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The reality is if Mercedes find a 5% improvement over the season others need to find 10% to stay with them.
I wrote a post the other day about Formula One trying to force a reverse grid start to certain races this year. This would mean if you won last weekend you would start from the back of the grid the following weekend. Personally I think it is a rubbish idea and is only there to assist teams who are inferior. If you were a midfield team you would think this idea was fantastic.
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Out in front where we are used to seeing them for the last 6 years.
We have seen something similar being used in the touring car series so it is not a new line of thought. Some cars during those races play the game and will come last targeting a better position and on pole the following weekend. This is not being sportsman like and gaming should never be a part of racing.
The sad truth is the Liberty Group who own the rights to Formula One don't have the balls to say what we already know being the reasons behind this "new idea". Most of us know the outcome of the race sort of before the race has taken place. Mercedes have won the honours for the last 6 years and have made this sport their own. people tend to get bored with knowing this result and want someone else to challenge. Handicapping Mercedes is not making the other teams any better however and why I am against this type of mentality.
Mercedes are making the FIA and Liberty change the rules so others can challenge for the title. This is not sporting and is just not right. Mercedes have had the answers in the past and I reckon they will have the answers in the future as they are just that bit better than everyone else at what they do. Those bits add up into a winning team and the others have it all to do.
Give credit where credit is due and Mercedes are the team to beat. Last season Ferrari cheated and were found out yet they still couldn't topple them. Christian Horner at Red Bull may have the answers this season to at least try and challenge the Mercedes team as I don't see anyone else who is in range of the Germans. Maybe the cars have caught up to the Germans in raw pace over the break since testing in Barcelona. Unfortunately we will only know once racing gets underway and I expect more of the same with the silver arrows out front.
The Italian set up at Ferrari doesn't have the personnel and experience to really mount a challenge as amateur mistakes last year cost them plenty of points. The truth is the package of a Hamilton and Bottas in partnership with the Mercedes car is a tough nut to crack. Not only do they look after the tyres better than everyone else they travel further on them not having to change at crucial times and can pick their best times to pit.
I can think of some sports that penalised teams or players from making a laughing stock out of them. Remember Tiger Woods when he made course look to easy and too short. Change the ball, change the clubs as he was making a mockery out of championship course. The truth is when tiger was injured golf missed him as it needs someone like that as that is the pinnacle of the sport. Sometimes it is best to put your hand up when you see a genius at work and not change anything. The same with Mercedes as someone else surely has to come though soon.