Performance: these teams where they were not expected

McLaren Mercedes

Who would have bet on the Woking team just two months ago? Monstrous reliability issues, a pace barely worthy of competing for points, and an exhaust system decidedly too complicated. The 2008 and 2009 world champion team decided to revert to a simpler exhaust system and arrived where no one expected in Australia, securing second place on the podium, and confirmed this in Malaysia, as well as in China with a victory from Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren Mercedes thus creates a surprise at the beginning of the season with a comeback from the depths of a pit on the eve of the season’s start, positioning itself as the main rival to Red Bull Racing.

Lotus Renault GP

The winter testing had started well for Lotus Renault GP, with the best overall time in the first session. But a tragedy occurred with the terrible accident of Robert Kubica, and his withdrawal from competition during his recovery. Throughout the winter, Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov regularly placed the R31 in the top 5, but no one could have imagined that the forward exhaust system would bring such good performance to the former French team.

Indeed, both Lotus Renault drivers each took turns on the podium during the first two rounds of the season, matching the pace of the Ferraris in race conditions. This indicates a faster car than what was expected during winter testing, with the top 3 possibly within the team’s reach.

Ferrari

What a disappointment for the Italian team. Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa took turns in a very fast and reliable 150° Italia throughout the winter, positioning themselves as the main rival to Red Bull Racing during winter tests, only to take a big hit during the opening Grand Prix.

Indeed, the Ferrari single-seater is simply not up to standard, being more than a second behind in qualifying, even if the race pace seems a bit closer, the performance is not there. A wind tunnel issue is mentioned, but the Ferrari team will need to work on a version B or quickly improve its car, or the world titles will soon be out of reach, already 55 points behind Red Bull.

The small team with the red bull didn’t follow in the footsteps of its big sister, disappointing during the first three Grand Prix. Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi thought they could fight for more than just a few points after the winter tests where the Toro Rosso seemed very fast, regularly nearing the top 5, but the fall was steep.

Although showing progress compared to last year, Toro Rosso seems far from replicating the 2008 feat at Monza, when Sebastian Vettel won. Compared to the hopes after the winter tests, the performances of the small Scuderia are not at the desired level, but will allow them to aim for points from time to time.

Mercedes GP

What can be said about Mercedes GP, apart from the fact that their work organization must be reviewed, as shown by the Chinese Grand Prix. The Silver Arrows team seemed capable of aiming for the highest level after the last two days in Barcelona, but the first two Grand Prix shattered this illusion, with a double retirement in Australia and a shadowed race for both drivers in Malaysia.

Hope returned to China with a fine fifth place for Nico Rosberg, who could have aimed higher without a consumption issue, and a great race from Michael Schumacher, fighting for a long time with Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari.

The team having decided to change its work approach during this Grand Prix, we don’t know the true level of the W02, but aiming for victory seems difficult following these three Grand Prix, even though it was the team’s stated goal after the winter.

Williams

A winter within the norm with an aggressively developed car, good speed during testing, and not too many reliability issues, Sir Frank Williams’ team seemed poised to try to maintain its position as the best midfield team. But from the Australian Grand Prix onward, that was not the case.

Reliability issues abound, a severe lack of speed, the FW33 is definitely far from the level hoped for by the team. With four retirements in three races and no points on the board, the team will have to work very hard to return to the desired level and provide Rubens Barrichello with a car that matches his talent, and give Pastor Maldonado the chance to prove he owes his place to more than just his sponsors.