8 Predictions For The F1 2016 Season
1. Ferrari closes the gap
This is probably wishful thinking but I really believe (and hope) Ferrari cuts the gap to Mercedes and we have a real fight for both championships. The team made big improvements last season, so why would it not make similar steps forward in 2016? A Hamilton vs Rosberg vs Vettel vs Raikkonen (okay, maybe not him) title fight is desperately needed!
He was a slightly tamer in 2015, but I think we will see a return to ‘form’ for Pastor Maldonado. He’s always complaining about how he is portrayed negatively in the media but after so many incidents, it is easy to see why. It may well be a tough and rebuilding season for Renault after buying Lotus and battling near the back could bring out the Maldonado we all know and love.
Of course, all this is dependent on whether or not Kevin Magnussen nabs the Venezuelan’s seat. If the rumours turn out to be true the second Renault will given to a much more deserving driver, but we’ll lose a little excitement in the process…
3. Manor in the midfield?
The team might not be called Manor in 2016, that’s TBC, but with Mercedes power behind it and a fresh approach, hopefully we will see the plucky team move up the order this season (or at least much closer to the pack). Racing a modified 2014 car last year, there was little hope of progress. But the future is much brighter now.
Musicians are always delaying things but the reigning world champion has said an album will be out in 2016 and we even heard a snippet in a recent 60 Minutes interview for CBS. It didn’t sound quite as bad as I thought it would be, but we only got a small taste of Hamilton’s tunes…
5. Final year for Button
Jenson Button’s career can best be summed up as a rollercoaster ride. From an eye-catching debut, to tough times at Benetton, a short period of success at BAR, a troubled stint at Honda, title success with Brawn GP and a mixed bag at McLaren, and I think 2016 will likely be his final season in F1.
He has been driving well recently but with young drivers waiting in the wings and a considerable amount of work to do before McLaren Honda returns to the front, he may decide to try something else, like the FIA World Endurance Championship or becoming a TV pundit.
The Haas F1 Team joins F1 in 2016, with Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez as its drivers. Led by Nascar team co-owner Gene Haas and with Ferrari power units, technical support and a Dallara chassis, we could well see the American outfit in the points this year.
7. Tyre rules to shake things up
In case you don’t know, the new tyre rules for 2016 are ridiculously complicated. This video does a good job of explaining it in more simplistic terms, but I do think it could generate better racing. There will be more strategy opportunities, less durable compounds and this will hopefully create more wheel-to-wheel racing. But, as with any prediction, we will have to wait and see.
8. No more McLaren Honda jokes?
“Still faster than a McLaren Honda”, ‘VTEC didn’t kick in” etc. The 2015 season was pretty much a complete failure for McLaren Honda. It was the subject of so many jokes and memes, it was both hilarious and tragic. But Honda knew where it went wrong and will be hard at work rectifying the issues. While it may not be a championship-winning season, I think the team will be in a much better situation. Well, it can’t get much worse, surely?
Comments
günther steiner from haas is a good example for horrible german/austrian accents… :D
9 will be boring
You know you are not forced to watch it
If they have a rule for using prius tyres it could be interesting
I’m predicting Ricci to be a force to be reckoned with :D
If he gets a car that works…
10.Bernie is still alive
Bernie just doesn’t die. I bet he reads the newspaper every morning and thinks “Let’s look who I have outlived this day…”
Marussia Manor could really be a mid field team since they are now joined by Tombazis.
And I am all kinds of happy for them!
Me too! After all, they deserve it. They have suffered so much, I would be so happy if the ever make a podium
9: people will complain about engines saying it isnt real F1 with V6’s… it makes me sad that people only focuses on that. This season we had great races, but no one seemed to notice because of the engine noises
Well i am a f1 fan and i prefere the v8’s or v10/12
I think there’s a few fundamental issues (like now enough passing for this generation) but people will always look for stuff to complain about. The PU is just the easiest thing to complain about since it’s an opinion and it can’t be refuted with stats.
In my opinion the cars sounded awesome.
I think McLaren Honda can be in the title challenge by 2017. I think they will get to where Red Bull was in the 2015 season by 2016. Remember that Honda is one of the greatest engineering firms in the world, as is McLaren. I hope that Alexander Rossi drives for Manor. Remember how close he came to scoring points in the US Grand Prix, and I also want to see ‘The Lad’ (WIll Stevens) get another shot in F1. Hoping that Jolyon Palmer can be a strong driver for the Renault team, and that the boys in red can challenge for the title. Forza Ferrari!
Agreed and agreed.
I would lake to see some legendary names like Alfa Romeo or Maserati back in a grand prix, although I belive it wont happen anytime soon :(
jaaaaaaaaaag!
I think Ferrari will close the gap, Buttons here to stay for a while, Pastor doesn’t have much time left in Formula 1, and as much as I would love to see the Manor boys moving up the grid I think they’ll only end up barely being in last place every race. I agree with the rest.
I hope Button is here for a while longer too! I feel that he has still got a lot to give and performs and drives like he stole it. Still wins and a possible championship (given that McLaren and Honda put themselves into gear) left in him!
What have McLaren / Honda changed for this season ? (No joke )
We don’t know yet. Preseason testing hasn’t even begun. But hopefully mclaren will actually build a chassis that works with Hondas PU, and im sure Honda given the space have many upgrades on the way.
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