All set for the 2020 Formula 1 championship
One more season, everything is ready for the cars to start rolling. It will be on March 15 at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne (Australia). This year all eyes are on the Asian tests due to the threat of the coronavirus. The reigning champion, Lewis Hamilton, is the big favorite for betting.
The new season of the Formula 1 world championship will begin on March 15 at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. The threat of the coronavirus is very real for the races that will take place in Hanoi and Shanghai next April. ©gianfrancodebei/Pixabay
Who are the favorites?
One more year Lewis Hamilton , the reigning champion, starts as the great favorite at the controls of the Mercedes W11 that has seen its aerodynamics renewed. The odds of the largest bookmakers are not even close to 2 to 1.
It can be a very important season for the Briton. To win the championship, it would be his seventh corked , thus equaling the record set by Michael Schumacher in 2004 at the controls of a Ferrari. The role of his team-mate, Valtteri Bottas, is anyone's guess. Experts point out that the Finn can become Hamilton's worst enemy this year.
Bottas is the fourth favorite in all pools. Who are the other two? The young Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc , already proved last year that he is more than qualified to fight for the title, above his teammate, the German driver Sebastian Vettel.
Although from the Scuderia it is still maintained that there is no theoretical head of the ranks, and with a Vettel in low hours, this could be the year of the Monegasque driver who seems destined to establish a new hegemony in Formula 1 (F1) for the coming seasons.
The fourth in discord is Max Verstappen . The Red Bull driver is the second best positioned for many experts. Unlike Leclerc, Verstappen will have no rival in his teammate Alexander Albon, so he will have the Red Bull mechanics giving 100% for him.
But his youth and well-known impetuosity can play tricks on him. Your aggressive character it has brought him not a few problems and enemies on the circuit. We'll see what happens this year. A great opportunity to prove everything you are worth.
On the other hand, Carlos Sainz Jr. he has shown last year that we can expect great things from him and his MacLaren. It can be a great year for the Spanish driver, and we cannot rule out that we will see him on the podium in more than one race.
With a Lewis Hamilton who is living his last seasons, the future of F1 is in the hands of Verstappen and Leclerc, with the permission of Sainz Jr. Waiting for us an exciting struggle in the years to come.
Who has the best car?
Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, in this order, are our candidates to take the Constructors' Championship. One more year, Mercedes is the big favorite . It has improved its aerodynamic line, although it still maintains its low nose concept.
Ferrari it's anyone's guess. He always starts with a great car in theory, although he has had sound failures. The performances at the end of last season have been good, so, with the improvements implemented for this one, it should be a clear candidate to challenge Mercedes for the title.
The genius of Adrian Newey has got down to work and has focused on renovating the front of the Red Bull . His presentation a week ago has been impactful. We will see all that he can give of himself. But from the Austrian company they seem determined to recover the title they haven't won since 2013 with Vettel at the controls.
Coronavirus: an unexpected guest
The Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne officially opens the season on March 15. The "Great Circus" travels a week later to Bahrain to start the month of April on the Hanoi street circuit , a layout designed by Hermann Tilke, a great specialist in this type of circuits.
It is the first time that the Vietnamese capital hosts an event of this magnitude, and there was a lot of expectation about it, given the expansion of the championship in the Asian market . But the strategy of Liberty Media, the North American group that owns the F1 World Championship, may be truncated by the outbreak of the coranavirus.
For now, the idea is to move on, but many doubt that the first four races (Melbourne, Bahrain, Hanoi and Shanghai) can even be held. However, the Australian authorities remain calm for now and assure that the Grand Prix will be held . The next few weeks will be decisive.
In addition to the situation in China, the focus is now on Italy , where the most important outbreak in Europe has been located. Ferrari mechanics who came to Bahrain for testing were detained at customs.
F1 boss Chase Carey will meet with the teams very soon. But the situation is quite tense. Confirmation of the health authorities of the countries involved. We will see what happens in the coming days.
