Track Torque: ‘Expect it to be hot and humid’

WHILE Mercedes are quietly confident after their one-two in Melbourne, the others are not taking their results lightly.

The big, bad news however, is that the German grand prix for this year has been cancelled due to Bernie Ecclestone’s Rights’ Body not reaching agreement with the promoters.

I am not impressed and hope the race is resurrected.

Looking ahead to the Malaysian grand prix, will it be another Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg duel?

The Williams driver pairing of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas should come back strongly as the team really believes in the new car and there are ambitious development plans ahead for it.

Rob Smedley, from Williams, was quoted as saying that the FW37 is a great car out of the box, that the team is bristling with energy and that the car will be very suited to the Sepang Kuala Lampur, track.

So, the call is ‘watch out Ferrari this weekend’.

The Prancing Horse, however has made great strides since last year in both power and handling departments and has high hopes for its SF15T car.

This year Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen are working together extremely well, with both of them being highly motivated.

With new chief Maurizio Arrivabene at the helm the team is ticking!

Red Bull are cross with Renault for not giving them enough power yet, but are fiercely determined to attack as only their two drivers Daniel Ricciardo and the Russian Daniil Kvyat know how.

We can be sure that they will finish high up in the list on Sunday.

The McLaren men from Woking are waking up slowly as they can only go one way, upwards!

We must forgive Honda, as the engine is very new, for not giving the great team enough power at present but it must come and we are sure to see some wonderful demonstrations from their two hugely talented drivers Fernando Alonso (who should be racing again this weekend) and Jenson Button.

There is also great excitement from the slightly lesser teams as they have a lot of new blood, new engines and new enthusiasm.

Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez are very capable and have a good car in the Force India Mercedes.

If it rains they could be right on top. Toro Rosso, with the exciting pair of youngsters Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Junior, should give us another exciting race.

Lotus with their E23 car powered by Mercedes now have an excellent contender from that wonderful facility that they inherited at Enstone (previously Renault and Benneton).

Their drivers Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado are desperate to show their huge new potential now that they have the power to prove it.

After both being knocked out early in Australia, I expect something special from this great team.

Sauber have been rejuvenated by the new all-powerful Ferrari engine and this very good new car from Hinwil in Switzerland can be expected to make some great showings this year with young drivers Marcus Ericsson and Felipi Nasr.

Last of all – and unfortunately least – is the Manor Maurissia Team with drivers Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi, who will be doing their best to be a lot more than just ‘also rans’.

Qualifying, on Saturday and the race, on Sunday, are both at 10am.