McLaren are extensively anticipated to own F1’s quickest automotive at subsequent week’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
However the query of who will most carefully problem the constructors’ champions on the 2025 curtain-raiser is hotly debated.
Ferrari, Pink Bull and Mercedes confirmed glimpses of their potential in F1 pre-season testing however stay removed from a assured wager.
Lewis Hamilton, on his Ferrari debut, races in a grand prix he has received twice and been on the rostrum at on 10 events.
Max Verstappen retains his standing as F1’s prime driver and drivers’ champion regardless of doubts round his automotive.
Our consultants had their say on who McLaren should be careful for…
Lewis Larkam: “Ferrari appeared to maintain their playing cards near their chest in pre-season testing in Bahrain.
“I believe Ferrari would be the closest challengers to McLaren in Australia, and I wouldn’t be completely shocked if they really took the win.
“There’s simply one thing concerning the Prancing Horse profitable the opening spherical of the season in Melbourne, which coincidentally occurs to be considered one of Lewis Hamilton’s finest tracks…”
Lewis Hamilton
Connor McDonagh: “It may need been a patchy three days of testing for Pink Bull in Bahrain however it will be silly to rule Max Verstappen out.
“Even when Pink Bull aren’t fairly on McLaren’s tempo, Verstappen can be there or thereabouts.
“There are nonetheless query marks round Mercedes’ tempo amid the cooler situations in Bahrain. Plus, we’ve but to see one of the best from Ferrari.
“Verstappen has proved constantly over the previous few years that he’s comfortably one of the best driver on the grid – and most constant.”
Lewis Duncan: “McLaren ought to hit the bottom operating and be laborious to beat in Melbourne. The group clearly has one of the best automotive in F1 in the meanwhile and each of its drivers are greater than able to controlling races.
“Pre-season testing is all the time laborious to learn, however the tempo that Lewis Hamilton confirmed within the Ferrari seems encouraging.
“The problem forward of him and the injection of recent confidence his Ferrari swap has already introduced him must also imply we see a extra fired up model of the seven-time champion than we now have carried out for a very long time.”
