Motorsportplus 2018 F1 Season Preview

FORM ULA ONE: 2018 PREV I EW

BRENDON HA RTLEY Talks F1 and Much More .

STEI NER SPEA K S The Haas F1 Boss Looks at the Season Ahead

I N THI S I SSUE Firstly, thank you for taking the time to read our latest offering, it has been a while ?between drinks?and we are excited to be producing a magazine again. For the time being we are staying with the digital format with a view to adding a print edition as momentum for the magazine builds.

In this our 2018 Formula One Preview edition we take a look at the upcoming season, we here from our own Brendon Hartley as he contemplates his rookie season in Formula One. Haas F1 Team Principal, Guenther Steiner, offers his views on where he sees his team as it enters its third season in Formula One. We also offer our thoughts on the teams and where they stand in the overall scheme of things as they head into the first Grand Prix of the season.

Brendon Hartley 04 Steiner Speaks 06 Let The Games Begin 08 Pre Season Report Card 10 Who's On Top 30 Where The Rubber Meets The Road 32 CONTRIBUTORS : Getty Images/Red Bull Media House , Williams Racing , Sahara Force India Formula One Team, Haas F1 Team, Red Bull Media House, Mercedes Grand Prix.

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Brendon Hartl ey rev eal s al l about h i s new ph ysi q ue, h i s w eddi ng and th e th ri l l of F1........

Scuderia Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley experienced a whirlwind 2017 on the track thanks to his Formula 1 baptism, maiden Le Mans victory and second FIA World Endurance Championship.

Not only that, in the off season he managed to find time to fit in a wedding back home in New Zealand as well as a rigorous gym routine to help prepare him for his first full F1 season.

We caught up with the 28-year-old in Italy, here is a selection of what he had to say: You've spent some of your off-season getting married.

How special wasthat?

It was really nice. I go home to New Zealand every year for Christmas, which is probably the time of year I cherish the most. I don't really get home sickness anymore but I really make the most of going home and enjoying New Zealand, and this year we got married.

What was really nice about it was that we invited a lot of our friends from Europe.

Were you able to let your hair down with a big season ahead?

I think I realised when I got home and decided to relax how tired I was at the end of last season, so for anyone who followed will know that I did eight races in a row from weekend to weekend and I don't know how many hours I spent travelling and time-zones I crossed but it's fair to say I was pretty tired at the end of it. Š Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool

Honestly, looking back, I needed those two weeks to switch off and relax. Part of relaxing for me is riding my bike so yeah, it was still some training in there but I'd say the last month or so I've hit the training really hard.

I'm feeling really fit and healthy; it's amazing what a difference two months can make in terms of how you feel.

What hasbeen your off-season training regime?

I'd say the last month or so I've hit the training really hard. I'm feeling really fit and healthy - it's amazing what a difference two months can make in terms of how you feel. Cycling is the thing I enjoy the most, but I've tried to cut back a little bit and spend a bit more time in the gym.

Get big for the summer! These Formula 1 cars are pretty physical to drive so I've been working on my neck, all my upper body strength and core.

The Australian Grand Prix marks the start of your first full F1 season, how special isthat to you?

It's huge. There were a few milestones last year: winning Le Mans, another FIA World Endurance Championship, and then my Formula 1 debut which was already a big moment for me. This year again will be the first full season, which is what I've dreamt of all my life. Now it's proving I deserve to be there and hopefully a few successful years to come.

Do you expect some fellow Kiwis to come over to support you?

When I was home in New Zealand, every second or third person I ran into told me they were coming to Melbourne and they'd be there supporting me with the New Zealand flag. It's going to be quite special looking around the crowd and seeing a few New Zealand flags.

I've never had that before and it's the closest I've raced to home for a long, long time.

What are your expectations for Australia and the rest of the season ahead?

Everyone's very optimistic and very positive. I hope that we're consistently scoring in the points with my first points in Melbourne the goal. I'm in the best shape I've been in and I feel really confident and positive when I see all the team of people around me.

Can you describe the transition from testing to racing?

