The 2019 Formula 1 season has officially been launched ahead of the first grand prix of the year in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday 17 March.
Ex-Formula 1 owner Bernie Ecclestone has also had his say this week on which driver will secure the title. And the 88-year-old has tipped Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to take the crown from reigning champion Lewis Hamilton.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Quoted by Planet F1, Ecclestone said in an interview with Corriere della Sera: “I believe that this time Ferrari will win, with Vettel. I feel happy about the atmosphere in the team and about the car. Although Hamilton is the favourite.
“He [Vettel] is very intelligent, he has many interests in every field. But he’s reserved. As soon as the race is finished, he returns home to his wife and children. It’s all the opposite of Lewis.
“You can trust Seb, he’s a ‘real’ person. I trust him blindly, I would give him a blank check.”
Lewis the ‘best and worst for F1’
Ecclestone has also given his opinion on Mercedes star Hamilton, who is going for a sixth career title this season.
When asked about the British driver Ecclestone said Hamilton was “unique” but claimed that the 34-year-old was both “the best and the worst for F1”.
Ecclestone added: “The best because he knows how to promote the sport like no other and the worst because he takes away the attention from F1 to move it on himself.
“He isn’t doing anything wrong, but the other drivers have to wake up and show their personality.”
Vettel names new car
Sebastian Vettel is well known for giving names to his F1 cars and this year’s new Ferrari SF90 is no different. Sky Sports reports that the 31-year-old German driver has revealed that the car will be named “Lina”.
In 2009 Vettel’s Red Bull RB5 was called “Kate and Kate’s Dirty Sister” while in 2013 his Red Bull RB9 was named “Hungry Heidi”.
-
August 10 editorial cartoonsCartoons Sunday's political cartoons include a global plastics problem, GOP enthusiasm over tariffs, and more
-
5 thin-skinned cartoons about shooting the messengerCartoons Artists take on unfavorable weather, a look in the mirror, and more
-
Is Trump's new peacemaking model working in DR Congo?Talking Point Truce brokered by the US president in June is holding, but foundations of a long-term peace have let to be laid
-
Christian Horner and the Red Bull saga that refuses to go awayIn the Spotlight 'Too dizzy-making' even for the 'merry-go-round world of F1'
-
Max Verstappen: F1’s record-breaking world championIn the Spotlight Red Bull star has surpassed records set by Schumacher, Vettel and Hamilton
-
F1 ‘silly season’ hits top speed as 2023 grid takes shapeUnder the Radar Twitter explodes with news of driver moves, denials and rumours
-
Lewis Hamilton on his F1 future: ‘I have plenty of fuel in the tank’Under the Radar Seven-time world champion finished second on his 300th grand prix start
-
F1: a bumpy start to the season for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton and George RussellUnder the Radar Only four races in and Mercedes already look off the pace
-
F1 Bahrain GP reactions: Ferrari ‘back with a bang’ as Leclerc ‘tames the beast’feature The Tifosi celebrate a stunning one-two for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
-
F1 2022 season guide: race calendar, championship standings and 2023 gridfeature Max Verstappen has now won 14 of this season’s 20 grands prix
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assaultSpeed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
