Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton backs Ferrari for title: Sebastian Vettel disagrees

The pre-season testing is all wrapped up, cars are tuned in and ready and the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne is homologated.

Hamilton says he and his Mercedes team are seeking an unprecedented feat at the season-opening grand prix in Melbourne.

“Obviously it’s the beginning of the year but that is the dream for every driver, but I couldn’t imagine this happening last year”.

So, 1.6 litre V6 turbocharged engines will continue to power F1 cars. He has no doubt who is favourite this season, regardless of the rule changes that dictated wider tires, greater aerodynamics, bigger fuel loads and increased downforce and which are expected to make the heavier cars faster.

Forecast fine weather and technical changes to the cars, to make them faster, are helping drive ticket sales. It was a bit of a sudden team change, which was all positive. On the racing side, there will be a new start rule where the engineers can’t aide the drivers with the clutch release or starts, verbally or technically, and if a safety auto period is over, the grid will re-assemble for standing wet starts.

“Because there can often be a dominance of a certain team and it’s hard to catch up”.

Silverstone-based Sahara Force India, meanwhile, go into battle with a new-look team. Toro Rosso (584 laps, 2,718km) and Sauber (787 laps, 3,663km) have some catching up to do.

Lewis Hamilton says Formula One needs Fernando Alonso to return to the front of the grid in a competitive auto before the end of the Spaniard’s career.

“I see Ferrari being the quickest”, said the British racer.

“Ferrari are possibly the favourites”.

“Well, I think he [Hamilton] must be [favourite]”, the four-time world champion said.

Three-time world champion Hamilton said he would love a close battle with Vettel, who strung together four world titles with Red Bull before switching to Ferrari.

Vettel was equally keen to pin the favourites tag on Hamilton and Mercedes, insisting that Ferrari and the rest of the grid are still playing catch up.

Eric Thompson (Herald motorsport writer): Sebastian Vettel. Instead, Ferrari didn’t win a single race.

Red Bull surprised most observers during testing by introducing an unexpectedly-minimalist vehicle and then ran inconspicuously during the eight days of action at Barcelona.

“They were the quickest in testing, we couldn’t match them”, he said.

“It could be that there might be a chance that we can fight for race wins and even for the title”. We’re here to win, we’re here to do something no one else has done.

Andre Iannuzzi, head of marketing at Hisense Australia, said the brand’s existing bond with the Grand Prix and the Red Bull Racing Team is consistent with the user experience Hisense attempts to deliver with its TV range.

“As far as I’m aware no team has won back-to-back through rules changes”, he added.

Fast cars with burly tyres have been introduced this year to improve the all-round spectacle.

“I always set my target very high, so I want to perform to the level where the auto can be, right from the first race, that’s my target”.