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.
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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”.