2014 Formula 1 Random Defining Moments

Herewith a selection of random 2014 Formula 1 awards and moments in no particular order:

The Iceman melted in 2014, reduced to Lukewarm Man. Kimi Raikkonen was well and truly trounced by Fernando Alonso in 2014. Many excuses have been bandied about regarding the Finn’s lack of form.

Truth be told a superstar earning the kind of money he earns needs to deliver, and Raikkonen simply did not deliver. The fact that Ferrari retain him for another year is mind boggling.

Anyone, in any job, who performs so woefully realtive to their colleagues would be dismissed.

With Mercedes easily producing the best V6 turbo power unit of the new era, it was hoped that Honda would hit the road running with their engine bolted on to the back of the McLaren.

Alas the first running during the Yas Marina post season test was a disaster. Three laps the total covered during the three days of testing. None of the other engine manufcaturers – Renault included – had such a harrowing debut.

For a manufacturer who have a proud history in F1 engine supply, and are expected to deliver results early on – they now have a huge mountain to climb.

Round 3 of the new Formula 1 era delivered entertainment at the highest level, as Lewis Hamilton fended off Nico Rosberg after the pair spent most of the race slugging it out for top spot in thrilling fashion during the Bahrain Grand Prix, while behind them the racing was equally fast and furious.

Under 5,000 the light bulbs that lined Sakhir, the Mercedes team, aptly known as the Silver Arrows, were in a class of their own, totally trouncing their rivals in a manner which bordered on cruelty.

But this did not stop the two self professed buddies from going wheel-to-wheel on several occasions to deliver a thrilling battle for victory which in the end went to Hamilton by the narrowest of margins.

Afterwards the two, who have been rivals since childhood, hugged and joked about it all. At that point Formula 1 was in a good place….

Lewis Hamilton arrived at the Japanese Grand Prix with momentum on his side, after winning in Italy and Singapore.

Conditions at Suzuka were bad, with rain pelting down and the safety car playing a big role in the conditions.

The overtake of the year took place shortly after Rosberg complained of issues with oversteer and when DRS was enabled, in the improving yet still tricky conditions, on lap 25 it was the cue for Hamilton to make a sustained assault on Rosberg’s lead.

The Briton stalked his German teammate relentlessly, and eventually with a ballsy move on lap 29 swept past his team-mate into Turn One on the outside where grip was at a premium. It was brave, and it sent a signal to Rosberg as another nail was hammered into the coffin of the German’s title ambitions

Thereafter Hamilton immediately began to pull out a gap and it was clear that the battle for the lead was done and dusted.

The accident of Jules Bianchi during the closing stages of the rain affected Japanese Grand Prix was without doubt the shock of the season, and perhaps the biggest shock the sport has felt since a fateful weekend at Imola back in 1994.

That Bianchi’s Marussia struck a heavy duty vehicle extracting a damaged Sauber was beyond bizarre. The FIA investigation into the accident was hardly credible – too many questions have been left unanswered.

In the end nothing will take away the heartache of the fact that Bianchi, a star of the future, lies comatose with no way back to where he was. A family grieves immensely as life goes on. A shock that is beyond sad – Forza Jules!

This accolade was a toss up between Sochi and Red Bull Ring, with the Russian venue losing out by tiniest of margins because the organisers made it too much of a Vladimir Putin thing – remember Bernie Ecclestone fretting away live on TV like a schoolboy waiting on the Russian leader who arrived late. Keep politics out of Formula 1.

Red Bull Ring on the other hand was a pure race track in the valleys of Spielberg. The race circuit was founded as Österreichring and hosted the Austrian Grand Prix for 18 consecutive years, from 1970 to 1987. It was later shortened, rebuilt and renamed the A1-Ring hosting the grand prix again from 1997 to 2003.

After a long break it returned to the F1 calendar, thanks to Red Bull euros, and delivered a classic grand prix weekend which harked back to the old traditions of Formula 1 races.

For months everyone new Fernando Alonso was off to McLaren. We first reported the news back in September 2013 here>>> which is about when first talks of a reunification took place between McLaren and the Alonso camp. Nevertheless at the time Alonso declared: “I keep repeating that I love Ferrari and I will stay at Ferrari until the end.”

As things deteriorated between Alonso and Ferrari, it became even more apparent that the Spaniard was destined for a return to Woking. Despite this both camps remained tight lipped, even when Sebastian Vettel confirmed he was heading off to Maranello at the end of 2014.

Finally on 11 December the unlikely truth emerged as Alonso declared: “I will do everything in my power to deliver for McLaren.”

The self styled Formula 1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, once again grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons: from his big bucks settlement which allowed him to avoid jail time to his stupid comments about Formula 1 not needing a youth fanbase.

Despite a stormy sea, which he miraculously endured onec again, the ancient warrior remains in command of Formula 1 and will no doubt remain there until as he says: “The only way my job in Formula 1 will come to an end, unless somebody with the power decrees it, is when they are carrying me away in my coffin. And then they’d better make sure the lid is nailed down.”

Hopefully before then he does not bury Formula 1 in the process. (GP247)