking factors.
Can Ferrari Get Its Act Collectively?
Of all of the groups, Ferrari needed to be the happiest concerning the summer season break arriving when it did. The staff wanted a while to re-center after what has develop into a season that’s gone considerably off the rails.
Ferrari began the yr wanting like contenders, possibly even favorites.
My, how issues have modified.
Reliability points with their very quick (when working correctly) energy unit value them huge level hauls in Spain, Azerbaijan, and Austria.
Their drivers — whereas exhibiting flashes of plain greatness at occasions — have additionally value them with premature errors. Carlos Sainz had a nightmare Australian Grand Prix and a gap lap crash with countryman Fernando Alonso. In the meantime, Charles Leclerc had expensive errors whereas within the lead in each Imola and France value the staff important factors.
Then there have been a collection of mind-boggling technique blunders as lately as Hungary. At occasions it nearly looks like the Scuderia is more than pleased to offer their rivals factors.
Ferrari goes to wish to get all the things so as if they need even a shot of catching Max Verstappen and Purple Bull. The SF-75 is usually one of many quickest vehicles on monitor in any given session, and may often be anticipated to seek out the entrance row on Saturdays.
In the event that they’re not cautious, their focus must flip from the staff forward of them, to the staff behind them before later.
Can Mercedes Proceed To Construct On Their Latest Success?
Whereas Ferrari was doubtless thrilled for the break to reach, Mercedes most likely wished their momentum within the remaining few races to proceed.
For the primary a part of the season, it was very clear that the Mercedes W13 was a dud, no less than by their lofty requirements. Whereas George Russell managed to get that at occasions unwieldy, porpoising-prone automobile below management for a collection of sturdy finishes early, Lewis Hamilton struggled immensely with the low level coming within the type of a P10 on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
After struggling out of the gate with their eye-catching, sidepod-less design, Mercedes began to get a deal with on their automobile. So did Hamilton, who had 5 straight podium appearances going into the summer season break.
Mercedes could not be capable of catch Purple Bull this season, however Ferrari is unquestionably inside their sights. Count on Mercedes to proceed their upward trajectory. With simply 30 factors separating them Ferrari, count on a good battle for P2 within the Constructor standings that’ll put them.
Can Some Drivers Show They Nonetheless Belong In F1?
Simply earlier than Components 1 reconvened after the summer season break, information broke that Daniel Ricciardo was out at McLaren. Whereas not sudden, this all of the sudden threw one other wrench into the driving force market and made the season’s final 10 races additional necessary for some present drivers.
One, specifically, is Haas’ Mick Schumacher. Regardless of being an plain fan favourite the son of 7-time world champion Michael Schumacher hasn’t fairly been carrying his weight for the vastly improved American staff.
Schumacher’s rookie season was wasted because the staff froze automobile improvement and centered on the massive adjustments that got here with the 2022 laws. That appeared to have labored because the staff jumped from being backmarkers to being official midfield contenders.
Nonetheless, Schumacher has been proven up by his extra skilled teammate Kevin Magnussen for a lot of the season. Whereas Schumacher did handle to attain factors in Gret Britain and Austria, it will not be sufficient for the staff to miss look a number of expensive — each when it comes to factors and the price cap — crashes this season.
Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu, and Williams’ Nicholas Latifi will all really feel the warmth as they’re nonetheless with out confirmed rides for subsequent season.
Who Will Lock Up The Battle For P4?
Whereas Alpine and Aston Martin’s rivalry is heating up off-track, the French outfit has one other struggle on-track.
They discover themselves at odds with McLaren for P4 within the constructor standings.
Heading into the Belgian Grand Prix, Alpine has 99 factors and a 4-point lead over McLaren. Each place within the constructor standings is value tens of millions of {dollars} in prize cash, so every staff will do no matter they’ll to take the P4.
McLaren’s Lando Norris has a barely higher common ending place than Alpine’s driver duo Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.
Nonetheless, Ricciardo’s common ending place is 11.75, simply outdoors the factors. This can be a large drawback when Ocon and Alsonso have mixed for 19 factors finishes, whereas Norris and Ricciardo have solely managed 15.
Because it stands, it looks like Alpine’s barely higher scoring consistency will assist them to a P4 end this season, however that would change instantly.
Can Anybody Catch Verstappen?
Sure, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is in one of the best place to take the title battle to Abu Dhabi. Nonetheless, it’s going to require that he and the staff be nearly flawless from right here on out.
Verstappen is sitting on their lonesome in P1 of the driving force standings with 258 factors. That’s good for an 80-point lead over Leclerc’s 178 factors in P2. It’s not an insurmountable lead, however it will be a tall order to maintain up with Verstappen and his slippery-in-a-straight-line RB18.
Nonetheless, one DNF for Verstappen and a win for Leclerc can be a 25-point swing in favor of the Monegasque. The reigning world champion will nearly actually face an engine penalty within the second half of the season. That can current a giant alternative for Leclerc to make up floor as effectively.
Each championships are Verstappen and Purple Bull’s to lose. Nonetheless, you by no means know what may occur between now and the final checkered flag this November.
Observe on Twitter: @Matt_Reigle