The grid of the 2014 Formula 1 season

Red Bull-Renault

Main drivers: Sebastian Vettel #1 / Daniel Ricciardo #3

Test drivers: Antonio Felix Da Costa / Sébastien Buemi

The reigning team of the last four seasons and Sebastian Vettel, the four-time world champion, will aim to conquer a fifth consecutive crown, but they will have to adapt to many parameters: the new regulations, the new Renault engine, and especially the strengthened competition.

For the upcoming season, the German driver will have as a teammate the defector from Toro Rosso, Daniel Ricciardo. The young Australian will seek, for the season, to make a good integration and then to secure podiums, so that Red Bull can claim a fifth consecutive constructors’ title.

Mercedes

Race Drivers: Lewis Hamilton #44 / Nico Rosberg #6

Test drivers: Not yet announced

Mercedes can be seen as the outsider team working in the shadows this season, behind the two big favorite teams for the world championship.

The German firm will of course be able to join the title race provided that the car is at its highest level.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will be the drivers. One has been a world champion while the other secured two victories last season. It is certain that this duo has potential, but many questions remain: will they be able to compete with Ferrari to start with? Will they be able to secure more than three victories in the season? Who will stand out between the Englishman Hamilton and the German Rosberg?

Many parameters still need to be managed.

Ferrari

Official Drivers: Fernando Alonso #14 / Kimi Räikkönen #7

Test drivers: Pedro de la Rosa / Marc Gené

Probably the most dangerous and experienced team. Double world champion Fernando Alonso will simply aim to dethrone baby Schumi. However, his cohabitation with Kimi Räikkönen should be very interesting, as Iceman also wishes to add a new line to his record.

Within the Italian team, it was announced that if one of the two drivers becomes world champion, they will win a LaFerrari worth 1.4 million euros. Needless to say, putting a price on the scalp of the Red Bull team will come with a cost this season!

Lotus-Renault

Main drivers: Romain Grosjean #8 / Pastor Maldonado #13

Test drivers: Charles Pic / Marco Sorensen (to be confirmed)

The team led by Éric Boullier will have to fight to win the scraps, even though Lotus can, of course, win a race during a season as Finnish driver Kimi Räikkönen did at the inaugural Grand Prix of the 2013 season in Australia. Romain Grosjean, who had an exceptional end to the season, will need to assert himself as a true team leader by securing the big points for the British team. The performance of the Frenchman will be scrutinized every weekend.

The Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado will be his teammate. On board this car, Pastor will have to score points to earn his place and silence his critics.

McLaren-Mercedes

Primary drivers: Jenson Button #22 / Kevin Magnussen #20

Test drivers: Stoffel Vandoorne

McLaren has a lot to make up for after a disastrous 2013 campaign. The Woking team can climb the hierarchy by scoring big points, provided that the cars are competitive again. Ron Dennis is back in business as Chairman of the Group, it’s Martin Whitmarsh who will be under some pressure.

Sergio Pérez, not retained and who found refuge at Force India, will be replaced by the Formula Renault 3.5 World Series By Renault champion, the Dane Kevin Magnussen. The English management has acknowledged that they are taking a risk by hiring the 21-year-old rookie.

Jan Magnussen’s son will learn the trade with Jenson Button, who will be entering his fifth season with McLaren, aiming to fight as hard as he can with the car that will be at his disposal. The season can be seen as a transitional year because in 2015, the Japanese engine manufacturer Honda will return alongside the British team, which will aspire to regain its former glory.

Sahara Force India-Mercedes

Main Drivers: Nico Hülkenberg #27 / Sergio Pérez #11

Test drivers: Daniel Juncadella

A team between ambition and midfield. The Indian team aims to compete with the best and also for podiums throughout the season, which is the stated objective.

For this, there will be two drivers capable of reaching the highest level, with the German Nico Hülkenberg, who joins from the Sauber team, returning to a team he knew in 2010 and 2011.

« Hulk » will certainly have to take on a leadership role for the upcoming seasons in the long term. The German will aim to increase the performance level of the Indian team’s single-seater. He will be teamed up with Sergio « Checo » Perez. The Mexican has already experienced the joy of being on a podium three times with a car less competitive than the Force India, the 2012 Sauber.

The season will be a pivotal year for the team, as it will determine whether they can rise to the level of the best this year or compete with mid-table or even lower-table teams.

Sauber-Ferrari

Main Drivers: Adrian Sutil #99 / Esteban Gutiérrez #21

Test Drivers: Sergey Sirotkin / Giedo Van der Garde

The end of the 2013 season was interesting for the Swiss thanks to Nico Hülkenberg’s momentum, but the departure of their star driver forces them to rebuild a team facing significant financial difficulties.

Sauber has hired the experienced Adrian Sutil for this season and has decided to retain Esteban Gutiérrez. The young Mexican will thus have the opportunity to race for a second consecutive year and prove that he deserves his seat in the paddock beyond the support of his sponsor Telmex.

Toro Rosso-Renault

Pilots: Jean-Eric Vergne #25 / Daniil Kvyat #26

Test Drivers: Antonio Felix da Costa

Jean-Eric Vergne is at a turning point in his career, after two interesting seasons with the Italian team, the Frenchman will need to demonstrate consistency and beat newcomer Daniil Kvyat.

This young Russian driver could represent a danger for our tricolor driver according to Helmut Marko, who believes he could be in a position to compete with the tricolor driver after ten Grand Prix, if he integrates well.

The season will be one of renewal for Toro Rosso, which is leaving the Ferrari engine to switch to Renault and thus maximize synergies with the Red Bull Racing team.

Williams-Mercedes

Primary drivers: Felipe Massa #19 / Valtteri Bottas #77

Test Drivers: Susie Wolff

Williams is a team under reconstruction for the new season. With Maldonado leaving for Lotus, the English team will be able to rely on a key addition in the form of Brazilian Felipe Massa. The Paulista will have as a teammate a promising driver named Valtteri Bottas (managed by Mika Hakkinen), who managed to score 4 points at the 2013 United States Grand Prix held in Austin. The Finn will be eager to confirm his talent in his second year in F1 with Williams.

Marussia-Ferrari

Official drivers: Jules Bianchi #17 / Max Chilton #4

Test drivers: Not yet announced

Marussia achieved the feat of the 2013 season by finishing 10th in the Constructors’ Championship. This year, Jules Bianchi will continue his apprenticeship with the Russian team, still alongside the same teammate, the Briton Max Chilton.

As in 2013, Marussia will battle with the Caterham team to avoid inheriting the last place in the constructors’ championship.

Caterham-Renault

Regular drivers: #10 Kamui Kobayashi / #9 Marcus Ericsson

Test drivers: Robin Frijns / Alexander Rossi

Here is the last of the class of the 2013 season. Caterham’s only satisfaction was seeing Giedo Van der Garde reach Q1 twice – in Monaco and Belgium. This year, the team with the green and yellow cars has decided to once again change its driver duo by taking Kamui Kobayashi, who will return to F1 after a year’s absence.

He will be supported by Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson, who has gained experience in GP2 Series in recent years. The goal for Caterham will be to regularly qualify in Q1 and improve so as not to only compete with Marussia for the last positions, but also with mid-field teams.

And you, how do you see the upcoming Formula 1 season?