F1 2018: Everything you need to know
Plenty has changed in Formula One and we run you through the key alterations ahead of the season opener in Australia.
Published : Mar 19, 2018 06:21 IST
The new Formula One season kicks off in Australia, with the sport preparing to enter a new era.
Here we run through the key changes, driver line-ups, dates for your diary and the best Opta facts ahead of lights out at Albert Park.
KEY CHANGES
- The most visible change will be the addition of the Halo head protection system to every car on the grid - a contraption that has split opinion, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff jokingly threatening to remove his with a chainsaw.
- All of the tyres supplied by Pirelli in 2018 will be softer, with two new compounds added to the line-up - hypersoft and superhard.
- The number of power units available to teams has been reduced from four complete units to three each of a number of different components.
- The French Grand Prix and German Grand Prix are back on the calendar, while Malaysia drops off.
- McLaren's woeful spell using Honda power is over and they will be supplied by Renault in 2018, with Toro Rosso now utilising Honda engines.
- Races will begin at 10 past the hour, rather than on the hour.
THE DRIVERS
Mercedes Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Valtteri Bottas (FIN)
Ferrari Sebastian Vettel (GER) Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)
Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Max Verstappen (NED)
Force India Sergio Perez (MEX) Esteban Ocon (FRA)
Williams Lance Stroll (CAN) Sergey Sirotkin (RUS)
Renault Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Carlos Sainz (ESP)
Toro Rosso Pierre Gasly (FRA) Brendon Hartley (NZL)
Haas Romain Grosjean (FRA) Kevin Magnussen (DEN)
McLaren Fernando Alonso (ESP) Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL)
Sauber Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Charles Leclerc (MON)
THE CALENDAR
March 25 - Australia April 8 - Bahrain April 15 - China April 29 - Azerbaijan May 13 - Spain May 27 - Monaco June 10 - Canada June 24 - France July 1 - Austria July 8 - Great Britain July 22 - Germany July 29 - Hungary August 26 - Belgium September 2 - Italy September 16 - Singapore September 30 - Russia October 7 - Japan October 21 - USA October 28 - Mexico November 11 - Brazil November 25 - UAE