Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team R.S.19, battles with Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-19, Nico Hulkenberg, Renault F1 Team R.S. 19, Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso STR14, and Lance Stroll, Racing Point RP19, at the start
Prime
Analysis

Why F1's 'Class B' is struggling to catch up

Behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull there was an epic fight in 2019, featuring drastic swings in performance between teams which gives a strong indication of form heading into this season. And, says Edd Straw, it shows how tough it will be for F1 to eliminate its unofficial 'Class B'

Motorsport.com's Prime content

The best content from Motorsport.com Prime, our subscription service. Subscribe here to get access to all the features.

Were Formula 1's unofficial 'Class B' pack engaging in battle up front, the past three seasons would be celebrated as a time of dramatic performance swings, unpredictable races and ebbs and flows that made calling a winner on any given weekend almost impossible.

It's a difficult web to untangle. After all, how can you explain Ferrari-affiliated Haas slumping from fifth in the overall championship in 2018 (with the fourth-fastest car) to ninth in 2019, while Toro Rosso - also a small team benefiting from an alliance with a large operation thanks to it being Red Bull's junior team - had its best season in a decade and leapt from ninth to sixth with two podium finishes?

Previous article Mallya: Racing Point's Aston tie-in "absolutely fabulous"
Next article Pirelli: No going back if teams object to 18-inch 2021 tyres

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA