LOWDOWN ON THE TEAMS
MERCEDES
SOLID pre-season. Five constructors’ titles in a row and some jaw-dropping displays in 2018 mean Hamilton is favourite for a sixth crown. Bottas will help Hamilton who, according to boss Toto Wolff, is ‘stronger and musclier’. Needs to flex them.
McLAREN
WINLESS since 2012, McLaren are turning the corner after a trouble-free pre-season with some eye-catching times. A new driver line-up with Sainz and Norris, who is Britain’s youngest F1 driver. Fernando Alonso will test the ‘surprisingly good’ car.
FERRARI
LIKE last year, most agree the red cars are fastest. Errors from driver and team cost them, but if Vettel holds his nerve, new partner Leclerc helps him and the team match Mercedes’ in-season development, they’ll win a first title since 2008. Big ifs.
RACING POINT
EXPECT a slow start from the former Force India team, who did fewer laps than most in testing using a basic version of their car. Fashion billionaire Lawrence Stroll bought the team last summer and son Lance has been signed from Williams.
RED BULL
FREE of Daniel Riccardo and powered by a Honda described by boss Christian Horner as ‘a thing of beauty’, Verstappen finally takes centre stage. They’ll be closer, but not enough for Verstappen to become F1’s youngest champion.
ALFA ROMEO
SAUBER disappears from the grid for the first time since 1993 as last year’s title sponsor takes naming rights, with the rebrand strengthening their position as Ferrari’s B-team. Aggressive design looked quick in testing. Dark horses.
RENAULT
RICCIARDO is using Hamilton’s 2013 move to Mercedes as his ‘inspiration’ after moving from Red Bull — though he must wait for 2021’s rule changes to be in a winning machine. Hulkenberg is chasing a first podium after a record 158 grands prix without.
TORO ROSSO
GOOD pre-season mileage, links with Red Bull and a year with Honda inspire confidence. Their drivers don’t. Kvyat gets another chance after being dropped by Red Bull and Toro Rosso. Third place in Formula Two earned Albon a promotion.
HAAS
WITH Ferrari engines and parts, Haas impressed last season and testing suggested they will do so again this term. CEO William Storey says he wants to compete with Red Bull ‘on and off track’. Get that man some water.
WILLIAMS
THE nine-time constructors’ champions arrived for testing two days late with a car which is slowest by half a second. Kubica knows a thing or two about miraculous comebacks and F2 champion Russell is precocious, but this task is beyond them.