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    Michael Schumacher’s son Mick shares unseen family photo – and fans are all saying the same thing

    MICHAEL Schumacher’s son has shared an unseen family photo and fans are all saying the same thing.The adorable picture of daughter Gina-Marie was shared by Mick, who’s also an F1 driver, on Instagram.
    Gina-Marie wearing her dad’s t-shirt in the pictureCredit: Instagram
    Fans of Michael are all saying she looks like her dad in the photoCredit: AP:Associated Press
    Mick Schumacher shared the picture on his sister’s birthdayCredit: PA
    The picture shows Gina-Marie with reindeer antlers on and wearing her dad’s Mercedes t-shirt, which comes past her knees.
    In the comments, fans of F1 legend Michael all agree that his daughter had an “uncanny” resemblance to him.
    “She is her father’s double,” wrote one user while another added “she looks just like him in that last photo it’s insane!”
    “The female version of dad Michael,” summed up what many were saying.
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    Mick shared the picture on his sister’s birthday with an affectionate message.
    “Happy birthday to the best sis in the world. I’m proud of you!,” he wrote.
    Gina Maria Schumacher was born on February 20, 1997.
    In an interview with German broadcaster NDR, she revealed that she could have followed in her famous father’s footsteps after pursuing karting for a season.
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    But she’s admitted that she “preferred the horses”, and has put her passion to fine use in the sport of Western riding.
    It comes after a heartwarming video of Schumacher and a young Max Verstappen has moved Formula 1 fans to tears.
    The star spent a lot of time growing up with the Schumacher family as his dad Jos Verstappen and seven-time champ Michael were close friends.
    He’s opened up about his close relationship with the man he called “Uncle”.
    The two families’ connection features in episode 4 – Like Father, Like Son? on Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
    Footage released as part of the show’s latest season features Michael talking about young Mick and Max and discussing with Jos whether they would allow their children to become F1 drivers.
    One clip in particular, in which Schumacher bends down and pats Verstappen on the head, has moved Formula 1 fans.
    “This moment makes me cry every single time I see it,” Tweeted a Verstappen fan account.
    In the clip Schumacher can bee seen smiling at the youngster, who he’s clearly very fond of.
    Several other fans responded with tear emojies to the clip, with one writing “that’s so adorable”.
    Michael, one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, continues his recovery after his horror ski crash in 2013.
    He raced from 1991 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2012 – a second act of his career which saw him become instrumental in setting up the dominant Mercedes team.
    The German won five world championships with Ferrari and two for Benetton.
    Schumacher retired in 2012, but just a year later he was involved in the life-changing skiing accident while on the slopes with Mick.
    He was left in a medically induced coma before being released home and then ever since it has been near silence on the driver’s condition.
    He has not been seen in public ever since.
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    His family, led by wife Corinna, closely protect Michael’s privacy and offer him a quiet life.
    Gina-Marie Schumacher is a talented horse riderCredit: Instagram
    Michael and wife Corrina, who has been caring for him since his accidentCredit: AFP More

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    Lewis Hamilton excites F1 fans with bold statement about new season as he poses for model photo shoot

    LEWIS HAMILTON told fans to “expect it all” this year as he geared up for the start of the 2023 Formula 1 season with a modelling shoot.The seven-time world champion, 38, is hoping to bounce back after a difficult 2022 campaign in which he went the entire season without winning a Grand Prix for the first time in his career.
    Lewis Hamilton is in Bahrain ready for the F1 season openerCredit: Getty

    The Brit is beginning his 17th successive season on the F1 gridCredit: Getty
    Following testing in Bahrain, Mercedes still appear to be playing catch-up to Red Bull and Ferrari.
    But Hamilton remains a formidable presence on the grid as he seeks a record-breaking eighth title.
    And on Wednesday, as the opening weekend of the season prepares to get underway in Asia, the Brit shared a couple of pictures taken from a photo shoot.
    Alongside the snaps shared on Instagram, he added the message: “If you’re on this journey with me, thank you.
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    “Expect to see it all this year. The highs and the lows.
    “Now’s the time for us to breathe, dig deep, focus, and get after it.”
    Reacting on social media, one fan said: “Let’s goooo Lewis Hamilton, this journey is a blessing and thank you for the inspiration to keep going everyday. ❤️🙌”.
    Another added: “This year’s yours man. I know it 🏎️🔥”.
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    A third responded: “Right behind you every step of the way – the good and the bad!!! But obviously only looking for the good – let the games begin!”
    And a fourth replied: “Good luck this weekend Lewis Hamilton. Last year you proved why you are a seven-time world champion, you never give up no matter what. So take that eighth title and keep showing that anger and aggression is never the right way!”.
    The F1 season kicks off with the Bahrain Grand Prix – a race Hamilton has won five times in the past.
    But 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill believes Hamilton could choose to quit the sport if he is no longer fighting for victories. More

