MANAMA: Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has the primary on his automotive and the Red Bull driver intends to reside as much as the billing when he begins his title defence in Bahrain on Sunday because the early favorite for victory.
The Dutchman, who clinched his first title at a controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final December, was quickest in pre-season testing final week on the identical Sakhir circuit that hosts the floodlit opener.
Verstappen will need additionally to do higher than final yr in Bahrain when he began on pole place however completed second after being compelled to surrender the result in Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton for going off observe to overhaul.
“I’m very excited to turn our attention to racing now, it’s a whole new era for the sport and anything can happen,” stated the 24-year-old.
“The car looks good and as a team we are in a good place.”
Formula One has undergone its most radical guidelines overhaul in many years with new-look automobiles designed to create higher racing and several other groups eyeing a possibility to upset the established order.
Ferrari particularly appear set to finish a winless streak relationship again to the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix however drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have been eager to minimize their automotive’s potential.
“I feel we are still a bit behind Red Bull,” stated Leclerc.
“I don’t think we are speaking about a (gap of a) second like last year or even more the year before, so I feel it is going to be closer for sure and this is already a good sign.”
CLEAN SLATE
Mercedes, who’re tied with Ferrari as probably the most profitable group at Sakhir having gained there six instances, are chasing a fourth consecutive win on the venue.
However, the group, overwhelmed in Bahrain solely twice since 2014, struggled to get their automotive dialled into the observe’s structure throughout testing, struggling greater than others with bouncing on the straight.
Hunting for a ninth consecutive constructors’ crown, and with Lewis Hamilton now alongside teenager George Russell as the game’s most profitable driver chases the eighth title he felt robbed of final yr, Mercedes can’t be written off.
“It’s a clean slate for everyone and all to play for,” stated group boss Toto Wolff. “I’m excited to see what the weekend has in store.”
The season-opening weekend may also see the return of skilled Dane Kevin Magnussen at Haas as a substitute for sacked Russian Nikita Mazepin.
Nico Hulkenberg stands in for Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin after the four-time champion examined optimistic for COVID-19.
Rookie Guanyu Zhou, in the meantime, turns into the primary Chinese driver to race in Formula One when he traces up on the grid for Alfa Romeo.
Source : channelnewsasia.com
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