So 2014 draws to a close and we all know how the story of the season went. Formula one has had a year of great racing, massive technological advance and the discovery of some fantastic new young talent.
Too much of 2014 has been poured into negativity, be it regarding the costs of F1, the noise of the amazing new engines. the domination of one team etc etc. but there is so much to celebrate. Here are some stats that FOM and Bernie Ecclestone should be sharing.
- Lewis Hamilton wins his second drivers world title. The first British driver to do so since Sir Jackie Stewart
- Mercedes AMG F1 team won their first ever constructors world championship
- The 2014 spec cars ran innovative hybrid power trains which used 35% less fuel than the previous V8 engines whilst keeping similar speed, and in some races were even faster than last year!
- Formula One arrived in Russia for the first time and returned to Austria in what was one of the best attended events of the year.
- For just the 11th time in 65 years of the Formula One World Championship, the title was won by the driver winning the final race of the year
- Hamilton's title win completed a British clean sweep of F1 and its feeder series: Jolyon Palmer won the GP2 crown in Russia and Alex Lynn secured the GP3 title
- Mercedes engines completed a clean sweep of pole positions in 2014, something which last happened in 1969 when every pole sitter had a Cosworth engine.
Some pretty awesome stats there I'm sure you'll agree. 2014 was in fact a fantastic year, with wheel to wheel battles in every GP an impressive fight between the two Mercedes drivers for the title.
So lets not dwell on the money, or the noise but revel in the amazing sporting and technological spectacle we find ourselves addicted to. Long may it continue...
#PGF1