Written by @OMGitsTarrynLee for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
What’s New In 2014
The most significant change in Formula One is the dismal attempt of the sport to ‘go green’. In all honesty, these are racing machines that reach speeds of nearly 400km/h, burn ridiculous amounts of fuel during a race and disintegrate numerous sets of tyres, so the environment is not something that one generally considers when partaking in/passionately spectating the sport. However, one must oblige the hippies and bow to global pressures so the 2014 engines have lost two cylinders and gained a turbocharger in order to save the planet. Sadly, the newfound carbon conscience comes at a price, with the new engines lacking the speed and deafening presence so synonymous with Formula One over the years. Do not despair, because the confusingly renamed ERS-K (KERS spelt wrong) and the Energy Recovery System – Heat, or ERS-H (also KERS spelt wrong?) are here to pump energy back into the Formula One cars (and the arguably boring recent Formula One seasons, loosely dubbed ‘The Vettel Years’.) From what I understand of these new additions, they are basically “Super KERS,” providing more brake horsepower for a longer amount of time, while still being pretty economical. Safety concerns have resulted in regulations forcing cars to be lower to the ground, which seems innocent enough, but which has spurred a few phallic looking nose concoctions and has left some cars sporting male genitalia above their front wings – I’m looking at you, Caterham.
Fuel management is crucial this year, with the allowed amount dropping from 150kg to a mere 100kg. Bernie has further shaken up the title fight by making a win at Abu Dhabi worth double the normal haul of points. Moving on to ‘greener pastures’ and keeping the fans interested seems to be the aim of the F1 boss, however, if Red Bull’s performance in testing is anything to go by, a fifth Championship for Sebastian Vettel seems quite unlikely given the way his and fellow Renault powered teams are struggling to keep up.
A couple of new drivers and a few team mix-ups will keep the season interesting. Most notably, Sergio Perez, the rookie that more often than not out-performed teammate Jenson Button, has been shunted from McLaren to Force India (who didn’t fare too badly last year) in favour of former McLaren debutant Jan Magnussen’s son Kevin. Massa moved to the Williams team, after Ferrari reclaimed former driver Kimi Raikkonen, to create a strong team of previous World Champions. Ferrari’s pace has looked nothing more than average during pre-season testing, so the team is going to need to have a proverbial trick up its sleeve should it wish to challenge current favourites Mercedes. Maldonado replaced the Finnish champion at Lotus and Daniel Ricciardo moved to Red Bull after Mark Webber called it quits at the end of 2013. Russian interest in F1 seems to be blossoming in 2014, with the addition of Russian driver, Daniil Kvyat to the baby Red Bull team, Toro Rosso, as well as the inclusion of a Russian Grand Prix in October. The race is set to be held in Sochi (much like the 2014 Winter Olympics), which doesn’t inspire much hope of it cementing its claim as a fan favourite in Formula One.
Australian Grand Prix | Sunday 16 March | Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit | 18:00
The Track
The street circuit in Albert Park boasts a picturesque lake that accompanies the drivers for the 58 laps of the Australian Grand Prix. The probability of all the cars managing to complete the required lap count seems doubtful, as reliability has been a bit of an issue for the Renault powered cars in testing. Fast, curvy and fairly easy are words often used to describe the Australian contribution to Formula One, this description not dissimilar to the one used in reference to the women that inhabit the land Down Under. There are two DRS zones in quick succession, the desired result being to spice up a Grand Prix that really needs little help when it comes to excitement. Turn One provides a challenge and there’s a good chance of a few cars exiting the race sooner than expected if the drivers get caught up in the ruckus at the start. Brakes will be put to the challenge, as will the medium and soft compound tyres supplied by Pirelli, who have remained sole suppliers despite what many would call a disastrous 2013 for the Italian tyre manufacturers. If new engines and fuel restrictions weren’t enough to promise a thrilling weekend, the weather in Melbourne looks threatening and will further shake up the field should the addition of a wet set of tyres be required.
