Mercedes new car for the 2019 Formula One season
Mercedes new car for the 2019 Formula One season

Formula One: Spotlight on the teams and new cars


On Monday Alfa Romeo became the last of Formula One's 10 teams to roll out their new challenger for the forthcoming season.

As the opening running of the winter gets under way at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, Press Association Sport takes a closer look at the machines that will be on track in 2019.

MERCEDES

Lewis Hamilton will be bidding to move to within one world championship of Michael Schumacher's record haul of seven this year. The 34-year-old British star will again be partnered by Valtteri Bottas for a third straight season.

Mercedes, the reigning five-time constructors' champions, teased an all-new camo look on social media ahead of their launch, but they will continue to run their car in traditional silver, complimented by flicks of aqua.

FERRARI

Under new management for 2019 after Maurizio Arrivabene was sacked, with Mattia Binotto hired as team principal, Ferrari are aiming to win their first drivers' title since 2007.

Kimi Raikkonen was the last man to win the championship for the Scuderia, but he has been assigned to Sauber, as the highly-rated Charles Leclerc moves in the opposite direction to join Sebastian Vettel.

The Italian team will sport a new matte paint job on the car they have called the SF90, to reflect their 90th anniversary this year.

RED BULL

Max Verstappen will take lead of Red Bull this year following Daniel Ricciardo's surprise switch to Renault. Young Frenchman Pierre Gasly is promoted from Toro Rosso to join the Dutchman.

Red Bull unveiled a striking limited-edition livery last week, featuring more red than usual. But, the former world champions have reverted to their customary dark blue livery, with flicks of yellow and red, for the start of testing.

RENAULT

Ricciardo has taken the gamble to join Renault this year, and teams up with German Nico Hulkenberg.

The French manufacturer have moved steadily up the grid since they returned as a standalone constructor in 2016, but are yet to secure a podium finish. The outfit will continue to race in yellow and black this season.

HAAS

The American team have taken on a new title sponsor - teaming up with the British fizzy drinks manufacturer Rich Energy - and have adapted their livery accordingly.

Racing in black and gold this year, Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will extend their partnership into a third season.

McLAREN

Teenager Lando Norris will become the youngest British driver in F1 history when he makes his debut at the season-opening race in Melbourne next month.

The 19-year-old joins forces with Spaniard Carlos Sainz in a new-look partnership for a McLaren team bidding to reverse their recent poor fortunes.

RACING POINT

The British-based team have a new name for 2019 following last summer's takeover. Force India is out, and Racing Point is in.

Canadian fashion billionaire, Lawrence Stroll, led the buyout and his son, Lance, has followed him from Williams. Stroll will race alongside Mexican Sergio Perez as the team continue with their predominantly pink paint job.

ALFA ROMEO

Alfa Romeo is the second fresh name on the grid this season after their Sauber takeover.

Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, and Antonio Giovinazzi will race for the re-branded outfit this year.

Giuseppe Farina won F1's first world championship driving an Alfa Romeo in 1950, before Juan Manuel Fangio claimed the first of his five titles racing for the Italian car manufacturer a season later.

TORO ROSSO

Alexander Albon, who was raised in London but races under the Thailand flag, joins the returning Russian Daniil Kvyat for Red Bull's junior outfit, Toro Rosso, this year.

Albon finished third, behind British drivers George Russell and Lando Norris, in last season's Formula Two series, the feeder championship to F1.

WILLIAMS

The British team have dropped their traditional navy-blue colours for a fresh paint job in a move, deputy team principal Claire Williams hopes will usher in a new era for the struggling British outfit.

The Williams cars will run a sky-blue-and-white colour scheme with English rookie Russell and Pole Robert Kubica, back in F1 for the first time since 2010 following his horror rally crash, at the wheel.

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