Rating the 2015 Formula 1 driver line-ups

Some colors have changedThe Australian Grand Prix is just weeks away and with all the teams getting ready to unveil their 2015 cars, you can feel the anticipation in the air. During the winter break, some drivers have shifted their allegiance and this is why, the new season has all the promises in store. The 2015 grid will consist of 5 World Champions and 9 race-winners. Surprising driver moves:The winter time is known to throw in a surprise or two for all the fans of the sport. Although, most driver deals are made before the end of last season, but the deals officially see the day of light during the off season break.The pick of the lot this year was the move of Fernando Alonso from Ferrari to his old team McLaren. The Spaniard is making a comeback to the Woking-based squad after 7 years. The gap at the Scuderia has been filled in by, none other than, former Red Bull ace Sebastian Vettel. This series of changes caught everyone by surprise as the whole paddock was certain that these two drivers were the two most unlikely of the people to move.So this has of course changed a few more dimensions at this year’s grid and this is why, it is vital to rate the driver lineups for the 2015 season. A 2-driver team line-up will be rated upon 10 points each and with an individual driver’s pros and cons. The points have been awarded in terms of previous showcasing of pace, quality of the driver in the last few years, ability to adjust as a teammate and, of course, his overall contribution.

#9 Sauber F1 Team

Sauber is another team which would like to forget 2014 as quickly as possible. The Swiss squad endured a pointless season last time around, and by virtue of it, finished behind, the now defunct Marussia team, in the standings. For this year, Sauber got all inspired with its driver lineup and roped in the two-guys who had the biggest pot of gold. The Ericsson-Nasr pair has the talent, but one isn’t sure that these two were the best available drivers in the market. But, survival and financial backing was the key.

9. Marcus Ericsson

He is the de jure team leader and de facto number one driver for Sauber. Ericsson had a torrid last year where the Caterham never was under his control, but that was a problem created by the team. But still, he was always playing second fiddle to his teammate(s).

Pros:

Has experience in F1, which always helps.
Showed decent race-craft last year.
Has financial backing, which will keep his and Sauber’s racing going.

Cons:

Deemed as a Grade-A pay driver.
Looked clumsy sometimes.

12. Felipe Nasr

He is another driver who has a huge financial and sponsorship package behind him. The Brazilian had been knocking on the doors of F1 since last year and has finally got a chance. During his time at GP2 he didn’t set the world on fire. Though he won handful of races there and he was often seen fighting near the top.

Pros:

Young and has shown glimpses of talent; brings in a breath of fresh air.
He has the finances to keep his and Sauber’s season going.

Cons:

With no Marussia or Caterham, chances are that he will be racing, either his teammate, or no one.
Finances got him here, not talent purely.

Pair Rating: 4/10

#8 Lotus F1 Team

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

Last season was a disaster for the Enstone squad, and things can only get better from here. The pairing of Grosjean-Maldonado can be erratic at times, but it has all the right sparks. With Mercedes power bestowed upon Lotus this year, maybe everything will click this time around. Talent wise, the pairing is more than good for F1, but mentally, are both the drivers strong enough?

8. Romain Grosjean

The Frenchman had a torrid year last time around, and it was imminent with his demeanor all season long. Of course, when the gods’ of F1 doesn’t shine upon you, things can go horribly wrong.

Pros:

He is fast and quick, can challenge the best.
He is a quick qualifier.
Can preserve tyres.

Cons:

Can lose the plot very quickly, and drastically, if he takes his eyes off the ball.
He is not the world’s greatest overtaking machine.

13. Pastor Maldonado

Maybe money is the reason why he gets everything, but he is a race winner; a tagging, which even his teammate is deprived off. Last year, the Venezuelan had a torrid time whilst crashing into barriers and other cars. But an off season can turn around many stones and things.

Pros:

Can easily be a multiple race winner if he has a decent car.
Is experienced, apolitical, and can maintain team harmony.

Cons:

Loses concentration a lot.
Crashes too often for the liking.
Most of the times, when he is not crashing, he is nowhere near the action.

Pair Rating: 6.5/10

#7 Scuderia Toro Rosso

The added pressure of being the youngest ever

Rating this pairing was difficult, as both the drivers will make their debut in F1 this year at Melbourne. The Italian squad is meant to be a feeder team and their current lineup is reminiscent of that. The pair will have to push each other, but since both are new, beating one another will be on the cards.

