2019 F1 Guide: Time for Ferrari to deliver

In Melbourne this weekend, the team aim for their third straight Sir Jack Brabham Trophy at the 2019 edition of the Australian Grand Prix.

Ferrari’s updated line-up will be one of their strongest to race in Melbourne, and the Scuderia will settle for nothing but victory at the season-opening Grand Prix weekend.

Team Principal, Mattia Binotto: The 49-year-old takes over as team principal at Scuderia Ferrari after Maurizio Arrivabene was sacked from the team at the end of last season.

In 2019, Binotto begins his 25th year as a Ferrari employee, having started out in the engine department before working his way up to technical director and now team principal.

Of Swiss and Italian descent, Binotto is one of Ferrari’s most experienced team members within the garage but admits, "I’m not particularly good at design but rather [I am] an engineer with a good understanding of the physical rather than mechanical phenomenon."

In other words, his strength is people-management, and by his own account, he intends to be the paternal figure that subjects at Maranello can turn to in times of need or look up to when things are good. He will have the workers' vote because he is one of them.

How he swims in the piranha pool will be telling, for now it is still waters and plain sailing, but the heat has hardly been turned on and when it gets very hot - and that Maranello big chair tends to sizzle constantly - we will know if he is the man for the job of leading the world's most popular team.

Sebastian Vettel.

Sebastian Vettel: A big season for the four-time F1 World Champion who in his fifth year with the team is being expected to deliver for the Reds should they provide him with a good car, which apparently they have.

There is nowhere to hide for Seb whose temperament in close combat situations is suspect to say the least. If five guys hurtle into a corner, Seb has tended to be the guy who emerges with the damage.

These larger front wings could play a big role in deciding the championship and, as trivial as it might seem, the German needs to sort out his peripheral vision fades and red mist moments that have cost him dear in the past.

The heart wants Vettel to succeed and give the Mercs a serious challenge, even beat them, and it would be good for the sport. Because he is a quadruple champion with 52 wins he gets the benefit of the doubt, if anyone can do it Seb can.

If he needs any inspiration, he might look back at his mentor and idol Michael Schumacher who took five years to deliver a title for the Scuderia and then we all know what happened after that.

Thus, if he and Ferrari can keep their collective cool during pressing times, unlike late last year when turmoil engulfed the Scuderia, they have all the ammo, as well as the right 'generals and soldiers' to dethrone their nemesis, Mercedes.

Charles Leclerc.

Charles Leclerc: The 21-year-old has injected a breath of fresh air into Formula 1 after an impressive rookie season with Sauber (now Alfa Romeo) which earned him a promotion to Ferrari, who in turn are fired up by their 'homegrown' driver.

He has little to lose and simply has to keep Seb honest, beat him occasionally and bring the car home regularly. His bosses do not expect him to challenge early on and will give him time to learn by doing the race miles.

Charles should tick all the boxes and more. In his first season in red Leclerc may not beat his illustrious teammate, but anything close will be mission accomplished. Having said that, there are some in the paddock that predict he will out-drive Seb this year...

Whatever the case, the daring pairing of Vettel and Leclerc is one of several intriguing subplots of the season which kicks off with this weekend's opener in Melbourne; and for the record Ferrari have not won an F1 title since 2008.