"Lewis Hamilton has drastically changed the expectations of Formula 1 drivers"

To a lot of people driving in the dominant Mercedes car has gifted Lewis Hamilton four of his five titles. But Ross Brawn believes he lifted the bar and expectations on Formula 1 drivers this season and demonstrated he is amongst the very best the sport has witnessed.

"People have certain expectations of drivers and the Formula 1 and very occasionally drivers come over that drastically change such expectations. Ayrton Senna did that, Michael Schumacher showed it and now Lewis. Those moments of Lewis and the many fights we have seen on the track this season, ensure that we have had a year that we will not soon forget."

Despite an improved season, Brawn knows he still has work to do on improving the sports public picture. The main problem: "That we still have only six dominant cars on the track and fourteen are way too far behind. We have to look even harder for a solution to see a much more consistent performance in all cars on the grid."

The beginning of the season brings the anticipated arrival of the new front wing. That is the stepping stone for a drastic change in regulations (both motor and aerodynamic) in 2021. By then, there should finally be clarity about the arrival of a budget cap to push the field closer together.