It almost happened when Michael Schumacher dominated the championship from 2000 – 2005. It nearly happened again a couple of years ago when Sebastian Vettel claimed the top spot four times in a row from 2010 to 2013. Now, Mercedes look set to end the sport as a contest once and for all.
Two things were guaranteed in Formula One last season. Daniel Ricciardo would have an enormous grin on his face and the Mercedes teammates would be battling for first and second, with nobody else in sight. Locked in an epic war of fake smiles and awkward handshakes, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg dominated the championship. The Mercedes car was in a completely different league. And in testing ahead of the 2015 season, their car seems to have improved even further.
McLaren, Ferrari, Williams and Lotus have all joined forces in suggesting the Mercedes is already head-and-shoulders above them. Setting a blistering pace around the Spanish Catalunya circuit, Rosberg registered a time over a second quicker than the pacey Williams and 0.3 seconds faster than any other car on the faster super-soft tires, which Mercedes did not run.
“If you thought last season killed off competitiveness, think again!” declared the FIA in a statement following the impressive Mercedes display.
Lotus have already suggested giving Mercedes the trophy and prize money now and calling the season off, although Manor Marussia have openly fought this suggestion, having finally gathered enough money to run their car.
“Let Mercedes fight for the trophy,” said a Manor spokesperson, “The real action is at the back of the grid anyway! We’re hoping more people will support teams lower down the championship as they come to realise that is the only part of the grid where you get to see some racing!”
However, many fans are worried that Mercedes’ success could finally spell the end of a sport which is gradually losing its competitiveness and spectatorship. As weaker teams such as Caterham drop out due to lack of revenue, it could soon become a two-car championship as Hamilton and Rosberg battle it out alone. Could ‘Mercedes Formula One – Hamilton V. Rosberg’ be a logical rebrand for the sport? Only time will tell.
The Story: Lewis Hamilton: ‘Like last year’s car, but better’
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