The transition from testing to race season goes very quick. From the second Barcelona test I'm on the road for forty-five days and that will be a similar story for the majority of the race team, so it really kicks into action and will be relentless for the entire year. I'm feeling very ready, the best shape I've been in and I feel really confident and positive when I see all the team of people around me.

Interview thanks to Š Red Bull Media House

Stei ner Speak s Haas F1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner gives his thoughts on his team, testing and the upcoming Formula One season.

In 2016, Haas F1 Team was starting from scratch, and that had its own unique challenges. To get ready for 2017, you had to race your 2016 car while simultaneously developing your 2017 car. It?s what every Formula One team does, but that was Haas F1 Team?s first time doing so. But considering how every team improved for 2018 and none seemed handicapped in terms of engine and chassis design, do you envision 2018 being Haas F1 Team?s most challenging season yet? ?Every season, or at least just before the start, is the most challenging, as you don?t know what you?re going to be in for. You don?t know how strong the opposition is. It?s always a challenge, but there?s not one more than the other.

It?s always a big challenge every year.?

Haas F1 Team tested at Circuit de Barcelona ? Catalunya for eight days over a 12-day span. How did it go and how did it prepare you for Australia? ?Normally, you can get well prepared, as you should when you have eight days of testing. This year, unfortunately, due to the weather, we only had five clear days of testing. Then again, it?s the same for everybody. So, you get as best prepared as you can.?

Did testing provide a glimpse of where Haas F1 Team stacks up to the competition, or will it only be known after a handful of races? ?I would say we?ll know the potential of the car after qualifying in Australia.

After the test, we can say we?re in the midfield, and hopefully in the top half of the midfield. I think we are cautiously optimistic.?

The weather in Barcelona impacted the amount of time you got on the racetrack. While it was the same for everyone, how did it impact your planning and the data you wanted to acquire? ?We just changed the test plan for the second week.?

You?ve said that this year?s car is an evolution of last year?s car, with the intent being to make it more consistent. Whether it was with aero balance or mechanical balance, do you feel you achieved the kind of consistency you were looking for? ?Yes, I would say the guys did a very good job on aero and design to get a car that is better balanced than the 2017 car. Then again, we?ll only see in Australia how it stacks up against the other cars.?

While everyone seemed to have an opinion about the halo as each team introduced its new car, by the end of the test it all seemed pretty normal.

Was it much ado about nothing, or did the higher center of gravity and change in aerodynamics force you to work on different areas of the car? ?Everybody works in the same area, and when you have a change like this, there is specific work that needs to be done. In the beginning, you make big gains, but then the gains get smaller and smaller the more you develop.?

There wasn?t much talk about brakes during testing. How much of a relief was that, and what did you do to find a brake package that suits both drivers? ?You just use your experience and see what other people are running. You get in contact with the suppliers and develop your own package. It looks like most of that problem is sorted, if not all. Again, we haven?t done a race with it, so I?m still a little bit cautious.?

Obviously, a lot was learned at Barcelona, but there wasn?t much time between when the cars arrived back at the factory before they had to leave again for Australia. What did you do to make the most of that time? ?It?s all planned out. On test number two you run chassis number two. Chassis number one goes back to the factory to be repainted after a week of testing.

Then the mechanics go back and assemble it. The staff in the background work to get all the parts and pieces together, to assemble the cars, and refurbish the test car.?

With Haas F1 Team?s third season-opener now upon us, how has the preparation for this year differed from last year? Has it been somewhat easier from the standpoint that both the technical regulations stayed relatively the same and your driver lineup stayed the same? ?I wouldn?t say it?s been easier. You don?t want to make the job easier. You want to get as much as you can out of what you?ve got. In the first years, it was just getting it all done. It?s complex, but once we got our processes better, we just wanted to do more, and that meant better work, which got us a faster car and allowed us to perform.?

