I say this as Mercedes has been the car to beat for the last 7 seasons and with little development changes allowed this season results should not differ much from seasons before. The question mark is always over what the teams have managed to improve since last season and even with less downforce permitted my money is on little to no affect. Hamilton is what makes this become a total package and other drivers need to improve what they now bring to their teams.
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Everything we see on this car has a purpose and is not for looks even though it does look superb.
Mercedes with a whole host of other teams have been unveiling their cars mainly on social media as gatherings and restrictions still apply in the UK and other parts of the world. Smaller budgets means concentrating the spend on the car and not on the fanfare we normally see.
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The W12 new model of Mercedes still had the input of over 2000 personnel which just goes to show what is involved in getting this car race ready. Other teams don't have the same personnel numbers but it still doesn't mean less man hours involved. These cars are not just built for speed but are becoming more like art works as they are finished masterpieces in their own right.
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Aston Martin model AMR21 should do really well this season.
The new Aston Martin team (Racing Point) which was known as the pink Mercedes will be even more like the Mercedes we see here as they have managed to legally get hold of more Mercedes parts. Even the colours are similar in these photographs compared to the bright pink of last season. Underneath is where the differences will be regarding downforce.
I do believe Aston Martin have closed the gap to Mercedes and don't expect them to finish 4th but battling possibly for 2nd along with Red Bull and McLaren who also have a Mercedes power unit tucked away under virtually a totally new car. They are the only team who could really surprise this season but it is not just the car as the driver and team tactics play major roles as well.
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Formula One needs a Vettel in a competitive car as the sport has become too boring. He is the one driver who can turn the championship on it's head.
Sebastien Vettel and Daniel Riccardo in new teams is the difference and why I tip them to be on the podium far more frequently this season. Hamilton, Vettel, Verstappen and Riccardo are going to make this season epic and why I am looking forward to this one more than last season.
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Alpine Renault should definitely be a top 5 but still not sold on Fernando Alonso and whether he has still got it within him to compete at the highest level.
Ferrari have lost the plot and believe they will take at least 2 seasons to be competitive again. No matter how many rule changes are made in their favor which is obviously what has been happening wont help them as they are too far behind. The one season where they were playing catch up by having the wrong car set them back two to three years in development. Can't believe they made such a rookie mistake as that car was slower than their previous model and had to cheat to save face.
We all want to see closer more interesting races but not at the expense of handicapping teams to help a favorite catch up. This is sport and all about developing future technologies through innovation and engineering whilst having fun. The best team should always come out on top.