F1: Max Verstappen ‘feared most’ by Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel

Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner says that Max Verstappen will be the driver who strikes the most fear into rivals Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in the 2019 Formula 1 season.

Verstappen impressed for Red Bull in the second half of 2018 and finished fourth in the drivers’ standings following victories in Austria and Mexico. Mercedes ace Hamilton secured the title ahead of Ferrari rival Vettel.

With Red Bull now powered by a Honda engine, Sky Sports reports that Horner is confident that Verstappen can take on F1’s “established big two”.

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In an interview with Reuters, Horner said that Verstappen’s performance in the second half of last year meant that he was the second highest points scorer after Lewis.

“I don’t think he [Verstappen] lacks anything that they have if we can provide him the tools to do the job”, he said. “I think he’s probably the driver that they fear the most.”

Horner praised the the 21-year-old’s personal qualities and said that he was now better placed to deal with the pressures placed on him. “I think his maturity has increased”, he said. “We saw that during the course of last year. He’s just much more rounded through experience.”

2019 entry list confirmed

The 2019 FIA F1 world championship entry list has just been published. According to BBC Sport, Racing Point will continue as the “successors to the now defunct Force India”.

After being bought out of administration last season the team was temporarily called Racing Point Force India for the remainder of the campaign. But this year the official name will be Racing Point F1 Team. Sergio Perez (No.11) and Lance Stroll (No.18) will drive for Racing Point this year.

Another change for 2019 sees Alfa Romeo Racing – formerly Sauber – confirmed as the name of the team and the chassis.

New colours for the champions?

Mercedes, the reigning double champions, have teased fans ahead of their new car launch next week.

The new W10, which launches on 13 February with a shakedown at Silverstone, could be unveiled in a special edition livery Crash.net reports.

The F1 team, known as the Silver Arrows, tweeted a picture of a livery design with the caption: “Silver is so last season.”

Drivers’ champion Lewis Hamilton obviously likes the look of it...

2019 car launch dates

• 7 February: Haas livery unveiling
• 11 February: Toro Rosso (online)
• 12 February: Renault (Enstone, UK)
• 13 February: Mercedes shakedown (Silverstone, UK)
• 13 February: Racing Point (Toronto, Canada)
• 13 February: Red Bull Racing (TBC)
• 14 February: McLaren (McLaren Technology Centre)
• 15 February: Ferrari (Maranello, Italy)
• 18 February: Alfa Romeo Racing (Barcelona, Spain)
• TBC: Williams