Welcome back Formula Zzzzzzzz.

 

This past weekend was the start of the 2015 F1 season in Melbourne Australia.  While excited for the return of The Show, this excitement was quickly dampened.  Rather than bore you with a full rundown here are a few of the highs and lows.

McLaren-Honda have spent several hundred million dollars and appear to be a back-marker team at best.  This one would normally be on the next list but given the hype that led up to this season about Honda's return it only seems fitting.  Fernando Alonso, who didn't race due to a concussion suffered in testing, will return to a sour surprise.  He leaves Ferrari because they became a mid-pack team and arrives at McLaren to find they are a last place team. Ouch.

Starting grid was only 17 cars with only 11 cars finishing.  Mercedes again raced themselves and that whining sound is not the V6 Turbo engines of modern F1.  Nope, its Team Red Bull whining about how they don't dominate from start to finish so now they want to take their toys and go home.

https://vimeo.com/122384594

Mercedes have now won a total of 30 grands prix

Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene was "disappointed" after Kimi Raikkonen was forced to retire after a tyre change went awry

Pastor Maldonado was forced to retire during Lap 1 after making contact with Sauber's Felipe Nasr

Rookie driver Felipe Nasr impressed finishing fifth. Sauber failed to score any points last season but have picked up 14 already in 2015

Daniil Kvyat's Red Bull suffered a gear box problem preventing him from even starting the race

There was drama before the race had even started with Valteri Bottas being ruled out after suffering a back injury