The off-season for Formula 1 racing is fairly brief. As soon as the calendar flips over to 2015, fans all over the world will begin eagerly anticipating the Australian Grand Prix. Set to take place on March 15 in Melbourne, this will mark the first of the year’s 21 scheduled Grand Prix events, and it will certainly provide a thrilling start to the year. But before the Australian Grand Prix takes center stage, here’s our look at three things to watch for in the 2015 F1 campaign as a whole.
Sebastian Vettel & Ferrari
It’s probably beyond debate that the biggest story heading into 2015 is Sebastian Vettel’s move to Ferrari. A four-time world champion with Red Bull-Renault from 2010-2013, Vettel has established himself as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history. Yet, after a disappointing 2014 (thanks largely to mechanical issues), he decided to move to Ferrari. Though if you listen to Vettel, his move was more about ambition than disappointment.
The Guardian did a very nice write-up of his decision and quoted him as saying leaving Red Bull “feels like leaving home,” likening the experience to growing up and moving away, presumably to pursue a dream. It’ll be fascinating to see how the partnership between Vettel and the sport’s most famous manufacturer blossoms. And just so the skeptics know, Vettel recently said that his first test drive for Ferrari was “magical.”
Lewis Hamilton’s Domination
Driving for Mercedes and taking full advantage of Vettel’s down year, Lewis Hamilton won the world championship with somewhat ease in 2014. And he’s projected to do so again in the coming season. In an early preview from Betfair, the oddsmakers are giving Hamilton overwhelmingly favorable odds to win a second consecutive world championship and really put the pressure on Vettel to reestablish his legacy. As of now, the odds for Hamilton are at 20/21 to win, with the next closest driver being Nico Rosberg (Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate) at 7/2. Vettel, meanwhile, is at 17/1 as most seem to believe 2015 will be a year of adjustment for him as he transitions to Ferrari.
How Red Bull Moves On
On the surface, the loss of Sebastian Vettel could safely be viewed as a crippling blow for the Red Bull team, which will move into 2015 with a great deal of uncertainty. Young driver Daniel Ricciardo will take the lead for Red Bull, and he did show a great deal of promise in 2014. Furthermore, ESPN recently took a look at the 2015 driver slate and observed that the Red Bull team appears to have a great deal of confidence in its own young driver program, having already named Russian newcomer Daniil Kvyat as Vettel’s replacement (though Ricciardo will be out front). Additionally, Scuderia Toro Rosso principal Franz Tost recently said Kvyat has the potential to be one of F1’s best drivers, and it seems as if Red Bull’s immediate future ought to be secure.
There are many more teams and drivers that will factor into the 2015 F1 season, but these are the names and stories that should dominate the headlines when racing commences in March. It’s shaping up to be yet another interesting season.
