7 Things We Wish Were Better In The F1 2015 Season

1. The fight at the front

Heading into the new F1 campaign, there was optimism that someone would take the fight to Mercedes in 2015. Ferrari have done so a couple of times, but all too often the Silver Arrows have been dominant, and that can be pretty boring. One of the most exciting aspects of motorsport is battles for the win and we haven’t seen this regularly for a little while now, hopefully things will improve next year!

Sure, things have developed in this area compared to 2014, but F1 cars still need to be quicker. They have not yet returned to that stage where the speed of the machines blew your mind, whether you were watching on TV or from the grandstands.

As we explained in a previous piece, F1 has fallen much closer to feeder category GP2. Last year this was much more obvious and speeds have increased this season but improvements need to be made in this area. Fortunately, we might not have to wait long for this to happen.

3. Confusing power units

This is actually something that was revised mid-way through the season but is still quite difficult to get to grips with and needs changing. So, as a reminder, the V6 Turbo power units are made up of six elements – the Internal Combustion Engine, MGU-H, MHU-K, Turbocharger, Control Electronics and Energy Store.

Drivers can use four of each piece of the power unit per season and if they go over that limit, penalties are applied. Previously unused grid drop places would be made into in-race penalties, but this was scrapped. However, it is still a confusing process.

The first time a fifth element is used, a 10-place penalty is given. For any other fifth component fitted, a five-place penalty is applied for each. The same then goes for sixth, seventh, eighth etc. So at times this season some drivers have had more than 50 places in penalties! Yeah, pretty ridiculous.

4. McLaren Honda

There was so much hype surrounding the rekindling of McLaren and Honda’s relationship. Together in F1 they dominated the late 1980s and produced truly iconic cars, but 2015 has been a disaster.

Reliability problems, a lack of power and a mediocre chassis means champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have been left to battle at the back. It’s a big shame and has been one of the biggest disappointments of the year. Hopefully they will come back stronger in 2016 as a McLaren Honda back on the top step of the podium would be quite special.

5. From first to last

Something that we have seen in previous F1 seasons is a field that is far more closely packed, with a smaller gap between the slowest and fastest cars. Right now that difference – from Mercedes and Manor, which is effectively running a modified 2014 car – is around four/ five seconds depending on the track.

The midfield is also a fair way behind the front-runners, meaning the gaps in the races are often considerable. Why is this? A mix of infrastructure and financial differences, among other things. What we’d like to see is close racing throughout the entire field and a chance for a surprise winner or podium finisher, not just the usual drivers making appearances.

6. Financial problems

It’s not had a massive impact on the racing itself but financial problems for F1 teams are hampering the sport’s image and putting jobs at risk. Recently Lotus has suffered money-related issues (not helped by Pastor Maldonado’s crashing) and this has caused staff to be be locked out of hospitality units, late freight shipments and a whole host of other dilemmas.

The current situation isn’t good for teams, it isn’t good for the fans and it certainly isn’t good for F1. But, what would make things easier? Spreading the revenue more equally and cutting costs? That won’t happen any time soon…

The new sound of F1 was met with a lot of criticism last year. The quieter noise from the V6 Turbo power units was seen as one of the biggest issues from the sport’s new era, and it continues to be a problem. The volume has increased slightly compared to 2014 and each power unit – from Honda to Mercedes – has a unique noise, but you don’t get the same thrill. This is being looked into and changes to the exhausts have been announced by the FIA.