Mercedes 2014 clean sweep?
Discussion
Clean sweep? wouldn't bet on it. Mercedes' huge advantage at the moment proves the current potential of this formula and the size of the advantage means that at this early stage, all of the teams will develop in leaps and bounds. They aren't little refinements to a long-standing formula like at the end of the V8 era.
Okay everybody is a long way behind Mercedes at the moment, there's no denying that- But Ferrari coming from nowhere to scoring a podium in China shows that all of the teams will be taking chunks out of their lap times, and they won't be fractions of tenths like we're used to, there could be some big improvements to come.
I think Redbull will win races this year, most likely at short circuits and / or at races affected by rain. I'm looking forward to Spa where Force India have historically performed well and I think Williams will do well here too.
Okay everybody is a long way behind Mercedes at the moment, there's no denying that- But Ferrari coming from nowhere to scoring a podium in China shows that all of the teams will be taking chunks out of their lap times, and they won't be fractions of tenths like we're used to, there could be some big improvements to come.
I think Redbull will win races this year, most likely at short circuits and / or at races affected by rain. I'm looking forward to Spa where Force India have historically performed well and I think Williams will do well here too.
BritishRacinGrin said:
Okay everybody is a long way behind Mercedes at the moment, there's no denying that- But Ferrari coming from nowhere to scoring a podium in China shows that all of the teams will be taking chunks out of their lap times, and they won't be fractions of tenths like we're used to, there could be some big improvements to come.
exactly, lot of the lack of pace with Ferrari and Renault is down to their ERS packages being under-developed, and when you consider some ~20 of their powertrain is dependant on this, it's not hard to see why they are (relatively) so slow.
It is still mathematically possible for Merc to break both records this season, therefore my answer to the OP is a definite maybe 
It will be one hell of a thing to do against the might of Red Bull though! Remember in 1988 McLaren had the advantage of half the field entering normally aspirated cars and preparing for the imminent turbo ban. I think a big part of their successful strategy that year was a decision to focus on the current regs and not let themselves be distracted by a need to prepare the 1989 N/A car. I think they risked a bad 1989 in order to have a great 1988, and they pulled it off too.
It will be one hell of a thing to do against the might of Red Bull though! Remember in 1988 McLaren had the advantage of half the field entering normally aspirated cars and preparing for the imminent turbo ban. I think a big part of their successful strategy that year was a decision to focus on the current regs and not let themselves be distracted by a need to prepare the 1989 N/A car. I think they risked a bad 1989 in order to have a great 1988, and they pulled it off too.
Edited by Alfanatic on Thursday 24th April 08:39
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