F1's new year's resolutions

It's that time of year when we set ourselves goals in the hope the coming 12 months will be better. So as we move from 2015 to 2016, what resolutions should those in Formula 1 be setting themselves?

Whether you look up and down the grid or behind the scenes in the paddock, the list of resolutions that people could make is a long one.

Starting on-track, clearly Nico Rosberg will resolve to make a better start to his campaign and heap the pressure on Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton from the off. The German gave us a hint of what he is capable of once his title hopes were over by winning the final three races of 2015.

Repeating that form when the title pressure is on is a different matter, of course. But think of the drama we could see if the German can continue that run and put some early pressure on Hamilton. Maybe, just maybe, we could see more wheel-to-wheel fights like we did in Bahrain in 2014.

Rosberg needs to prove he can dominate the F1 field when it counts in 2016 © XPB

Hamilton ended the year at a loss. He couldn't get the car set up to his liking so his target will be simple: get on top of those problems and go on the same kind of run in qualifying that enabled him to take 11 out of 12 poles and offered him the platform to excel in the races.

Kimi Raikkonen's performance last term was one of the big disappointments of the season, not that it did his popularity with the fans any harm. The Finn showed his speed on occasion and though he was hit with the lion's share of Ferrari's unreliability, there were also too many mistakes on his part.

He's got the backing of Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne, who suggests the world will see a new Raikkonen in 2016. Hopefully he will up his game and push Sebastian Vettel as well as giving Mercedes more of a challenge, because then we can see how the world champion team reacts when it's consistently put under pressure.

After a season of squabbling, a good resolution would be Red Bull learning to love Renault. The two parties had been drifting apart before 2015 but their relationship deteriorated even further, with Red Bull repeatedly slamming Renault's performance and ultimately requesting to cut ties.

They have formed a marriage of convenience for next season and while one would imagine it will be a short one, in the interim there's no reason why they can't find a way to get along, if only because it will ultimately help both parties both on and off the track.

Two partners who, at least publicly, seem to be getting on well are McLaren and Honda. Their resolution for next year is pretty simple: do better. The alliance set unrealistic goals for 2015 and would be wise to follow Ferrari's current tactics by not promising too much.

A team of the calibre of McLaren, with a dwindling sponsorship portfolio, cannot afford to be in the doldrums for long. Jenson Button said the car felt better than it had done all season at the Abu Dhabi finale while Honda believes it knows where it needs to improve, particularly in terms of deployment where a big gain is possible. So there remains hope for happier times in Woking.

For Pastor Maldonado, his resolution will no doubt remain the same as in previous years: cut out the silly mistakes. The Venezuelan was much-improved this season, and many of his retirements were down to mechanical issues.

But there were mistakes that were his own, parking in the wrong grid slot in Bahrain, speeding behind the safety car in Malaysia and overshooting the pitlane in China to name but a few. Those need to stop, especially as he'll be leading Renault's new works outfit as its most experienced driver alongside rookie Jolyon Palmer.

For Haas, the weight of a nation is on its shoulders ahead of its Formula 1 debut. The American newcomer appears to have done everything right in its approach - linking up with Ferrari for a technical partnership, allowing enough time to get its house in order and employing an experienced and talented driver in Roman Grosjean. For the sake of F1 in America, the project needs to deliver.

Manor's goal will be to make the most of its class-leading Mercedes engine, the partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, what will hopefully be a 2016-spec chassis and a winter of pre-season preparation. If Manor can put itself into the mix, rather than trailing way off the back, then it will make all of the hard work from those involved to save the team from extinction last winter worth it.

F1 needs to work out who is in charge and let them determine the rules © LAT

Formula 1 getting its own house in order will be high up any list. The subject of costs has once again dominated the agenda with the cost of the current generation of engines pinpointed as a key area. Ideas have been suggested and discussed and proposals are set to be filed in mid-January.

F1 chiefs need to decide who is in charge - whether that's the FIA, FOM or the teams - and then go about enforcing rules that the competitors must abide by.

Within those regulations, a consensus should be reached about the so-called rules revolution planned for 2017 and how revolutionary it is expected to be, to allow for sufficient planning and keeping costs down.

Then a solution should be found to enable Pirelli to prepare tyres for these new rules with adequate testing equipment, such as a mule car.

And once all of that is sorted, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone must resolve to make clear a succession plan for who will lead F1 into the future, because while he doesn't look like leaving anytime soon, he can't go on forever and his exit will leave F1 facing its biggest change.

F1 bosses should also decide whether the championship is entertainment or sport or a combination of both. Then they should set about working out how best to promote that, because at present, the promotion simply isn't good enough.

Tied into that there should be a better working practice with the individual promoters to ensure grand prix weekends offer an experience that is better value for money for the fans. Whether that is changing the race weekend format, the schedule and its support races or quite simply the cost of the ticket, decisions need to be made quickly.

Even if only a handful of these resolutions are met, it'll make F1 better, which should always be the goal, right? That said, I won't be holding my breath...