Fresh hope as new F1 season kicks off
Formula One’s class of 2006 kick off their campaign in Bahrain this weekend, with hopes high for a season to remember.
Last season’s title fight between Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen re-invigorated the sport after five years of Michael Schumacher dominance.
But, fascinating as that fight was, no other teams could hold a candle to the two title rivals, giving them a monopoly on race wins, the six-car Indianapolis farce aside.
That could be about to change if winter testing is to be believed.
For the first time in a generation, Formula One starts a season with genuine hope of an open title race, rekindling misty-eyed memories of the good ol’ days when several teams scrapped it out for wins.
World champions Renault are a certainty to fight for another title judging by their testing performances.
Winter testing can be a poor guide to potential but the Anglo-French outfit have two titles on show to prove their serious intentions.
That is in contrast to their winter rivals Honda, who have promised much but delivered little in recent seasons.
Their scintillating testing pace hints at the team’s first-ever win, perhaps even a title challenge.
But testing is just that. Competition is what counts and the cynics will point to the Prost team’s stunning winter form in 2001, just a year before they went bust following a torrid season.
McLaren chief Ron Dennis, whose own team expect to fight for the title, certainly raised doubts over an unnamed rivals’ testing pace.
He said: “We have a realistic understanding that there has been some showmanship from some of the teams.
“You are able to see patterns and if something suddenly spikes out you can tend to ignore it.”
Even Jenson Button and Honda themselves are not predicting victory, simply aiming to challenge for wins. However, their form and confidence points to a multi-team battle at the top.
McLaren have a point to prove after a terrible start to winter testing, while Ferrari’s pride was seriously dented by their capitulation last season.
The Italian giants, previously a class apart in Formula One, have tested away from their rivals in general, making predictions tricky. But there is an ominous air of confidence about Michael Schumacher.
Throw into the mix a rapidly-improving and ruthlessly ambitious Toyota as well as wildcards such as Williams and Red Bull, and Formula One approaches the new season on a wave of optimism.
Talk is cheap and Formula One deals in the hard currency of race results.
Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix should set the tone for a potentially thrilling season.