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    Top five most popular F1 Wags revealed including Max Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly Piquet and George Russell’s partner

    AS Formula One revs back this weekend, here’s a steer to the drivers’ most popular partners.But while the stars behind the wheel are being judged by the clock, the fame of their Wags has been measured by Tiktok.
    Max Verstappen’s partner Kelly Piquet drew admirers in her PrettyLittleThing swimsuit on Miami Beach while on holiday two months agoCredit: Splash
    Carmen Montero Mundt has been dating Brit George Russell for three yearsCredit: INSTAGRAM
    Isabel Hernaez is the long-term girlfriend of Carlos SainzCredit: INSTAGRAM
    Portuguese model Kika Gomes stunned in the sun as boyfriend Pierre Gasly prepared for the 2023 F1 campaignCredit: Instagram / @francisca.cgomes
    Italian model Elena Berri is the partner of Alpine ace Esteban OconCredit: Instagram @elenaberri_
    Max Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly Piquet has a legendary but controversial F1 dad in Brazilian Nelson Piquet.
    So it’s no surprise the world champion’s partner is out of sight in front on 169.9million views per hashtag.
    The next four on the list compiled by TopRatedCasinos only have a third of Kelly’s popularity when COMBINED.
    Isabel Hernaez, who has been with fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz for at least six years, notches 31.6m per hashtag.
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    That figures because promotion is a particular skill of Isabel, given that she’s a press officer with a degree in bilingual journalism.
    Next on 14.1 comes Pierre Gasly’s partner, Portuguese model Kika Gomes.
    The Frenchman reportedly met Kika while dancing in a nightclub last year.
    Esteban Ocon’s long-term girlfriend Elena Berri is an equally-gifted communicator.
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    You can take it as red that Elena Berri is one of F1’s most popular WagsCredit: Instagram/@elenaberri_/
    The model from Turin is said to speak several languages, including English, Italian, French, and Spanish.
    Elena’s 6.5m views per hashtag just beats the 6.2m of George Russell’s partner Carmen Montero Mundt.
    Carmen has been dating Lewis Hamilton’s F1 team-mate since 2020.
    The business management and finance graduate from the University of Westminster became an investor relations associate last year.
    But overall, just as Red Bull ace Verstappen is tipped to retain his F1 crown, his partner Kelly has lapped her rivals when it comes to TikTok success.
    Kika Gomes has come out of the shade on TikTokCredit: Instagram / @francisca.cgomes
    Isabel Hernaez has been with Ferrari star Sainz since at least 2017Credit: INSTAGRAM
    Kelly Piquet was resting in Miami in January ahead of Fashion month and the new F1 seasonCredit: Splash
    Business graduate Carmen Montero Mundt follows George Russell on his globetrotting F1 career but has a busy careerCredit: INSTAGRAM
    Isabel Hernaez and Sain are coy about being pictured together but that hasn’t stopped her from becoming one of F1’s most popular WagsCredit: INSTAGRAM More

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    ‘Not to throw shade but…’ – F1 star Alex Albon explains the problem of being team-mates with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen

