Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton up for challenge as Ferrari look set to roar back

Ferrari, who have not won a title in more than a decade, are hotly tipped to take the assault to Hamilton’s all-conquering Mercedes team this season, after an overhaul of the sport’s technical regulations coupled with an encouraging winter of testing for the famous Italian constructor.

Mercedes have won 51 of the last 59 races in an unprecedented stranglehold on the sport that has seen them clinch the last three drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

While Hamilton and his new team-mate Valtteri Bottas – the Finn who has replaced retired world champion Nico Rosberg – were hardly sluggish in testing, there is a real sense Ferrari may not just have closed the gap, but usurped their rivals ahead of this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

“I see Ferrari being the quickest at the moment and they will definitely be the favourites,” said Hamilton.

“It is interesting to see Sebastian is usually a lot more hyped, but I can tell he is excited and trying to keep a lid on it.”

Vettel, keen to play down said hype, did not concur.

“Mercedes have been in very strong form over the past three years,” he said.

“If a team is strong then they will build a strong car the year after, no matter what they do with the rules, so it is very clear who is the favourites.

“For all of us sitting here we are trying our best to catch up. How much we have succeeded we will see.”

The signs, following eight days of testing, are that Ferrari, who failed to register a single victory last season, have indeed caught up.

The prospect of Vettel and Hamilton, who between them have won six of Formula 1’s last seven championships, vying for this year’s crown is certainly the mouth-watering one the sport needs after three stale seasons of Hamilton versus Rosberg.

“I have not had a lot of battles with Sebastian on track so of course I would love to have that,” added Hamilton, 32.

“You want to be racing against the best and that is what the fans want to see, that close racing, that sheer competitiveness, and the ups and downs. Having more teams and more drivers at the front fighting for wins is what racing is all about so I am hoping that is the case.

“The more of a fight you have the more satisfying it is when you are victorious. We are up for a challenge, up for a fight and that is what I have prepared for.”

One man who will not be present on Sunday’s grid in Melbourne is defending champion Rosberg, who finally ended his long-running losing streak against Hamilton by clinching the title at the season finale in Abu Dhabi and retired five days later.

It was put to Hamilton whether there was a sense of disappointment because he would not have the chance to reclaim his title from Rosberg this year.

“Not really,” Hamilton replied. “It does not make a difference whether the reigning champion is here or not. Every year is a brand new year, a brand new start and a brand new championship to win. We are all out there to beat each other.”

Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, believes McLaren will need an amazing set of circumstances to stand any chance of avoiding an embarrassing start to the new season. The British team have arrived in Melbourne in crisis after a poor pre-season in which they encountered a number of reliability issues with their Honda engine.

McLaren completed fewer laps than any other team during eight days of testing, and they were off the pace, too, with their sluggish Honda engine significantly slower than its competitors.

There is every chance that double world champion Alonso, who has won 32 grands prix, and his new team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne – hired following Jenson Button’s retirement – will be fighting at the back of the field this weekend.

“I’m sure the team worked very hard in the last couple of weeks to improve the situation and arrive a little bit more ready to compete here,” said Alonso.

“But in Formula 1 there are no miracles in two weeks so I expect a difficult weekend.”

McLaren are entering the third period of their 10-year deal with Japanese car manufacturer Honda, but their dire winter of testing has raised significant questions over the partnership’s long-term future.

The grid has also shrunk to just 10 teams after cash-strapped Manor were forced out of business.

Off the track, American giants Liberty Media are now in charge of the sport after it completed a £6.4bn purchase in January.

Bernie Ecclestone, who governed Formula 1 for the last 40 years, was moved aside with American Chase Carey installed as F1’s chairman and chief executive officer.

Former Ferrari chief Ross Brawn will look after the sporting side, with Sean Bratches, a former ESPN executive, taking care of the sport’s commercial arm.