33. Max Verstappen

Set to become the youngest driver in the history of the sport, a lot is riding upon this new Red Bull protégé. Red Bull/Toro Rosso has taken a huge gamble by giving this relatively inexperienced young boy a run at F1. But most of their risks have paid dividend in the past, so everyone is hopeful.

Pros:

This year will be all about learning.
Has had a decent ten-race winning season at Formula 3 last year.

Cons:

Maybe too inexperienced for F1, or for any worldwide racing series for that matter.
Has never faced media frenzy like he will get in F1, hence the added pressure.

55. Carlos Sainz Jr.

He was initially overlooked for the initial Toro Rosso seat, as the team first selected Verstappen to replace Vergne. But, as F1 has its own ways to surprise people, he ended up with a race seat because of a domino effect in driver-market. At 20, he is the older of the two drivers and he even has more racing experience.

Pros:

Can become the natural leader in the team, thanks to his greater experience.
He was the champion of last year’s Formula Renault 3.5 Series, hence has credential to boost about.

Cons:

Psychologically, he is already deemed as the team’s number two.
Young and inexperienced, same as his teammate.

Pair Rating: 5/10

#6 Sahara Force India F1 Team

In 2015, finances and car performance will be the key elements for the sole Indian F1 team. And, very unsurprisingly, continuing with the competent pairing of Hulkenberg-Perez was the right and the wise decision to make for the team. Force India will be looking to build on the successes of the last few years, and finally rack up a race win if the circumstances are favorable.

27. Nico Hulkenberg

The German has made Force India his home and this will be his 3rd season as a race driver for them. Regarded as a very accomplished driver, the Hulk this season will finally look for a race win or at least his first podium in F1.

Pros:

He is regarded as the best of the rest.
Can hustle his car to places where it doesn’t belong.

Cons:

Another year he will be away from the championship winning radar.
Doesn’t set the world on fire every time.

11. Sergio Perez

Dumped by McLaren at the end of 2013, Perez got his career back on track with a series of decent performance at Force India last year. Regular points paying positions and a podium here and there will be the aim for the Mexican for 2015.

Pros:

He is quick and his ability to manage tyres is quite good.
Pops up surprises in the races every now and then.

Cons:

Prone to making silly mistakes.
Has crashed a quite lot whilst trying to overtake.

Pair Rating: 6.5/10

#5 McLaren Honda F1 Team

‘Time to make history’ is what McLaren have coined their 2015 campaign and the ingredients they have this year, is certainly enough to make it happen. Honda, Alonso and Peter Prodromou, are 3 main changes the Woking-based squad has made. And if these three can combine together in harmony, a title is what we all expect. Also, McLaren have retained the every solid and reliable Jenson Button, making the team a force to reckon with, at least from drivers’ points of view.

22. Jenson Button

It is a known fact that Ron Dennis wanted the youthfulness of Kevin Magnussen, but in the end he, and of course the team, went in for the experience of Button. And his stellar performances, particularly in the latter of last season, made his selection more obvious.

Pros:

Currently the most experienced driver on the grid.
Has pace, quality and, most importantly these days, race craft.
Is very consistent.

Cons:

Doesn’t have the killer instinct of a ruthless over-taker.
Has still not convinced anyone that he is a top 3 material.

14. Fernando Alonso

The Spaniard was looking for a new challenge this season and you can say he has taken a big one in coming back to McLaren. The whole of McLaren-Honda project may well be revolved around him. And Alonso has to muster up all his skills to bring the glory days back at the British squad.

Pros:

He is known as the complete driver, in terms of everything.
He is smart, cunning and has a huge racing-driver brain.

Cons:

He can sometimes be a bit handy to control, for a team.
In the past, he has always demanded priority within the team, hence disruption of tranquility.

Pair Rating: 9/10

#4 Scuderia Ferrari

Some say, this is the perfect combination of friends, or rather, two very fast friends. Ferrari is due to deliver a good car, and with a truck-load of changes incorporated for this year, you can bet a good car is on its way. Having lost, arguably, the best driver on the grid, the Italians have responded back by luring in Vettel, who is undisputedly, and accurately, the most successful driver on the current-grid.

7. Kimi Raikkonen

Raikkonen doesn’t want a good season, he desperately needs it. The Finn struggled all year long last time around but do not count him out till we roll. The early signs are that the new Ferrari F15-T will suit the 2007 champion.

Pros:

Ultra-fast and knows this trade by heart.
Might be his last season with Ferrari, and in F1, hence should go out with a bang.
Concentrates on racing only.

Cons:

His motivation has been questioned many times.
Hasn’t shown his killer instinct for the past one and half season.