    EX-RED BULL driver Alex Albon has explained the problem of being team-mates with double Formula One world champion, Max Verstappen. Albon, 26, raced alongside Verstappen, 25, for a season-and-a-half between 2019 and 2021.
    Alex Albon has explained the problem with being Max Verstappen’s team-mateCredit: PA
    The Red Bull car is tailor-made for Max Verstappen, the Thai-British driver saysCredit: EPA
    However, the Thai-British driver struggled in the Red Bull car compared to the flying Dutchman.
    And in 2021, Albon was demoted to the role of test and reserve driver with Red Bull with his seat being taken by Sergio Perez, who still partners Verstappen today.
    Ahead of the 2023 season, Williams driver Albon has explained the challenges of being the team-mate of Verstappen, who is hoping to win a third world crown in a row.
    Albon says the Red Bull car is built to suit Verstappen, which can be challenging for the No2.
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    Writing on the Players’ Tribune, Albon said: “This isn’t to throw shade at anyone at Red Bull Racing or Max or anything, honestly.
    “But the car is set up in a unique way that is built around the lead driver, and that’s Max.
    “And, look, I totally get why. I mean, when all is said and done, he might be the greatest driver of all time.
    “But he has a very distinct style of driving, and he likes the car set up a certain way that’s hard for a lot of drivers to sync up with.
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    “Of course, you can tinker and tweak your own car, but just the Red Bull in general is suited to Max’s style.
    “I like a lot of front end and nose. I’ve been teammates with George and Charles and I’ve always had way more nose than them.
    “Basically think front-end sensitivity. And when I got into the Red Bull … I mean there was so much nose on the thing that if you blew on the wheel the car would turn.
    “If you play Call of Duty, or a game like that, turn your sensitivity up to the highest it will go. That’s what it’s like to drive that car.
    “And like I said, I completely understand why.
    “Max was, at the time, a future world champion. It was clear for all to see.
    “So, of course, you’re going to build your car how he likes.
    “But for a guy like me, who had driven 12 F1 races his entire life, in a completely different car, on a different team, it was a bit of an adjustment.
    “And I felt like I did O.K.!! I only finished worse than sixth once the rest of the year with Red Bull, and I was getting up to speed with everything as best I could.
    “But F1 is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business most of the time. And even though I didn’t feel out of place at Red Bull, the next season wasn’t easy.
    “The pandemic impacted everything, and I felt I really needed that extra time with the car that we lost. It was a massive break between Abu Dhabi and the first race.
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    “But I understood it was difficult on everyone and I had to put my head down and perform.”
    Albon turned in a strong showing in pre-season testing, with the 2023 campaign set to get underway in Bahrain this weekend.

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    What is a rolling start in F1?

    The FORMULA 1 2023 season is set to get underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix.F1 races can start in two different ways, which are the standing start and the rolling start.
    Charles Leclerc leading the start of the French Formula One Grand Prix
    Max Verstappen leading the start of the Dutch Grand Prix
    A rolling start has the cars on the grid in a formation behind a safety car at a pre-determined speed for a number of laps.
    The safety car indicates it’s returning to the pits by turning off the flashing lights.
    When the safety car arrives at the pit and is off the track, the race will return to “green flag” conditions.
    All cars must wait for the green flag to be on show or for the information to be communicated over the radio before they can start accelerating.
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    The race leader will take the first position, and the trailing vehicles must stay in single-file behind.
    No driver can overtake the race leader prior to the race officially beginning.
    When are rolling starts used in F1?
    Rolling starts are typically used when the weather conditions are deemed too unsafe for a standing start.
    They are used more commonly during NASCAR events rather than in F1 Grand Prix.
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    A standing start is a more typical start to an F1 Grand Prix, with drivers starting in a stationary manner in their respective grid spots.
    Which F1 Grand Prix have had a rolling start?
    Last season, the Monaco 2022 Grand Prix had a rolling start, which was due to heavy rainfall.
    Sergio Perez took top spot on the podium that day.
    After several delays at the 2021 Belgium Grand Prix, a rolling start was again needed due to wet conditions.
    The race was then red-flagged and forced to be suspended before the race officially began. More

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    Five British motor racing sensations on verge of breakthrough season aiming to follow in Lewis Hamilton’s footsteps

