Here are the snacks before Sunday's premiere at Albert Park in Melbourne:
+ Verstappen is chasing a fifth straight.
Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen can become the second driver after Michael Schumacher to take five World Championship titles in a row.
But Red Bull's Dutchman is keeping a low profile ahead of the premiere and doesn't count on a strong start: "I don't think we can fight for victory already in Melbourne. If you look at the lap times, McLaren is the favorite," says Verstappen, referring to the recent tests in Bahrain.
During those tests, McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri seemed to have come the furthest with their cars.
+ Chasing a historic victory.
The Brit Lewis Hamilton, 40, has got a new spark after switching to Ferrari. He had twelve dominant years at Mercedes, but last year was a long wait for the team switch that became official already before the 2024 season, where Hamilton didn't get better than seventh overall.
Hamilton has seven total victories, but none since 2020, and would become the first in history to reach eight.
If he wins this year at the age of 40, he will be the oldest since 1966 when Australian Jack Brabham won the World Championship total at the age of 40.
+ Exciting Italian.
Six drivers are new among the 20 who have a regular spot in the World Championship series.
The 18-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, is highlighted as the most exciting. He is the third youngest F1 driver in history and replaces Lewis Hamilton in the team.
Antonelli, sixth in F2 last season, got a taste of F1 already last year when he test-drove for Mercedes in August at Monza – and crashed violently.
The five other newcomers are Liam Lawson, New Zealand/Red Bull (has driven eleven races, but never a full season), Oliver Bearman, Great Britain/Haas, Jack Doohan, Australia/Alpine, Isack Hadjar, France/Racking Bulls, Gabriel Bortoleto, Brazil/Kick Sauber.
+ The home hope stays in McLaren.
Australian Oscar Piastri, total fourth last season, extended his contract with McLaren during the week.
"It feels very good. The team had great confidence in me when I signed in 2022 and the development over the past two years to take McLaren back to the absolute top has been incredible," says the 23-year-old.
The length of the contract has not been made public, but according to Autosport, it is at least until 2028.
Piastri has won two races in his career, in Hungary and Azerbaijan last year, and is one of the favorites for the World Championship title this year.
No Australian has yet won the Australian Grand Prix, which has been held since 1986.
