After a year of dominance from Mercedes Benz we have had one of the best Formula One seasons, despite the aesthetics of many of the cars and the new Hybrid Power Units.
Unlike Ferrari in the Schumacher era Mercedes allowed their 2 drivers to race and didn’t impose team orders even after Hamilton and Rosberg collided in Spa.
There have been many surprises during the season, Ricciardo, Bottas, Bahrain, Marussia and Williams to name a few. The racing in 2014 has been some of the best in recent years and we had the Championship on the line until the last race of the year. 2014 saw double points being awarded in the last race for the first [and probably the last] time in the history of F1.
Unlike Ferrari in the Schumacher era Mercedes allowed their 2 drivers to race and didn’t impose team orders even after Hamilton and Rosberg collided in Spa.
There have been many surprises during the season, Ricciardo, Bottas, Bahrain, Marussia and Williams to name a few. The racing in 2014 has been some of the best in recent years and we had the Championship on the line until the last race of the year. 2014 saw double points being awarded in the last race for the first [and probably the last] time in the history of F1.
Constructors:-
Mercedes: Dominant. Started working on their car in early 2013 and the Power Unit has been in production since 2010. Well prepared and deserving of the Championship. Respect for no team orders.
Red Bull: You can’t always win. Great recovery from preseason. Renault power probably cost them the title as well as poor reliability. Great choice in promoting Ricciardo. Lost Vettel though.
Williams: Huge improvement from 2013. Being quick in a straight line and a decent chassis gave them the speed they needed. Intelligent change from Renault to Mercedes engines. Slow start to the year, should have had a podium PreAustria.
Ferrari: Poor season. 2 podiums. Alonso pulled the team again. Still no closer to a championship again.
McLaren: An improvement from 2013 with 2 podiums. However they were in Australia. Lacked development. Treating their drivers badly over their 2015 line up. Didn’t use the Mercedes power to their advantage.
Force India: Their best ever season. First podium since 2009. Great performance. Lacked budget and development. Almost beat McLaren.
Torro Rosso: Very good year. Found a star in Kvyat. Regular points and Q3. Good foundations to move forward on.
Lotus: A year to forget. Lack of budget and development cost them. Renault engine didn’t help their situation. Mercedes power should see an improvement next year.
Marussia: Great season until Japan. Have gone bust. Might return in 2015 but unlikely. Scored their first points and much quicker than Caterham.
Sauber: Worst ever season. 0 Points. Poor driver line up cost them. Lacked budget and development. Engine cost them also.
Caterham: Not a good year. Had to crowd fund to stay on the Grid. Car was very slow. Lacked vital budget. Probably won’t make 2015.
Mercedes: Dominant. Started working on their car in early 2013 and the Power Unit has been in production since 2010. Well prepared and deserving of the Championship. Respect for no team orders.
Red Bull: You can’t always win. Great recovery from preseason. Renault power probably cost them the title as well as poor reliability. Great choice in promoting Ricciardo. Lost Vettel though.
Williams: Huge improvement from 2013. Being quick in a straight line and a decent chassis gave them the speed they needed. Intelligent change from Renault to Mercedes engines. Slow start to the year, should have had a podium PreAustria.
Ferrari: Poor season. 2 podiums. Alonso pulled the team again. Still no closer to a championship again.
McLaren: An improvement from 2013 with 2 podiums. However they were in Australia. Lacked development. Treating their drivers badly over their 2015 line up. Didn’t use the Mercedes power to their advantage.
Force India: Their best ever season. First podium since 2009. Great performance. Lacked budget and development. Almost beat McLaren.
Torro Rosso: Very good year. Found a star in Kvyat. Regular points and Q3. Good foundations to move forward on.
Lotus: A year to forget. Lack of budget and development cost them. Renault engine didn’t help their situation. Mercedes power should see an improvement next year.
Marussia: Great season until Japan. Have gone bust. Might return in 2015 but unlikely. Scored their first points and much quicker than Caterham.
Sauber: Worst ever season. 0 Points. Poor driver line up cost them. Lacked budget and development. Engine cost them also.
Caterham: Not a good year. Had to crowd fund to stay on the Grid. Car was very slow. Lacked vital budget. Probably won’t make 2015.
Drivers:-
Lewis Hamilton: 11 race wins, 7 fastest laps and 7 pole positions. Had some bad luck and unreliability. A worthy champion. 2 time champion.
Nico Rosberg: Very good season. First title fight. Had some unreliability but did have some luck mid season. Caused controversy at Monaco and Spa. Will be strong next year!
Sebastian Vettel: A year to forget. Outshone by Ricciardo, struggled with the car. Terrible reliability. Needs a new challenge at Ferrari like what Hamilton did.
Daniel Ricciardo: fantastic season. 3 race wins. Outshone Vettel. Great future ahead.
Valtteri Bottas: Massive improvement from 2013. Not far from becoming a race winner. Great future ahead. Will be interesting to see how he improves from this year.
Felipe Massa: Saved his career! Should have left Ferrari sooner. Bad luck again but his speed showed.
