They’re not so different after all, Formula 1 and football.
Just like the Premier League, you’ve got your pre-season favourites, your nouveau-riche giants, your perennial underachievers and those who’s preparations have been turned upside down by some rather problematic links with a Russian oligarch.
And, ahead of the new Formula 1 season kicking off in Bahrain on Sunday, what better time to look at the similarities between troubled Haas and a crisis-hit Everton, an ambitious Red Bull and a ruthless Manchester City.
Ferrari – Manchester United
Living off past glories and beset by mismanagement from the top down, this one really does speak for itself. Hell, they even share that same iconic red hue.
In Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, Ferrari have two of the most exciting young drivers around at the wheel for 2022. But there remains a nagging fear that problems at the top will continue to hold this famous old institution back.
Sound familiar, United fans?
Red Bull – Manchester City
As the so-called noisy neighbours overhauled their spluttering old rivals, Red Bull have left Ferrari and co choking on their proverbial dust in recent seasons. Red Bull’s bite is as strong as their bark and, much like City, their success is built not just upon enviable financial resources but also intelligent, meticulous planning and a fierce ruthless streak.
One suspects Pep Guardiola would have admired the way Christian Horner gave Pierre Gasly the boot, a la Joe Hart in 2016. ‘Good’ just doesn’t cut it for an outfit striving for greatness.
Red Bull even have their own feeder team, one they use as something of a breeding ground their most promising young drivers. Scuderia AlphaTauri are to Red Bull what, say, New York City FC are to the Premier League champions.
Mercedes – Liverpool
Much like Liverpool brought in Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota to compete with, and eventually overtake, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Mercedes’ capture of George Russell screams of succession planning.
Salah, while still a force to be reckoned with, is getting on these days and will not be able to defy Father Time forever.
But no one should be writing off the old master any time soon. Diaz, like Russell, has a lot to learn. Mohamed Salah and Lewis Hamilton are still very much the top dogs in town.
Haas – Everton
Their start to the new season disrupted by those well-publicised links with Russian oligarchs, Haas have found their very future in Formula 1 called into question of late.
One suspects Everton supporters will know how Haas fanatics feel, facing a potential points deduction and mired in a precarious financial situation following the sanctions imposed on Alisher Usmanov.
Once the great overachievers, Haas and Everton are now feeding off scraps at the wrong end of the table. To think, it wasn’t long ago since both were being tipped to ‘focksmash’ their way through the glass ceiling and into the elite.
Alfa Romeo – Burnley
While Burnley brought in Wout Weghorst from Wolfsburg in what felt like an almighty boost to their promotion prospects, an Alfa Romeo team tipped for a season of struggle have parachuted in a big-name arrival of their very own.
Valterri Bottas, formerly Lewis Hamilton’s sparring partner at an all-conquering Mercedes, might just give Alfa Romeu hope of dragging themselves out of the mire.
McLaren – Arsenal
A force to be reckoned with a generation or so back, McLaren appear to be on the right track again after a couple of wilderness years. Just like a certain team in North London. And, a la Arsenal, it is a fresh-faced, Brit providing hope for the future.
We see Lando Norris, and raise you Bukayo Saka.
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