️ Formula One's new era begins at this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where teams will leap into the unknown and grapple with sweeping technical changes under race conditions for the first time.
️ F1 has simultaneously overhauled chassis and power unit regulations for the first... time in decades, posing a challenge for drivers and engineers while raising concerns about the quality of racing.
️ With near-parity between electrical and combustion engines and cars running on 100 percent advanced sustainable fuel, drivers gained some insight into the changes during winter testing. However, all remain in the dark about how the reset will play out in wheel-to-wheel competition on race day.
️ Four-time world champion Max Verstappen described the changes as "like Formula E on steroids" and "anti-racing." Formula One Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali defended them and assured fans there will still be plenty of thrills.
️ The new regulations raised hopes of a more open championship and the prospect of a disruptor team emerging to force change at the top. But preseason testing in Bahrain hinted at a familiar top four, with Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren all performing well.
️ Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley said the gap between the "best and the rest" might only widen. He told the Reuters news agency: "I think it's going to be a very different year in terms of the competitiveness in the sport. We're already seeing the gap between the fastest teams and the slowest teams is larger than it's been in the last few years."
️ Whatever the pecking order, F1 race tracks will be more crowded with the addition of the new Cadillac team, although there may be more breathing room at Albert Park due to Aston Martin's preseason troubles. The Honda-powered team completed few laps during winter testing and has reliability problems.Source: www.aljazeera.com