Fernando Alonso: Carried Ferrari again. No closer to title number 3. Due to join McLaren Honda.
Kimi Raikkonen: Struggled all year. Hasn’t felt at home with the new car/regulations. Has a lot to prove next year.
Jenson Button: Might’ve been his last season. Made the most out of another poor McLaren. Still has the speed. Out classed Magnussen. Secured 4th in the constructors.
Kevin Magnussen: Decent rookie season. Not in favour of the stewards or other drivers. Very quick. Under a lot of pressure. Age on his side.
Nico Hulkenberg: Overall a good season once again. Just missed out on a podium. Dipped midseason. Outscored Perez, out raced Perez and out qualified Perez.
Sergio Perez: Scored a podium in Bahrain. Good recovery from last year. Still rebuilding. At a good team to grow and mature.
Jean-Eric Vergne: Axed by Torro Rosso. Good haul of points. Had a decent season. Hit by bad luck and unreliability.
Daniil Kvyat: Outstanding season. Fully justifies being promoted from GP3. Big step up to Red Bull next year.
Romain Grosjean: Car has let him down. A year to forget. Should bounce back. Hasn’t lost his speed. Not involved in many incidents now.
Pastor Maldonado: Not a good year. Shouldn’t have left Williams. Crashed a lot. Has only scored 2 points in over 2 years.
Jules Bianchi: Great season. Scored his first points in Monaco. Had a bright future until his accident in Japan. In a stable condition and being moved to a French hospital. #ForzaJules
Max Chilton: Out classed by Bianchi again. Might be out of F1. Bianchi accident hit him hard.
Esterban Gutierrez: Very poor. Been anomalous all year. Axed by Sauber.
Adrian Sutil: Axed by Sauber. 1 Q3 appearance. Probably out of F1.
Kamui Kobayashi: Not a great F1 return. Outperformed Team mates. Hopefully on the grid in 2015
Marcus Ericsson: Improved through the year. Deserves a seat next year.
Andre Lotterer: Impressed on debut but retired early in that GP.
Will Stevens: Hopefully stays in F1 very impressive in Abu Dhabi and the post season test.
Lewis Hamilton: 11 race wins, 7 fastest laps and 7 pole positions. Had some bad luck and unreliability. A worthy champion. 2 time champion.
Nico Rosberg: Very good season. First title fight. Had some unreliability but did have some luck mid season. Caused controversy at Monaco and Spa. Will be strong next year!
Sebastian Vettel: A year to forget. Outshone by Ricciardo, struggled with the car. Terrible reliability. Needs a new challenge at Ferrari like what Hamilton did.
Daniel Ricciardo: fantastic season. 3 race wins. Outshone Vettel. Great future ahead.
Valtteri Bottas: Massive improvement from 2013. Not far from becoming a race winner. Great future ahead. Will be interesting to see how he improves from this year.
Felipe Massa: Saved his career! Should have left Ferrari sooner. Bad luck again but his speed showed.
Fernando Alonso: Carried Ferrari again. No closer to title number 3. Due to join McLaren Honda.
Kimi Raikkonen: Struggled all year. Hasn’t felt at home with the new car/regulations. Has a lot to prove next year.
Jenson Button: Might’ve been his last season. Made the most out of another poor McLaren. Still has the speed. Out classed Magnussen. Secured 4th in the constructors.
Kevin Magnussen: Decent rookie season. Not in favour of the stewards or other drivers. Very quick. Under a lot of pressure. Age on his side.
Nico Hulkenberg: Overall a good season once again. Just missed out on a podium. Dipped midseason. Outscored Perez, out raced Perez and out qualified Perez.
Sergio Perez: Scored a podium in Bahrain. Good recovery from last year. Still rebuilding. At a good team to grow and mature.
Jean-Eric Vergne: Axed by Torro Rosso. Good haul of points. Had a decent season. Hit by bad luck and unreliability.
Daniil Kvyat: Outstanding season. Fully justifies being promoted from GP3. Big step up to Red Bull next year.
Romain Grosjean: Car has let him down. A year to forget. Should bounce back. Hasn’t lost his speed. Not involved in many incidents now.
Pastor Maldonado: Not a good year. Shouldn’t have left Williams. Crashed a lot. Has only scored 2 points in over 2 years.
Jules Bianchi: Great season. Scored his first points in Monaco. Had a bright future until his accident in Japan. In a stable condition and being moved to a French hospital. #ForzaJules
Max Chilton: Out classed by Bianchi again. Might be out of F1. Bianchi accident hit him hard.
Esterban Gutierrez: Very poor. Been anomalous all year. Axed by Sauber.
Adrian Sutil: Axed by Sauber. 1 Q3 appearance. Probably out of F1.
Kamui Kobayashi: Not a great F1 return. Outperformed Team mates. Hopefully on the grid in 2015
Marcus Ericsson: Improved through the year. Deserves a seat next year.
Andre Lotterer: Impressed on debut but retired early in that GP.
Will Stevens: Hopefully stays in F1 very impressive in Abu Dhabi and the post season test.