Reliability is always important, but how crucial is it early in the season, and especially at the first race, where you can capitalize on another team?s teething problems as opposed to when we?re deeper into the season and teams have a pretty good handle on their racecars? ?Reliability is already important at the test. If your car is reliable, you can gather a lot of data and you get better prepared for the first race. Reliability is fundamental to a good car.?

Beyond points, what would you like to achieve in Australia that you can take with you to Bahrain and future grands prix? ?Double points is always the best finish. Getting into Q3 with both cars, that is our aim this year, because then, anything can happen.?

LET THE GA M ES BEGI N.....

Last seasons two top teams both looked strong in testing with Ferrari?s Sebastian Vettel setting the fastest time overall.

But don?t be fooled, lap times don?t tell the whole story. Ferrari set their times on the new ?hyper soft? tyres, while Mercedes didn?t use them at all. Not only did the Mercedes look ominously quick on the harder rubber, they were also the only team to clock up more than 1000 laps.

The new Red Bull also looked consistent and fast, giving the team hope of fighting for regular victories this season.

The midfield battle is 'red hot', behind what many believe to be the leading trio of teams, there are four teams that look to be closely matched. The Haas has emerged as the ?dark horse?during testing,the Torro Rosso partnership with Honda has started strongly, with both teams showing speed and reliability.

McLaren and Renault showed flashes improvement but their runtime was interrupted with failures and off-track excursions, leaving both teams at the bottom of the list for laps completed in testing. Force India are also in the mix, but their hopes may rest on the new updates that are planned to be added to the car in Australia.

Sauber lost track time due to preventable stoppages, while the new Wiliams challenger appears to be a handful for its youthful driver pairing. Both teams look like they have work to do before the season starts.

However, appearances can be deceiving, with cars and equipment having already arrived in Australia, there are still many questions that remain to be answered.

© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool

M otorsport Pl us Pre Season Gui de We look at t h e ch am pion s an d t h e con t en der s, t o see h ow t h e of f season h as t r eat ed t h em bef or e t h e f ir st Gr an d Pr ix of 2018 k ick s of f in M elbou r n e.

Image//Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.

M er cedes AM G F1

"Last year, the competition was very close and there was no moment where we could afford to relax. Ferrari put up a very tough fight and we had a proper battle between silver and red. This year promises to bring an exciting three-way fight between us, Ferrari and Red Bull. Everyone in Brackley and Brixworth has worked extremely hard over the past months to make sure we enter that fight with the best machine possible.?

Toto Wolff

Scu der ia Fer r ar i

"We're starting from a good base with ou development to further explore and impr confidence in our team, I know how skille Maranello are.?

Sebastian Vettel

ur SF71H car, now we'll have to work on rove its potential. I have a lot of ed and committed the guys in

M cLar en F1 Team

"A new season, and a new chapter for McLaren in 2018. With the many developments within our team over the past six months or so, it brings me great excitement and pride to see everything coming together and the new McLaren Renault MCL33 hitting the track in Melbourne.

We didn?t have the reliability we had hoped for in winter testing, but all the issues we faced have since been addressed back at the factory.

There?s a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes to ensure we leave no stone unturned in our quest to extract the maximum pace we can from our new package from the first race.

We?re not expecting miracles to be worked overnight ? far from it ? but what we do know is that we?ll give it our all this weekend.?

Eric Boullier

Ren au lt Sp

por t For m u la On e Team

"Ahead of us is a very long 21-race calendar during which many things will happen. This puts a premium on stability and consistency, which we feel we have increased as we enter our third year as Renault Sport Formula 1 Team.

We are totally realistic that the midfield is very close, but our objectives are to start the season in the way we finished 2017: united, dedicated, racing hard and pushing all the way."

Cyril Abiteboul

Alf a Rom eo Sau ber F1 Team

?We are starting off the new season with quite a few changes. First of all, we are returning to the paddocks with an iconic Title Partner ? Alfa Romeo. Our new car, the C37, is equipped with the 2018 Ferrari engine.

Recent winter tests in Barcelona have given us a first understanding of its potential, and we will continue developing it throughout the year.