    WITH Lewis Hamilton nearing the end of his F1 career and George Russell and Lando Norris nearing their prime years, here SunSport looks at the young British drivers to keep an eye on this year.Hamilton is one of the sport’s greats, having won seven World Drivers’ Championship titles.
    Lewis Hamilton is one of the best-ever drivers in F1Credit: Getty
    While Russell and Norris will be hoping to take centre stage this year in F1 with the season starting this Sunday with the Bahrain Grand Prix.
    Oliver Bearman – Formula 2
    Oliver Bearman has joined Ferrari’s young driver programmeCredit: Getty
    Despite being only 17, Bearman has already had a lot of success and has been snapped up by Ferrari to join their young driver programme.
    Last year, in his first season in F3, he finished in third place and was promoted by his Prema Racing team to F2 for 2023.
    In 2021, the racer from Chelmsford won the Formula 4 series in both Italy and Germany.
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    Zak O’Sullivan – Formula 3
    Zak O’Sullivan will be racing in Formula 3Credit: Getty
    The 18-year-old will race in the Formula 3 Championship for Prema Racing this season. Last year he competed in the same series but drove for Carlin.
    He won the 2021 GB3 Championship and is a member of the Williams Driver Academy. He was awarded the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award for 2021.
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    Oliver Gray – Formula 3
    Oliver Gray is a member of the Williams Driver AcademyCredit: Getty
    Gray will race in the same championship but for O’Sullivan’s former team. In 2022 he competed in F4 British Championship, finishing runner-up in the standings.
    The 18-year-old is also a member of the Williams Driver Academy.
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    Luke Browning – TBC
    Luke Browning won the 2020 F4 British ChampionshipCredit: Getty
    The 21-year-old is the current GB3 champion driving for Hitech Grand Prix. He was also the champion of the 2020 F4 British Championship with Fortec Motorsports.
    He has already competed in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship this year.
    Abbi Pulling – F1 Academy
    The 19-year-old has joined F1’s new women-only series and drives for Rodin Carlin. She is also a member of the Alpine Academy programme.
    Pulling has been racing karts since she was eight and won the Super 1 National Junior TKM Championship twice in 2017 and 2018.

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    New drivers, faster tracks and the glitz and glam of Las Vegas – everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 F1 season

    THE new F1 season is set to start this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix.Max Verstappen will be hoping to retain his championship title but will have to compete with new drivers and new rules.
    Max Verstappen’s title defense starts at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: PA
    The Red Bull racer was unstoppable last year, although old rivals such as Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to fight back this time around.
    There will also be more F1 than normal with the all-female racing series.
    NEW DRIVERS
    Oscar Piastri is now a driver for McLarenCredit: PA
    Australian racer Oscar Piastri has joined McLaren and will partner Lando Norris however, his arrival to F1 was a bumpy one.
    He was caught in a tug of war between McLaren and his former team, Alpine, who had confirmed that he was a replacement for Fernando Alonso.
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    However, Piastri – managed by former F1 driver Mark Webber – challenged Alpine’s contract and after a hearing by the FIA’s contracts board, he was given the green light to join McLaren, much to the frustration of Alpine.
    Piastri, 21, won the 2020 F3 title and the 2021 F2 title but spent last year on the sidelines, so will be a bit rusty.
    Logan Sargeant has joined Williams with the 22-year-old spending half his life in the UK having left the United States to further his racing career.
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    While they aren’t new to F1, Nyck de Vries comes in to AlphaTauri after the Formula E champion impressed while filling in for Alex Albon at Monza last year.
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    Veteran Nico Hulkenberg is also back in F1. The German, 35, has not had a full season in F1 since 2019 but has been offered a way back by Haas.
    NEW RACE
    Las Vegas will host the F1 this yearCredit: Getty

