After a (long) wait of about four months, the “circus” of the Formula 1 is about to return with the Australian Grand Prix marking the resumption of “hostilities”.
Among the main points of interest this year are the attempt to break the hegemony of Mercedes-AMG in the constructors' championship and Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship.
Furthermore, it is also important to note the arrival of changes in the regulations that established a minimum weight for the drivers, a greater amount of fuel per race (from 105 kg to 110 kg), new gloves and even the awarding an extra point to the driver with the fastest lap (but only if it finishes in the Top 10).
Finally, this year's Formula 1 World Championship is still packed with returns ranging from Alfa Romeo to Daniil Kvyat who returns for the third (!) time to Toro Rosso. However, the biggest comeback is that of Robert Kubica, who after a rally accident in 2011 found himself out of Formula 1 for nearly a decade.
the teams
It seems, this year's edition of the Formula 1 World Championship will again be decided between Mercedes-AMG and Ferrari. On the lookout are teams such as Red Bull (which now has Honda engines) and Renault. Another point of interest will be to see how Williams fares after a year of forgetting — they want, at least, to return to the middle of the table.Mercedes-AMG Petronas
Since 2014 that the Mercedes-AMG he doesn't know what it's like to lose a drivers' or constructors' world title and so, for the 2019 season, he decided to follow the maxim that says “in a team that wins, you don't move” betting again on Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas (although the Finnish saw the place shaken by a poorly achieved end of season).
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Scuderia Ferrari
After (more) a year to forget, the Ferrari is committed to regaining the titles of drivers and manufacturers that have eluded it, respectively, since 2007 and 2008. In order to do so, Maranello's team has made a strong bet this year and took last year's rookie sensation, Charles Leclerc, from Sauber. joins a Sebastian Vettel, who hopes that this season will go better than the previous one.
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
Red Bull wants to compete again for the Manufacturers and Drivers' title and to do so decided it was time to change the Renault engine for the Honda . As for the drivers, the team sponsored by the most famous energy drink in Formula 1 has Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly who came to take the place of Daniel Ricciardo.
Renault F1 Team
After having been the “best of the rest” last year, just behind the three fastest teams, the Renault wants this year to go up one more level and consolidate the project that began with its return as an official team in 2016.
To do this, the French team sought Australian Daniel Ricciardo to join German Nico Hulkenberg, who is now for the third consecutive season with the team that, when racing for the first time in 1977, saw his car nicknamed “Yellow Kettle”.
haas
Sponsored by energy drink company Rich Energy, Haas comes this year with a decor that brings to mind the good old days of Lotus in the colors of John Player & Sons (also known as the John Player Special).
Having achieved their best result ever last year, Haas continued to focus on Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen in the hope that with stability they could climb a little further up the leaderboard.
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McLaren F1 Team
Disregarded from the top places for some years now and after last year swapping (without great success, by the way) the Honda engines for those of Renault, McLaren lost this year what had been its biggest star, Fernando Alonso, who decided to withdraw from Formula 1 (although he has not completely closed the door on a return).
Thus, in a year that McLaren hopes will be a new approach to the front places, the bet is on a pair of drivers composed of Carlos Sainz Jr., who came from Renault and the promising rookie Lando Norris, who rises from Formula 2 and who has since last year I was driving the McLaren car in the free test sessions.
Racing Point F1 Team
Born midway through last season, Racing Point came about after Lance Stroll's father bought Force India together with a consortium after it went bankrupt. After much speculation about the name to adopt for this season, it was confirmed that the team would continue to be called Racing Point.
After the change of owner, what was already expected was confirmed. Sergio Perez remained in the team, but in place of Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll starts running, who took advantage of the “sponsorship” and left Williams.
Alfa Romeo Racing
As expected, this year, in Sauber's place on the starting grid, he will be back Alfa Romeo . Despite the name change, the team remains (under the new guises) Sauber, which means that Kimi Räikkönen will thus return to the team that launched him in Formula 1 in 2001.
The Finn (who is still the last driver to win the driver's title with Ferrari) will be joined by Ferrari Driver Academy driver Antonio Giovinazzi.
Toro Rosso
In a year in which Toro Rosso has already assumed that it will function as Red Bull's second official team (considering even harming itself when carrying out tests or engine changes to test for Red Bull), the team that once came to play the role Minardi also lost Pierre Gasly to the first team.
In his place comes the returned Daniil Kvyat (for his third spell in the team) and who is joined by the third place from last season in Formula 2, Alexander Albon, who replaces Brendon Hartley.
Williams
After one of the worst years in their history, in which they only managed seven points, Williams are hopeful that this year will represent a significant improvement and allow them to escape from the last places on the starting grid.
To do this, Williams brought back Robert Kubica, who hasn't participated in a grand prix since 2010. The Pole was joined by George Russell, last year's Formula 2 champion, in a complete change from the pair of drivers who were associated last year. to one of the worst seasons ever for the team in Formula 1.
Start up happens again in Australia
The 2019 Formula 1 World Championship starts again in Australia, at the Melbourne circuit, on the 17th of March. The last stage will be played in Abu Dhabi, on the Yas Marina circuit, on December 1st.
Here is the calendar for the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship:
| Race | Circuit | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Melbourne | March 17 |
| Bahrain | Bahrain | March 31 |
| China | shanghai | 14 april |
| Azerbaijan | Baku | 28 april |
| Spain | Catalonia | May 12th |
| monaco | Monte Carlo | 26 may |
| Canada | Montreal | 9 June |
| France | Paul Ricard | 23 june |
| Austria | Red Bull Ring | June 30 |
| Great Britain | silverstone | 14 July |
| Germany | Hockenheim | 28 July |
| Hungary | Hungaroring | 4 august |
| Belgium | Spa-Francorchamps | 1 september |
| Italy | monza | 8 september |
| Singapore | Marina Bay | 22 september |
| Russia | Sochi | 29 september |
| Japan | Suzuka | 13 october |
| Mexico | Mexico City | 27 october |
| USA | Americas | 3 November |
| Brazil | Interlagos | November 17 |
| Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina | December 1 |