The F1 Season is here........by Kevin Garside - Chief Sports Correspondent - i newspaper
Lewis Hamilton versus Sebastian Vettel versus Max Verstappen. Never has Formula One drooled over a season like this. Two four-time world champions going head-to-head with the hottest hot shoe in the sport’s history crawling all over them. Not much to look forward to there when the sport fires its engines in Melbourne.
Vettel’s Ferrari was the quickest in winter testing. Hamilton’s Mercedes completed the most laps without even bothering with the super quick hypersoft tyres that sent Ferrari into the low 1m:17s around the Circuit de Catalunya. And Red Bull come armed with a car that at the back end of last season was a quick as any in the right circumstances, with Verstappen winning two of the last five races.
Ferrari were quick out of the gate a year ago winning in Melbourne to establish a championship lead that held until the summer break. After the recess Vettel ran into mechanical gremlins, bad luck and Hamilton at the top of his game. Mercedes non-executive chairman, Niki Lauda, described Hamilton’s driving as perfection, eventually running out the championship winner by 46 points. He hasn’t got any worse over the winter, declaring himself ready to race even before a wheel turned in Barcelona.
“Testing was just incredible, the best I can remember,” Hamilton said. “The car feels even better than last year’s from both a performance and reliability perspective. It’s all so refined in every area and we can be really proud of what we’ve achieved over the winter. I feel like I’m in the best shape that I’ve been. I say that every year, but I train differently each year. This year being that the cars are quicker you need to be stronger.
“There were areas last year that were great but I want to improve on those. Consistency was awesome last year so if I can take one of the ingredients of last year and add a couple of spices in this year I think I can have a better year.”
For his part Vettel is just as ready and motivated by the experience of a competitive 2017, which, had he not collided with his team-mate at Singapore when starting from pole, taking both Ferrari’s out of the equation, might have ended with him wearing the crown. “I can't wait to be in Australia,” he said. “I have confidence in our car I have a lot of confidence in our team, I know how skilled and committed the guys are.
“Lewis is a four-time World Champion and one of the best F1 drivers. He is an opponent on the track, but not in life. Honestly, it does not matter to me who you are driving against. But if you win against Lewis or Fernando Alonso at the end, you're proud of it because you know that the level at which Lewis or Fernando are racing is extremely high.”
Verstappen made his F1 debut in Melbourne three years ago aged 17. Engine failure cost him a chance to become the youngest points scorer in F1 history, a feat he achieved next up in Malaysia aged 17 and 180 days, finishing seventh. He came of age in Brazil at the back end of 2016 with a thrilling race to third in the wet after carving through the field from 14th place.
Red Bull were quick and reliable in testing, but need to push for track position in qualifying to take the challenge to Mercedes, who are traditionally strong over a flying lap courtesy of engine modes that offer augmented power. Verstappen is realistic about his prospects. “Our car from the beginning of 2017 to the end was already a massive difference, so we expect to be a lot closer. I don't know how close we will be, but we will find out in practice and qualifying over there,” he said.