    Complete F1 2023 race calendar – every Grand Prix from this year
    Just one new GP to the calendar of 23-races – but boy, is it a big one! Las Vegas will welcome F1 as the penultimate race.The race, which will be held in November, is on a new street circuit along its iconic Strip.
    It is the first time F1 returns to Sin City since 1982 and, unlike all the other races, will be held on a Saturday night.
    Hotels are already sold out, as F1 is booming in the US right now with this, the third race in the States.
    The timing of the night race and the low temperatures could make things challenging for the drivers too.
    NEW RULES
    Cars will now have rounded tops on the roll hoops above the driverCredit: AFP
    Over the winter, the FIA’s decision to change the rules and ban drivers from making personal or political statements drew a lot of criticism.
    The pressure has eventually told and while they are now allowed to continue their free speech, they have been told where it is, and crucially where it is not acceptable.
    Whether they will fully abide by the rules we will see, but there have also been some minor tweaks to the rulebook for sporting regulations and technical rules.
    Safety improvements on the cars have seen it mandatory for rounded tops on the roll hoops that sit above a drivers’ cockpit.
    This was introduced after Zhou Guanyu’s huge crash at the British Grand Prix in which his car slid across the track upside down.
    A rounded top is now compulsory to reduce the chance of it digging into the ground in an accident.
    The car height has been raised by 15 millimetres – granted not much, but a big deal in F1 as this should help to solve the dreaded porpoising problems.
    And finally, tyres. Pirelli have introduced a new tyre compound, so there are now six variations of the slick tyre.
    ANYTHING ELSE?
    More sprint races. Last season, there were three sprint races on Saturday, the 30-minute races that are used to determine the grid.
    While the drivers and teams have mixed views on them, the promoters love them as they offer more value for money for the punters.
    There will be these extra races, where points are on offer, in Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin and Brazil.
    F1 Academy. The sport has launched its all-female racing series to help speed up the process of having a women driver in F1.
    The F1 Academy will race away from the F1 bill but has been included on the schedule for the race in Austin, Texas.
    Unfortunately, this could make things difficult for the W Series, which had looked to do the same.
    KEY QUESTIONS FOR THIS YEAR
    CAN HAMILTON WIN?
    Lewis Hamilton could fall short of Verstappen againCredit: Getty
    A race? Definitely. The title? I don’t think so. There is little you can read into testing but my feeling is that Red Bull and Max Verstappen were just so good last year that I cannot see past them.
    Verstappen is the best driver on the grid at the moment and rarely makes mistakes. He is brimming in confidence and just so incredibly strong in all conditions.
    Mercedes look like they have cured their bouncing issues, which is good news. And George Russell and Hamilton looked to have formed a strong partnership.
    However, will it be enough to topple Red Bull? I just cannot see it at this stage.
    WILL THE FIA PRESIDENT KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE?
    FIA Presedent Mohammed ben Sulayem could be drawn back on to centre stageCredit: PA
    Unlikely. Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been dogged by controversy since he took the position 14 months ago.
    His bling ban, historical sexist comments, legal warning from F1 for speaking out on the potential sale of the sport has got him in hot water.
    For the meantime, he’s promised to step back from running the FIA’s F1 operation on a day-to-day basis.
    However, if there is one thing we have learned from his short tenure it is that he loves the limelight.
    The lure of being on the podium and seen with F1’s stars could prove too strong and no doubt draw him back into trouble.
    WILL FERRARI STUFF IT UP AGAIN?
    Fred Vasseur replaced Mattia Binotto as Ferrari’s PrincipalCredit: Reuters
    I don’t think so, no. The Italian team took decisive action and replaced Mattia Binotto after a series of failures.
    Binotto, to his credit, stayed loyal with his employees and carried the blame but ultimately that has cost him his job.
    He has been replaced by Fred Vasseur, formerly of Sauber who knows how to run an F1 team.
    I firmly believe that he not only has the potential to iron out all their costly mistakes but also to get the best out of Charles Leclerc, who he has worked with in the past.
    LANDO STAY?
    Lando Norris will be aiming for a win with McLarenCredit: Getty
    This is a huge year for Norris and McLaren. He has held his own against Carlos Sainz, outclassed Daniel Riccardo and now faces a new challenge in highly-rated Oscar Piastri.
    However, he is still missing that crucial victory after coming so agonisingly close in 2021.
    Put simply, McLaren have not delivered him a good car and while he could have all the skill in the world, he needs to have a decent car to be challenging for regular wins, which is ultimately what he is capable of.
    He has a contract with McLaren until 2025, but if he is hampered by another poor car, expect the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes to be hovering to test the strength of that McLaren deal.
    WHERE ARE THE POTENTIAL BUST-UPS?
    Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen fell out last yearCredit: Getty
    All over the place. I expect this season to be one of the most exciting – albeit off track – in years.
    It is littered with plots. Mercedes verses Red Bull over the past few seasons has ignited a war of words between their respective team bosses, drivers, mechanics, engineers and fan bases.
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    F1 verses the FIA promises to be a thrilling battle in the management and governance of the sport.
    Then there is the inter-team rivalry. Esteban Ocon and Pierry Gasly are not pally, Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen fell out spectacularly last season following the Mexican’s crash in Monaco and surely Fernando Alonso will not last five minutes without blasting Lance Stroll! More

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    F1 2023 season predictions as Verstappen could have SHOCK title challenger but Brit stars set for season of misery

