Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone is “hoping upon hope” that Ferrari can mount a serious challenge to Mercedes for both championships in 2016.
Mercedes has dominated proceedings in F1 over the past two seasons, winning 32 of a possible 38 races as teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have only had each other to contend with for the drivers’ title.
After enjoying a resurgent 2015 and putting in an impressive display at pre-season testing, there is hope that Ferrari can pose a serious threat to Mercedes in the 2016 season, starting next weekend in Australia.
Speaking to the Australian Grand Prix podcast, Ecclestone said that he hopes Ferrari can give Mercedes more of a fight this year.
“I’m hoping upon hope that Ferrari will get back to where it should be, which will be challenging for the world championship, and the same with Red Bull,” Ecclestone said.
“I think if they really don’t sort of show that they can win the championship, we’re going to unfortunately – or fortunately depending on where you are – have Mercedes dominating again.
“But having said that Nico – after three wins at the end of last year – maybe he’s going to be in form. If those two are challenging each other it would be good. Maybe he’s got a bit more confidence in himself, let’s see.
“I haven’t got any predictions, a lot of hopes, but I wouldn’t like to put my money on who’s going to do what.”
The Australian Grand Prix is live on NBCSN on March 20.
Three riders remain locked in a tight battle with 17 points separating the leader Cooper Webb from third-place Chase Sexton and these are only a few Supercross numbers to consider entering Seattle.Chase Sexton made a statement in Detroit with his second win of 2023. – Feld Motor Sports
Webb and Tomac won the last four championships with two apiece in alternating years, but they were not one another’s primary rival for most of those seasons. On the average, however, the past four years show an incredible similarity with average points earned of 21.0 for Webb and 21.3 for Tomac. With five wins so far this season, Tomac (23 wins) leads Webb (19) in victories but Webb (43) edges Tomac (41) in podium finishes during this span.
Tomac has won two of the last three Seattle races and those two wins in this stadium are topped only by James Stewart. Fittingly, if Tomac gets a third win this week, he will tie Stewart for second on the all-time wins’ list. Tomac tied Ricky Carmichael for third with 48 wins at Oakland and took sole possession of that spot with his Daytona win.
Sexton still has a lot to say and after winning last week in Detroit, he is speaking up. The Supercross numbers are against him entering Seattle, however, because a points’ deficit this large after Round 10 has been erased only once. In 1983 David Bailey was 47 points behind Bob Hannah, and like Sexton he was also in third place. Bailey took the points’ lead with one race remaining.
The seven points Sexton was penalized last week for jumping in a red cross flag section in Detroit could prove extremely costly.
In fact, it has been a series of mistakes that has cost Sexton the most. In the last two weeks, he lost 10 points with a 10th-place finish to go with his penalty. Erase those, and all three riders hold their fate in their hands.
Plessinger’s heartbreak in Detroit is still fresh, but the upside of his run is that was his best of the season and could turn his fortunes around. Prior to that race, he led only seven laps in three mains. He was up front for 20 laps in Detroit with five of those being the fastest on the track.
Last week’s win by Hunter Lawrence tied him with his brother Jett Lawrence for 17th on the all-time wins’ list. With the focus shifting to 250 West for the next two rounds, Jett has a great opportunity to pull back ahead. The real test will be at the first East / West Showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 22.
Last Five Seattle Winners
450s 2022: Eli Tomac
2019: Marvin Musquin
2018: Eli Tomac
2017: Marvin Musquin
2014: Ryan Villopoto
