After two weeks of testing in Barcelona the ten Formula 1 teams are now counting down the days until the first grand prix of the season in Australia.
Mercedes star Hamilton is also the bookies’ favourite to win the 2019 drivers’ championship ahead of Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc.
With five constructors’ championship wins in a row Mercedes go into the new season as slight favourites to win the title again. However, Ferrari have impressed in pre-season testing and could run the Silver Arrows close this season.
Key dates in 2019
F1 will celebrate a milestone this year when its 1,000th race is held at the Chinese Grand Prix on 14 April. The final grand prix of the season will be in Abu Dhabi on Sunday 1 December.
- 17 March: Australian Grand Prix (first race of the season)
- 14 April: Chinese Grand Prix (1,000th F1 GP)
- 1 December: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (final race of the season)
Team names, drivers and numbers
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport: #44 Lewis Hamilton and #77 Valtteri Bottas
Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow: #5 Sebastian Vettel and #16 Charles Leclerc
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing: #10 Pierre Gasly and #33 Max Verstappen
Renault F1 Team: #3 Daniel Ricciardo and #27 Nico Hulkenberg
Rich Energy Haas F1 Team: #8 Romain Grosjean and #20 Kevin Magnussen
McLaren F1 Team: #4 Lando Norris and #55 Carlos Sainz
SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team: #11 Sergio Perez and #18 Lance Stroll
Alfa Romeo Racing: #7 Kimi Raikkonen and #99 Antonio Giovinazzi
Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda: #26 Daniil Kvyat and #23 Alexander Albon
Williams Racing: #88 Robert Kubica and #63 George Russell
2019 engine providers
Mercedes engines: Mercedes, Racing Point, Williams
Ferrari engines: Ferrari, Haas, Alfa Romeo Racing
Renault engines: Renault, McLaren
Honda engines: Red Bull, Toro Rosso
When is the first grand prix?
There will be 21 races on the 2019 F1 schedule, with the first grand prix taking place in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday 17 March.
1,000th F1 grand prix
This year’s Chinese Grand Prix will mark a major milestone in the history of Formula 1 - the sport’s 1,000th world championship race. The 2019 Chinese GP takes place on 14 April at the Shanghai International Circuit.
When does the 2019 F1 season end?
The final race of the season will be the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday 1 December at Yas Marina Circuit.