2017 Constructors Predictions

1st Place

HE: Red Bull – Ready for some controversy people? That’s right, I reckon that the boys from Milton Keynes are going to win this years championship. I think they have been sandbagging in testing and are going to be the best package out there. The driver pairing of Verstappen and Ricciardo is the best out there and will be a formidable force in 2017.

BH: Mercedes – 2013 was the last year that Mercedes didn’t win the constructors’ championship and I think that’s the way it’ll stay. The progress Ferrari have seemingly made is impressive and Red Bull have a highly competent duo, but I still think that engine will give them the slight edge. Closer than in previous years, but Merc for the title again.

SS: Ferrari – Call me crazy, go on I dare you. Ferrari haven’t been on form for well over a decade now and as much as I want to see a Brit or a young rookie win the title, I just can’t help but secretly dream of the nostalgic red beast being at the top once more. Kimi is still bouncing back in an incredible way after finishing last year’s season so well, and Vettel, that man has a point to prove. I think they are going to get their act together this season and really surprise us.

2nd PLace

HE: Ferrari – Boom! Said it was going to be controversial. They’ve looked like the bees knees in testing. I don’t even think its fake; I genuinely believe that scarlet car has pace in it. The only thing that may deny the title for them are poor strategy calls. Its happened before and even Vettel began to lose faith in the pit-wall last year. This is why I think they will be second.

BH: Red Bull – Red Bull were low-key throughout testing and didn’t show the pace that maybe some were expecting, however I believe they can still go quicker than what they’ve shown. Don’t think there will be much between Red Bull and Ferrari, but Verstappen and Ricciardo are such a formidable partnership.

SS: Mercedes – Hamilton will still win the title and I think it’ll be the three-time world champ that keeps the Merc team pushing Ferrari right to the end. The car looks competitive but it is Bottas that has me worried, testing id deceiving, I felt he was trying too hard and I am uncertain about how well he will manage himself on the track in a front runner.

3rd Place

HE: Mercedes – Maybe I am just thinking wishfully but I think that it’s perhaps not going to be Mercedes year. I am not denying that they will be quick and the top three will be super close, but I just think that we are due a change and history has shown that this tends to happen with a major rule change – see 2009 and 2014. Don’t hate me Hamilton fans, but your boy may not win this year.

BH: Ferrari – I understand they were quickest in testing, but it’s not the first time we’ve seen that, and it hasn’t always carried through. I honestly don’t see there being much between the top 3, but Red Bull have the edge on drivers and Mercedes have the edge on their car, which leaves Ferrari in 3rd.

SS: Red Bull – They have my favourite driver line up and yes I admit it I have a man crush on DannyRic but who doesn’t. None the less, that Red Bull just doesn’t feel to have the same cutting edge that the other two leaders seem to have. Although I could be severely proven wrong, which would greatly please my counter parts as the Red Bull on track strategy is known to be super slick.

4th Place

HE: Force India – I originally wrote Williams for this, but Lance Stroll’s (Maple Man) poor pre season makes me wonder whether he will let down the side. So I’ve plumped for Force India. They may not have the strongest car or budget, but I think theyre driver line up may steal it for them.

BH: Williams – I’ve said in previous articles that I’m not a fan of the driver lineup at Williams, Stroll (Maple Man) is incredibly inexperienced and as much as I like Massa, he should have stayed away. Saying this, they seem to have improved over the winter which I think will give them the edge in midfield.

SS: Renault – The Wasp as I like to call it is an ex world title winning team and a manufacturer that has been making engines for many a year. They have a team that is keen to impress and I feel like out of all the teams, this could be the one that shocks us most. An absolutely huge chance for Palmer and wouldn’t it be great to see him as the next competitive Brit.

5th Place

HE: Williams – See above. I think that Massa looks reinvigorated by these new cars, and his pace was strong in testing. But so little faith do I have in Maple Man, that I think they could miss fourth place again this year. I do hope the Canadian surprises though.

BH: Force India – It was brilliant how Force India secured 4th last year, however I’m not sure it’ll happen again. Their lack of budget may well catch up to them this season and whilst I think Ocon will do a fine job, he is still a bit of a risk. Mercedes power should see them get above the rest of midfield, although if we could dock points for hideous liveries, Force India would start on -50 (That nose…….)

SS: Williams – Looking mighty fast in practice as a whole but honestly it isn’t the car that will let the Martini Men down this year. It’s their driver line up. Massa who is definitely past his prime is someone who just can’t keep up with the young guns and has been beaten by his team mate several seasons in a row. Although now on the other side of the garage is Mr. Maple, the young boy genius who crashes his car repetedly and has no experience in F2 (GP2) or F1 what so ever. This is a midfield team this year.