    AFTER a winter break, the new F1 season kicks off this weekend in Bahrain.Last year’s champion, Max Verstappen was simply unstoppable as he blitzed his way to glory while Mercedes’ drivers were left dizzy by their bouncing car and Ferrari cocked it up.
    Max Verstappen won the Championship last yearCredit: Reuters
    But the points totals are reset and with Las Vegas also added to the calendar, here’s what The Sun’s F1 Correspondent Ben Hunt believes what’s in store for 2023…
    Championship winner
    It is so difficult to look past Verstappen for a handful of reasons.
    Sure, Mercedes and Ferrari and the others have had the winter to redesign their cars but there have been relatively few rule changes this time.
    That bodes well for Red Bull, whose car was not only reliable last season, but it was quick everywhere.
    READ MORE ON MOTORSPORT
    What does that mean? Well, each track has its own unique characteristics; long straights, slow-speed corners, hot weather or even altitude.
    But Red Bull designed a car that was suited to all of them.
    It makes the refining process over an F1 weekend easier when you start with a good base model each week.
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    Verstappen now has two championship wins – with both titles coming in different circumstances and he will benefit from that.
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    He is more experienced and, let’s face it, was the best performer on track last season, with barely any mistakes.
    His only potential weakness comes from within his team.
    His bitter fall-out with Sergio Perez could see tensions rising between the two team-mates.
    Constructors winner
    The Red Bull car looks like the one to beatCredit: Getty
    Red Bull’s win in the constructors’ championship last time scratched an itch, and they are determined to retain that trophy after years of Mercedes dominance.
    Based on pre-season testing, there is a widely-held opinion that their car again looks the one to beat.
    It is hard to disagree but this championship is surely not over before it has even started, and the aforementioned Perez – Verstappen pairing will be interesting.
    Aside from that, the rest of the team is a steady ship with no key departures or arrivals over the winter, like at their rivals.
    Boosted by Honda’s engines and technical partnership with Ford – and despite a reduction in development because of their cost-cap breach – if they get off to a good start, it could be too late for the other to catch up.
    Overperformer
    Fernando Alonso could impress for Aston MartinCredit: Reuters
    It seems slightly ridiculous to suggest that two-time world champion Fernando Alonso would overdeliver for his new team, Aston Martin, but I expect just that.
    Aston have spent millions and millions on recruiting the best in the business and now they have one in their star driver, who joins from Alpine.
    Alonso has a wonderful ability to overperform in whatever he is given and while I don’t wish to speak too much about their second driver, I fully expect Alonso to drag that car as high up the grid as possible.
    I am also incredibly interested to see how Brit James Vowles does in his new role as team principal of the Williams team after leaving Mercedes, where he was their chief strategist.
    Steadying the ship, and closing the huge gap to the rest of the field, is a big task but I think there is half a chance they can manage it.
    Underperformer
    McLaren have not had the most successful pre-seasonCredit: AFP
    The rumblings from McLaren aren’t great news if your name is Lando Norris.
    The Woking team had hoped to be able to build on last year’s improved end to the season.
    However, if you judge by the results from pre-season testing – where they were the team that put in the least amount of laps – then it could be another long hard season.
    There is no doubt that Norris can deliver wins and even titles but he needs to be given the car to do so, I am not too sure that’s going to be this season.
    He could find himself hamstrung and that would test the relationship with McLaren, and his deal that stretches to 2025.
    The Best of the Rest
    Charles Leclerc could be a challenger this year for FerrariCredit: AFP
    Charles Leclerc will welcome the appointment of new Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, who will make it a priority to eliminate the strategic mistakes which cost the team last season.
    If Vasseur can cut out the errors, then Leclerc could find himself in a title battle with Verstappen.
    Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz could also benefit from Vasseur’s stability. Now that the Spaniard has a race win under his belt, I expect him to be more competitive.
    Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were left with mixed feelings after testing.
    The bouncing looks to have been cured but the problem is, Red Bull, Ferrari and Alpine and Aston Martin all look much quicker.
    Both Russell and Hamilton could have their work cut out but Mercedes’ strength is their work ethic and it will not be long before they are up to speed. There is potential for wins.
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    Perez will struggle to usurp Verstappen but their relationship will be key to Red Bull’s success.
    The focus will be on whether the Mexican is again willing to play a supporting role.

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