Mercedes bashing after boring Brazil

The Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, where you should expect the unexpected.

In the past we have seen many surprises, none bigger than the twist of the 2008 Formula One World Championship, where Brazilian Felipe Massa was F1 World Champion for all of ten seconds before Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock on the final corner to snatch the title.

But in 2015 there was no such drama and any chance of getting any was quashed by Mercedes long before the lights had gone out on the grid on Sunday.

The German manufacturer has spent millions of pounds on its Formula One programme and has enjoyed two years of dominance since the switch to the new era of Formula One.

Whilst Ferrari, Renault and Honda have all had their problems since the switch to the v6 turbo-hybrid power-units, Mercedes hit the ground running resulting in back-to-back drivers and constructors titles in 2014 and 2015.

Their board will argue they deserve their success and few would argue that and whilst you’re on top, you want to maximise your success.

Mercedes want to look back on this period of dominance and look in the history books and see that they have recorded as many one-two finishes as possible, that they have recorded as many points as possible and that in the constructors and drivers championship Mercedes sit proudly on top.

Since Mercedes secured the 2015 Constructors Championship and Lewis Hamilton wrapped up the 2015 Formula One World Championship, the teams focus has been on securing second place in the standings for Nico Rosberg.

After all, that’s the only objective left for a team that has won it all.

In the aftermath of Hamilton securing his third title and second for Mercedes, the Brit has alluded to Mercedes trying to keep Rosberg ‘warm’ after the German failed to hide his bitter disappointment in America where his error gifted Hamilton the win.

Since that point, Rosberg has won back-to-back races and securing that runners-up spot ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Both victories came in similar fashion, taking pole position on the Saturday, leading into the first corner and controlling the race from there.

Whilst Hamilton has one hand tied behind his back unable to overtake on two tracks that it’s notoriously hard to follow on, but unable to try a different tyre strategy to mix things up.

In Mexico, Hamilton could have attempted to go longer on his tyres but he was ordered to make a pit-stop by his team.

In Brazil, Hamilton wanted to switch to a different tyre strategy to Rosberg, but again was ordered by his team that he wasn’t able to.

Whilst other drivers had the benefit of racing each other on old and new tyres and enjoying power differences down the straights, Hamilton was unable to do anything but show that he was quicker, which he did by closing the gap at will.

But it was all in vein as ultimately the race result had been manufactured by Mercedes as they refuse to let their drivers race, ironically something that they used to be praised for.

Mercedes will quite rightly argue their position and explain logically why they do what they do and from their position it’s hard to argue.

But whilst they look back in the history books at a period of Mercedes dominance, we might end up looking back in the history books in search of Formula One……..

Right now it’s clear the manufacturers have too much power within the sport, which is why we are seeing the big power struggle within Formula One between the manufactures, the promoter FOM and the governing body the FIA.

Mercedes and Ferrari hold the upper hand on their competitors and do not want to give up their advantage, but in doing so have risked the future of both Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso who are unable to secure a competitive engine.

Renault are yet to complete their takeover of Lotus, leaving everyone in limbo at Enstone.

Honda are unable to engineer a competitive or reliable engine leaving the once mighty McLaren challenging Marussia at the back of the grid.

For the customer teams Force India and Sauber have taken their argument over the distribution of wealth within Formula One to the EU.

And track promoters continue to struggle financially, leading the successful Austin promoters struggling to secure the USA Grand Prix for next season, even though it has quickly become popular amongst fans and drivers.

There are a lot of reasons to turn off Formula One right now and in Brazil, Mercedes added another.