Toto Wolff (Mercedes)

“I’m optimistic, the priority is to carry on (in 2016) with (Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton). Should it be impossible, then (Fernando) Alonso represents the top alternative, followed by (Valtteri) Bottas.”

Pre-season driver predictions revisited: Part 1

In the first part, I look back at my predictions from March that I got wrong.

Vettel’s first day at Maranello

2014 Championship standings

Standings in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships at the end of the 2014 season.

Rosberg looks to 2015 after title loss

Hamilton wins 2014 championship

Photo: Daimler

The Contenders. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Abu Dhabi

Photo: Daimler

How the championship can be won

Lewis Hamilton heads into the title decider with a 17 point lead over Nico Rosberg. Here’s what each of them needs to do to win the championship.

Felipe Massa, Podium, Interlagos

Photo: Williams F1 Team

Hamilton beats Rosberg to Austin victory (United States – Review)

Lewis Hamilton passed Nico Rosberg on lap 24 of the United States Grand Prix and increased his championship lead to 24 points.

Podium, United States GP

Photo: Pirelli

Adrian Sutil, Sauber Ferrari C33, Austin

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

Championship celebrations at Mercedes

Mercedes win 2014 constructors’ championship

With three races remaining, Mercedes took the construstors’ title for the first time.

Mercedes celebrate title

Photo: Daimler

Hamilton takes command in championship

Four consecutive victories have seen Lewis Hamilton take a 17-point lead with three rounds remaining.

Drivers display support for Bianchi family

Photo: Pirelli

Bianchi in critical condition following Suzuka crash

Jules Bianchi is fighting for his life after a collision with a recovery vehicle during the Japanese Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel

At some point in your life you feel you want to do something new. That voice kept growing and led me to decide to leave Red Bull and start a new chapter.

Max Verstappen, Toro Rosso Renault STR9, Suzuka

Photo: Pirelli

Lewis Hamilton, Podium, Singapore GP

Photo: Daimler

Rosberg’s mistake gives Hamilton win in Monza (Italian GP – Review)

Lewis Hamilton took his sixth victory of the season in the Italian Grand Prix as Felipe Massa stood on the podium for the first time in Williams overalls.

Podium, Italian GP

Photo: Daimler

Start, Italian GP

Photo: Daimler

Hamilton takes Monza victory (Italian GP – Race)

Lewis Hamilton won from pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, but it was not a straightforward run. Felipe Massa took his first podium with Williams.

Fernando Alonso

They could put (on) 100 sets of tyres and I would (set) identical timed laps, so it was absolutely the maximum.

Hamilton back on pole (Italy – Qualifying)

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in qualifying for the first time since May.

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso Renault STR9, Monza

Photo: Pirelli

Start, Belgian GP

Photo: Daimler

Ricciardo wins again as Mercedes drivers collide (Belgian GP – Race)

Daniel Ricciardo took advantage of a collision between Mercedes drivers to take his third victory. Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas joined him on the podium.

Andre Lotterer, Caterham Renault CT05, Spa-Francorchamps

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

Top three qualifiers, Belgium

Photo: Daimler

Another pole for Rosberg at damp Spa (Belgian GP – Qualifying)

Mercedes dominated wet qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps as Lewis Hamilton returned to the front row of the grid.

A lap of Spa-Francorchamps with Hamilton

James Key (Toro Rosso)

I think it’s been a real mixed bag for us because we’ve got a really pathetic handful of points out of what should have been a much better position at this stage given that fundamentally we’ve got into Q3 on almost every occasion.

Christian Horner, Red Bull

I think it will be damage limitation in the next two races, because Force India will suddenly reappear, Williams will be quick, McLaren will be quick, Mercedes will be quick, so we’ve got to take what we can out of the next two races, and then for the flyaways really try and set things up.

Valtteri Bottas, after Hungarian GP qualifying

I think personally, in the drivers’ points, I think it would be good to aim to be third. I think it is possible this year with the car we have and if we keep improving like we’ve done so far, so that should be the aim.

Ricciardo takes impressive second victory (Hungary – Review)

Daniel Ricciardo won the thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix after passing two world champions in the final four laps.

Battle for victory, Alonso, Ricciardo, Hamilton

Photo: Ferrari S.p.A.

Podium, Hungarian GP

Photo: Ferrari S.p.A.

Ricciardo wins thrilling race on drying track (Hungary – Race)

Daniel Ricciardo took his second Formula 1 victory, beating Fernando Alonso and both Mercedes in a difficult race.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari F14T, Hungaroring

Photo: Ferrari S.p.A.

Top three qualifiers, Hungary

Photo: Daimler

Rosberg on pole as bad luck hits Hamilton again (Hungary – Qualifying)

Nico Rosberg will start the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position as more unreliability eliminated his team mate in Q1.

Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham Renault CT05, Hungaroring

Photo: Caterham F1

A lap of Hungaroring with Lewis Hamilton

Rosberg’s victory at home, another podium for Bottas (Germany – Race review)

Nico Rosberg extended his championship lead by winning at Hockenheim. Lewis Hamilton recovered to third after starting from the back.

Battle of Vettel, Raikkonen and Alonso

Photo: Ferrari S.p.A.

Podium, German GP

Photo: Williams F1

Home win for Rosberg as Hamilton recovers to podium (Germany – Race)

Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton finished on the podium in the German Grand Prix.