6th Place

HE: Haas – Now that Gutierrez isn’t there, both cars may score a point (oooo the burn). I think the Haas team have a solid line up in the trusted Baguette man and the fast Great Dane. Expect Grosjean and Magnussen to impress this season.

BH: Renault – This is turning out to be very difficult! I’ve gone for Renault to put in a solid season and finish 6th. The team seem to be on an upward trend and the car was competitive in testing. I think the team of the Hulk and the Palm (I’m making this a thing) is pretty solid too.

SS: McLaren – Oh the pain. It hurts me just like I imagine it hurts all of you. The team is struggling and they are starting to really annoy everyone’s favourite F1 driver (Sorry Stoff it isn’t you.) The engine is down on power and Honda have even announced they are officially “worried”. Which in real world talk means they’re fudged. But, I know and love that team and believe they can research and design so much to improve throughout the season.

7th Place

HE: Renault – Perhaps they would have hoped for more considering the improved Renault engine, but unlike the Red Bull team they supply to, reliability hasn’t been good in testing. Saying that though, I think the Hulk and Plamer are a strong pairing and we could see them pick up a few points in those scrappy races this year.

BH: Haas – No second season syndrome in my predictions. The car seems reliable and they could be in better shape than rivals for the first few races because of this. Grosjean proved his worth last season and hopefully Magnussen can improve on Gutierrez’s tally from last year (he’ll struggle not to do so)

SS: Force India – Going backwards this year and fighting close with McLaren and Williams is a given. The car looks poor, visually and performance wise. Ocon doesn’t fill me with confidence and I am still very bitter about him getting the drive and not Pascal. I just don’t think they can keep up with their high earning competitors.

8th Place

HE: Toro Rosso – Their livery deserves a promotion for the team but unfortunately that is not how the sport works. I hope that Danil Kyvat can pick himself out of what was a disastrous 2016 and put in a strong performance. However, not even the hidden talent of Carlos Sainz will be able to drag that car much further up the grid. (Also ignore Sam, Danil, he's got a thing about Russians).

BH: McLaren – A sorry 8th for McLaren I’m afraid, that engine is just so poor. It has the pace of me getting university work done, and breaks down more than…….well, me trying to get university work done. It’s such a shame because Alonso is world class, but I don’t think even he can save this situation, as much as Harry dreams of him and McLaren winning the title. Sorry to burst the bubble, pal.

SS: Haas – Another consistent season for the American team but I just can’t see them making leaps and bounds up the table although I believe they will start to close the gap on the teams ahead. If Ferrari can really pull out a top class engine and Haas get their aero team nailed then they could surprise.

9th Place

HE: McLaren – This hurts…a lot. The way that car has been handling and working in terms of reliability, fills me with as much excitement as Ben’s shoes. I hate to say it but this team is in self destruct, I’ve only not put them last because they at least have Alonso to drag out some world class performances (again).

BH: Toro Rosso – I feel harsh for putting Toro Rosso this far down, especially considering how nice the car looks. Two things do not give me confidence with the team: 1) A demotivated Kvyat 2) Unreliability. I think these two things combined may see the team struggle to find points this season, but 6th through to 9th is anyone’s guess at the moment.

SS: Toro Rosso – For the first time today, I am agreeing with Ben. The car is gorgeous and they have the same front suspension package as Mercedes but what may appear harsh is simply realistic. The car has never seen a consistent season and that spells failure already. Kvyat is a grumpy sad old Russian moping around in a corner and I feel he has lost his way which definitely adds to a poor season for the team. I don’t know about you, but to me, all Sainz points towards a bottom end battle. (See what I did there?)

10th Place

HE: Sauber – Frankly I think Sam’s driving is more thrilling than Sauber’s prospects (Sam’s driving is terrifying by the way). Lack of budget and the administration of Manor means that they no longer occupy that ‘second to last’ position. Look on the brightside though boys, the Macca will probably break down before you do.

BH: Sauber – Finally, an easy one! Sorry Sauber, you’re just not quite there with the other teams which is a little bit disappointing because they may find themselves as the only distant car. I’m not saying the Sauber is slow, but Sam and I are tempted to enter Harry into a race with his VW Up, it might well beat it (That one litre engine is godly).

SS: Sauber – I would love to watch Harry drive his mother’s tiny VW Up against the Sauber, the car looking so much better and I think they will have an improved year but they are just already so far behind the pack that I’m struggling to see how they can build this late into development. I’m sorry Pascal, you can have my car if you want?