Hamilton hunts eighth title against revived Red Bull in F1 mega-year

Manama, Mar.23 (BNA): A record 23 grands prix in a Formula One season could bring Briton Lewis Hamilton a record-breaking eighth world title. But he faces stiff competition from Max Verstappen with Red Bull the team to watch from pre-season. Formula One begins a record 23-race season with Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix amid hope action on the track overshadows battles with the coronavirus away from the circuits, said dpa. Stories abound for the months ahead with Lewis Hamilton hopes of a record-breaking eighth world title off to a slow start after Mercedes endured difficult pre-season testing in Bahrain. Max Verstappen looks his main challenger after Red Bull produced a strong three days in the desert while Sebastian Vettel aims to bounce back with Aston Martin and two-time champion Fernando Alonso rejoins the rebranded Alpine team. The name Schumacher also returns to F1 with Mick, son of German legend Michael, debuting for Haas. But the shadow of the global pandemic remains inescapable, at least for now, with the traditional curtain-raiser in Australia postponed from March till autumn. That means the Sakhir International Circuit is the first test for teams who have made only minor tweaks to their 2020 cars ahead of extensive rule changes in 2022 - but that can be enough to throw the balance in a sport decided by fractions of a second. “Probably everywhere," Hamilton said when asked where Mercedes were lacking in a test which also included car issues. "I wouldn’t call it a struggle necessarily, just not quick enough." Hamilton eventually signed a one-year contract extension for this season to spark rumours the 36-year-old Briton may make this term his last. Red Bull - who Hamilton branded a "different animal" - will hope to get closer in both drivers' and constructors' championships this year to Mercedes who have ruled the sport since 2014. Adding Sergio Perez as understudy to Verstappen means they have a second driver the equal of Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes. And Verstappen, now 23, is eager to challenge after what he called "the best," pre-season build-up he had had. “But it doesn't give you any guarantees," he warned, "so we’ll find out throughout the first race weekend where we are." After Bahrain, Ferrari's track in Imola hosts the first of two Italian races while Portugal also retains its spot having been a coronavirus stop-gap last season. The Dutch Grand Prix's long-awaited return will happen in May after an extra year's delay and though a proposed race in Vietnam will not happen, Saudi Arabia provides a new penultimate event before the December 12 ender in Abu Dhabi. By then Alonso, 39, will know if his comeback with Alpine was fruitful although he is not the oldest driver on the grid, with that honour going to the evergreen Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Alpha Romea. Ferrari will hope Charles Leclerc and new team-mate Carlos Sainz can challenge more regularly though no one seriously considers a first red title since the 2008 constructors' crown possible. Sainz departed McLaren, who welcome Daniel Ricciardo alongside young Brit Lando Norris as they seek to build on finishing third last year. Vettel, in contrast, has four world titles from his Red Bull days 2010-2013 but now drives the racing green of Aston Martin after a difficult six-year stint with Ferrari. However, technical problems in the test - and the team seeming to prefer team-mate Lance Stroll, son of owner Lawrence - mean everything is not yet rosy for the German. German fans will also relish Mick Schumacher driving for Haas even if the 22-year-old and fellow debutant Nikita Mazepin have a low bar in terms of expectations. Williams, after two seasons as uncompetitive backmarkers, hope outside investment can spark them into life outside their traditional family ownership while Alpha Tauri could spring the odd surprise with Pierre Gasly looking to repeat his shock Italian GP win from last year.