We also have a new driver duo. Marcus has a lot of experience and has become a key part of the team over the past three years. Charles is joining us for his debut season in Formula 1. It is always exciting to see a rookie experience his debut in the sport. I look forward to starting off the 2018 season on a positive note.?

Frederic Vasseur

"We are all very excited to go back to Melbourne for the first race of the season. The regulations and a range of new tyre compounds which I?m sure will make events inte winter and to the pleasant climate in Melbourne with the enthusiastic crowds. Impo pace-wise with the first qualifying session being the most interesting hour of the F1 s together the FW41. We are excited to see Lance and Sergey in their first race as team appear to have done a fantastic job over the winter. And whilst that might make thin on a great show for everyone in Australia."

Paddy Lowe

William s M ar

ere are lots of new things this season with a new car, driver line-up, people, eresting. The first race is always very special. It is good to get out of the European ortantly, there is always a state of tension around where everyone will end up season, where we get the first exam results following our year-long build up to put mmates, and it looks like there will be some close competition as all the teams ngs difficult for the teams, it is great for the fans, so above all else, we hope to put

r t in i Racin g

Haas F1 Team

?Testing went pretty well. The first week was challenging with the weather conditions. The second week we worked very well. We did some great laps and worked through the program we wanted to do, which was great. I think that?s the best we could prepare for the season. Obviously, every track is different, and we?re going to face different temperatures and things like that, but we?ve done as much as we could.?

Romain Grojean

Sah ar a

a For ce In dia F1 Team ?I feel in good shape and ready for the season to start. I want this to be my best year in Formula 1 and I want to be back on the podium. During testing we saw that all the midfield teams are quite close together in terms of performance. I also think the gap to the front of the grid is smaller. Let?s see what happens."

Sergio Perez

Scu der ia Tor r o ?Thinking about Australia it?s probably the race I?m looking forward to the most. It?s the first race of the season and it?s been a few months since all of us got to take the race start, so there?s a lot of adrenaline and excitement. Also, it will almost feel like a home race for me. There?s clearly a big difference between Australia and New Zealand, anytime you talk to an Aussie or a Kiwi you learn that pretty quickly! When I was back home in New Zealand, every second or third person I spoke to said they were coming to Australia, so I?m hoping to see a few Kiwi flags around which will be quite a special moment for me! Some of my very good friends are Aussies - we always have this rivalry, especially in sport - but I find that when we?re away from Australia or New Zealand and come across each other in Europe we always have a lot in common and get along very well, so the rivalry isn?t as bad as people might think.?

Brendon Hartley

Š Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool

Rosso - Hon da

Ast on M ar t in Re ?Getting in the RB14 for the first time was really sweet, hearing it fire up and seeing it with the new bodywork gets you excited for the year.

The RB14 compared to the RB13 at this stage last year is a lot different.

To start with, getting into the car is a lot harder. There is a fair bit of aerodynamic change this year, real enthusiasts will see it straight away and spot the differences, the main one being the shark fins have gone and obviously the addition of the halo.?

Daniel Riccardo

Š Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bu ll Racin g

WHO'S O

ON TOP?

Wh ere th e Rubber M eets Th e Road -

Pirelli mandate three sets of tyres for use each race weekend, F1 teams are free to choose the remaining 10 sets.

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Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have opted for differing tyre strategies for the opening race of the season in Melbourne.

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Mercedes have chosen nine sets of the ultrasofts ? the softest available compound.

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Red Bull have been slightly more conservative and gone for eight ultrasofts

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Ferrari have just seven sets of ultrasoft apiece, with the remainder of their allocation split evenly between the soft and supersoft tyres.

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Williams and McLaren have followed Mercedes?aggressive approach in favouring the ultrasoft, with nine sets for each of their drivers.

We h ave n o w ay of k n ow in g w h at w ill h appen , bu t t h er e's on e t h in g w e can be su r e of , t h e 2018 For m u la On e season w ill be f u ll of act ion ,dr am a, in t r igu e an d m ost of all speed.

An d t h at is w h y #w elovem ot or spor t

Š Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool

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