5. Sebastian Vettel

Refresh is the word which Vettel has been taking about since his move from Red Bull to Ferrari. Vettel, like his teammate, needs a good season this time around. And a change of scenery will surely help him to recharge his batteries.

Pros:

He is the ultimate wonder kid.
When he wins, he doesn’t only win, he dominates.
Has all the experience in the world, especially to fight a championship.

Cons:

Last year we saw his losing side, and it was not good.
Becomes a bit mediocre when the car is not suited to his style.

Pair Rating: 7.5/10

#3 Williams Martini Racing Team

2014 was a positive, coming back to the front, season for the British squad, which saw them taking, among both their drivers, 9 podium finishes. This year, they will try to convert these podiums into races win. They have a strong pairing in experience and youth combined. Although, there are doubts amongst many that even if Williams produce a car which can challenge at the top, will their drivers be able to sustain it?

77. Valtteri Bottas

If there were any doubts about this young man’s pace, it was all removed by his stellar performances throughout the 2014 season. The Finn consistently was a threat to the Mercedes dominance and the season saw him come to age.

Pros:

Fast, quick and consistent.
Has the Finnish racing attitude; drive, don’t rant.

Con:

Relatively young, hence never been in a F1 championship battle.

19. Felipe Massa

The Brazilian had an ambivalent 2014 season, as it saw him challenging for podiums frequently, and once also for an odd race win. But he was outraced and outscored by his young Finnish Teammate Bottas. Massa has to redeem himself, and making comebacks is his main forte.

Pros:

Beating him on his day is impossible.
Knows how to handle a championship fight.
He is a team player, through and through.

Cons:

But sometimes his pace is a mystery, as it, all of a sudden, disappears.
He is getting old now.

Pair Rating: 7/10

#2 Infinity Red Bull Racing Team

The two drivers with team boss Christian Horner

Red Bull is going into the 2015 season with a hope that they can regain their lost form. Even though the team won 3 races last year, the year was still deemed as a failure, such was their dominant nature from 2010 to 2013. This year, changes in the technical team and departure of their star driver Vettel has meant they are facing a year of new challenges, all over again.

3. Daniel Ricciardo

The ever-smiling Australian will this time lead the Red Bull charge. And going by his ability to adapt, it is certain that he will once again take up and embrace the challenge positively. If Red Bull and Renault combine produce a machine which gets near to the possible Silver Arrows dominance, then you can bet Ricciardo will add a few more race wins to his career tally.

Pros:

Braking late and overtaking is one his positive points.
Easily took on and defeated his much more experienced and decorated teammate last time.

Con:

Yet to prove that he can survive a championship dog-fight.

26. Danill Kvyat

Who would have predicted that, just after just one season, this young Russian would be promoted to the senior Red Bull team. Maybe he was the need of the hour for Red Bull, but they have trusted in him and now it’s his turn to deliver.

Pros:

Is a fast qualifier.
Got in grips with Formula 1 quickly

Cons:

Bad with tyre management and race craft.
Struggled against Jean Eric Vergne last season.

Pair Rating: 7/10

#1 Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

Mercedes dominated the 2014 season and the chances are that this year again we might face the same situation. They have a great combination of drivers in current World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, and Nico Rosberg. The Anglo-German pairing stays with the Brackley based squad for a third year running in a hope to continue their world dominance.

44. Lewis Hamilton

He is fast and you don’t even need to look at his performance last year to prove that, he was a known quantity from his early racing career. The 2014 title has surely made him even stronger and this time again; he is tipped as the favorite to make it three championships for himself.

Pros:

He can take the car as fast as it can go.
Fast qualifier, rain maestro, great over taker, has tons of fighting spirit and is a delight to watch.
A fantastic ambassador for the sport, youngsters and any team he is with.
Always delivers the goods.

Con:

A bit emotional in nature, which has affected his racing in the past.

6. Nico Rosberg

Last year finally showed Rosberg can also fight for titles and championships. His never back down challenge to Hamilton removed all the doubts about his ability to take on any driver in the world. But the blemish will still be there because of his tendency to choke at certain stressful situation. An example of this is; Singapore Grand Prix 2009 or Italian Grand Prix last year.

Pros:

Smooth driver with a very simple racing style which can yield profits in a good car.
Difficult to beat when it’s his day.
Fast and quick qualifier.

Cons:

Not exactly one of the happiest later braking guys in the paddock, hence overtaking is not his forte.
Can crack under immense pressure and hence he will always be faced with a question of; can he deliver when it matters the most?

Pair Rating: 8.5/10