Many in the Formula One community knew what to expect coming into the 2015 season.

2014 saw the emergence of Mercedes as the leading power in the sport, taking the baton from Red Bull, who have themselves had a fall from grace. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fought tooth and nail for the title, with the Brit ruling supreme in a final race decider. 2015 would be a similar story.

Same protagonists, same arc, and same old faces, but the twist was the resurgence of the old star. Mercedes were still in the lead in terms of car and power, but Ferrari enjoyed their best season in years, taking three wins courtesy of their new German.

The story which is made all the more poignant since Michael Schumacher's tragic life-changing injury in 2013, Sebastian Vettel moved to Ferrari for the 2015 season and by doing so emulated his compatriot and hero.

The ex-Red Bull man took wins in Malaysia, Hungary and Singapore, the only non-Mercedes driver to win in 2015. He has helped Ferrari return to the front after a few seasons down on their luck.

Hamilton's Iconic Third

Since his debut in 2007, it's been no secret who Lewis Hamilton's idol is. Ayrton Senna is widely regarded as the greatest driver Formula One has ever seen, and Hamilton has always set out to emulate the legendary Brazilian by winning three titles.

Having won it in last-gasp fashion in 2008 and in a decider in 2014, this would be Hamilton's more stellar year. Winning the title in more dominant fashion with three races to spare. Taking ten wins on the way Hamilton has proven his name belongs with such royalty as Senna.

Lewis Hamilton was at his imperial best in 2015.
Lewis Hamilton was at his imperial best in 2015.

Despite the divided opinion of his personality and behaviour, there is no denying his speed and talent. Rosberg put up a fight, but a mid-season drop in form saw him fall away, and with Vettel hot on his heels, the German was more hard worked for the runner up spot.

Enjoying a mini-resurgence with three straight wins to end the season, it was a case of too little too late for Nico. The argument which presents itself is; has Hamilton become the clear number one at Brackley? and is Rosberg the new Rubens Barrichello? The number two driver who needs to prove himself this season as more than just a race winner.

An Old Friendship Turned Sour

The 1980's were a golden period for Formula One, with Murray Walker and James Hunt on the mic, drivers like Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet on the track battling for titles, and teams like McLaren, Ferrari and Williams dominating.

McLaren decided to renew a partnership from this era, with the end of their 20 year association with Mercedes and a second spell with Honda supplying their engines.

An all too-familiar story for McLaren in 2015.
An all too-familiar story for McLaren in 2015.

It had all the hallmarks to be an amazing year for the Woking team, with Honda back on board, two time world champion Fernando Alonso joining 2009 champ Jenson Button in the drivers seats, and Ron Dennis coming back into a more hands on role in the team. However it all went wrong.

With just 27 points all season, With Button's 16 to Alonso's 11, 12 retirements and three double retirements, McLaren suffered their worst season in the sport.

Old Name, Fresh Face

The Verstappen name has been in Formula One before, with Jos racing on and off from 1994 to 2003. He is the most successful Dutch driver with two podiums from 106 starts, however this looks set to change.

Jos' son Max has set the F1 world alight with some amazing performances in his debut season. At just 17 he is the youngest driver ever to compete in the sport, and the Toro Rosso man looks like a future champion, with Ferrari supposedly interested in signing him for the 2017 season.

Max Verstappen: Future World Champion?
Max Verstappen: Future World Champion?

He and team mate Carlos Sainz, another famous name in a motorsport dynasty, are injecting a breath of fresh air into Formula One, amongst all the issues at the moment.

Tous Avec Jules

In the midst of all the exciting moments, there was one which saw the whole motorsport community stand still. The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix saw Marussia's Jules Bianchi retire, but it wasn't known how.

He had in fact collided with a tractor recovering the stricken Sauber of Adrian Sutil, who'd gone off a lap earlier. Bianchi hit it at high speed and had to be placed in an induced coma once hospitalized.

He was transferred to Nice, France and was breathing unaided, but nine months after his horror crash, Jules tragically lost his life, meaning he was the first driver to die from racing since Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

The incredibly moving tribute to Jules Bianchi following his tragic death.
The incredibly moving tribute to Jules Bianchi following his tragic death.

The aftermath was stunning, in both good ways and bad. Every driver, despite being huge rivals on the track, banded together for some genuinely awe inspiring scenes at the Hungarian Grand Prix. With every drivers' helmet, including Bianchi's, huddled together in a circle, the drivers stood around them in a minutes silence, which brought tears to many an eye.

While Jules is gone, he will never be forgotten, and the fact Ferrari President Luca di Montezemelo admitted that Bianchi was in line for a seat at Maranello for 2017 solidifies his legacy as a young starlet gone way too soon.

In Brief

Lewis Hamilton has three titles to his name going into 2016, Nico Rosberg seems to have regained that lost confidence, and Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel look to be much stronger. Max Verstappen looks like going from strength to strength and hopefully McLaren can recover from their lull.

Michael Schumacher is an F1 legend, and can hopefully recover from his injuries.
Michael Schumacher is an F1 legend, and can hopefully recover from his injuries.

What we do know is; 2016 has what it takes to be a truly fantastic season. Also Michael Schumacher continues to fight and he has every single member of the Formula One world behind him. #KeepFightingMichael.

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About the author
Aaron Irwin
Formula 1 editor, Football League co-editor at VAVEL UK. Writer since July 2014. Hull City correspondent. Currently studying for a Journalism degree at Hull School of Art and Design.