To Win Outright
Lewis Hamilton 2/1
Nico Rosberg 4/1
Fernando Alonso 8/1
Jenson Button 10/1
Felipe Massa 10/1
Sebastian Vettel 12/1
Kimi Raikkonen 14/1
Valtteri Bottas 16/1
Kevin Magnussen 16/1
VALUE BETS
Felipe Massa (10/1 a win, 5/2 a podium)
Massa waved goodbye to Ferrari at the end of last season and considering Williams is looking impressive in testing, this might not be a bad thing for the Brazilian, who so often played second fiddle to Fernando Alonso. Escaping from underneath Alonso’s shadow might be exactly what he needs to find his confidence. Having been a number two driver for so long, people often forget that Massa is actually pretty damn good and before his career changing accident, it was Massa who Ferrari pegged their hopes on for a Championship title. The move to Williams sees Massa in the deserved position of number one driver and a sort-of mentor to less experienced, but still incredibly promising, Valtteri Bottas. It’s hard to make an educated pick with only performance in testing to go on, but I’m backing Massa for a podium on Sunday.
Kimi Raikkonen (14/1 a win, 7/2 a podium)
Kimi is back at Ferrari and he’s the driver I’ll be keeping an eye on in 2014. Ferrari have their car at a stage that one might call, “Well, at least it’s working…” so they’re faring better than some, if pre-season antics are anything to go by. The Finn has frequently complained about being short-changed by Lotus so the wealthy Italian team is a good fit, not to mention the fact that Raikkonen won the Championship in his first year with them in 2007. Before the lack of remuneration from his 2013 team could dampen his motivation, he actually won the Australian Grand Prix last year in a rather stellar fashion. Ferrari’s performance so far )doesn’t inspire much hope for a win in Melbourne. Kimi could manage a podium but I’m going for the safer, albeit less profitable, option of a Top 6 finish at 13/20. Might be useful addition to a multi-sport weekend multiple.
Sebastian Vettel (First Driver to Retire 14/1)
A race preview without Vettel would seem incomplete, what with the German’s nearly incomparable dominance over the past few years. However, Red Bull looked rather sickly in pre-season testing, with Vettel spending a fair amount of time trying to coax his car, affectionately named Suzie, off the side of the track. Shame. Perhaps with all the changes this year we might see someone other than Vettel win a race or two. Adrian Newey is nothing short of a genius so in all likelihood he’s probably got the car working, but just for a bit of reckless fun, Vettel’s at 14/1 as the first driver to retire. Talk about a bet to brag about.
POLE POSITION: Lewis Hamilton 7/2
Mercedes have been flying through testing and are the firm favourite at the moment. Hamilton is truly talented when it comes to setting a great lap time in qualifying, so he’s my pick for Pole Position in Melbourne. Sadly for the Brit, it’s rare that he manages to convert his Saturday successes to anything meaningful come race day, so although it is possible that he might surprise this weekend, I’m going for a safer bet of Hamilton for podium on Sunday, but domination on Saturday. Keep an eye out for his teammate Nico Rosberg, who will also be challenging for a top position.
TO WIN: Jenson Button 10/1
Jenson Button suffered through a dismal year at McLaren in 2013, one that can only be called embarrassing for a team that is one of the big names in F1. 2014 will hopefully be different for the British Champion and his team, who now finds himself partnered with an even greener teammate than Perez, rookie Kevin Magnussen. Jenson Button is by no means the best driver in the field, but his steady and fluid driving style that nurtures the tyres makes all the difference in a sport where consistency is key. Button has three wins under his belt in Melbourne and really seems to flourish on this track. McLaren are one of the few teams that appear to have it together at the moment so with a decent car beneath him, I’m rooting for Jenson Button to take the maiden victory of the 2014 Formula One season, and at a great price. Get on.
