The 2017 F1 season promises to give fans what they want ­— a fight to the finish

2017 F1 racing
2017 F1 racing

We have it finally! We have it at last. After four full seasons of the ‘energy drinks company’ dominating. Draining every other team of their energies. Giving themselves wings in the bargain. Followed by a clinical execution from the Deutschland marque for another three seasons. Taking ‘the best or nothing’ philosophy to another level altogether. We have a fight.

A fight between two gladiators who debuted in a similar period, each accusing the other of having the ‘best-machine’ for too long. Now they’re both in very competitive, wide, fat-tyred, gorgeous Grand Prix best-machines. And they’re both very fast. What’s more important though is that they both have massive fan bases. And haters. So we have whole armies across the planet sharpening their axes, preparing for motorsport war.

Formula One 2017 has shown early signs of becoming a cult classic. The Vet is back. Flashing his trademark forefinger gesture indicating numero uno. But more often looking like “I-told-you-so”! The Hammer has returned too. From an unsuccessful but oh-so-close attempt in defending his title for the fourth time. It was Hamilton’s Saturday but Vettel’s Sunday Down Under at Melbourne during the first round of this promising season. Both started from the front row. Quickly asserting their ‘preferred’ 
statuses within their teams.

Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel

The Ferrari SF70H of Vettel seemed untouchable in the ambient heat of Albert Park. The Mercedes W08 of Hamilton, not so. Interestingly, the positions were reversed when it came to their Finnish teammates. So, was it then a Sebastian Vettel masterclass? Or, was it Lewis Hamilton underestimating just how impossible it would be to overtake Max Verstappen in the 2017-spec cars?
Thank God it’s Friday and we don’t have to wait too long to find out. Round Two at Shanghai, China is up this weekend! At the Shanghai International Circuit last year Sebastian Vettel finished in P2 behind Nico Rosberg in his all-conquering Mercedes W07. Lewis Hamilton finished almost a lap down in P7. Expect Mercedes to go all out to ensure Valterri Bottas keeps Ferrari off the front row.

Ajit Devadason is a racing enthusiast who will be following all the races in the 2017 F1 season, exclusively for Indulge.

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