Hakkinen expects four-team fight for supremacy in 2018

Two-time Formula 1 world champion mike Hakkinen believes the 2018 campaign could be the most competitive of the hybrid era, with four teams gunning for race victories. The 'Flying Finn' expects McLaren to join Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull in the fight at the front, but expects the Silver Arrows to once again be the team to beat.

Mercedes have swept all before them since new engine regulations were introduced in 2014, winning all four constructors' championships, with Lewis Hamilton adding three more drivers crowns and Nico Rosberg taking the other before retiring.

Ferrari delivered stunning, record-breaking lap times during pre-season, which the Silver Arrows did not attempt to match, but Hakkinen does not believe that is a sign of things to come.

"Mercedes are looking quick," Hakkinen wrote for Unibet. "A team like that does not suddenly forget how to build a winning package after dominating Formula 1 for the last four years!

"They never tested the hypersoft tyre and looked to be taking a conservative approach to testing, which will worry their rivals. On race simulations they looked very good, which probably should surprise no-one.

"Ferrari is pushing hard after the disappointments of last season and will be hoping to have a car which will be more consistently competitive across different types of track this year.

"This battle behind Mercedes and Ferrari is going to be hotter than ever!"

Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo also displayed impressive race pace in Barcelona, and have been tipped to hit the ground running this year - having spent the early weeks and months of 2017 playing catch-up to their rivals.

"With Red Bull Racing and McLaren both pushing for wins this year it is possible to see five or even six drivers winning races," Hakkinen added. "Ricciardo and Verstappen won races last year, and they absolutely expect to be repeating that again.

"Fernando Alonso is going to put the disappointments of McLaren's Honda partnership behind him this year.

"Being third quickest overall in the second Barcelona test illustrated the focus he has.

"If I know anything about the competitive mindset, it is that he will sense an opportunity to win and go absolutely flat out to make that happen.

"[His] team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne will be tracking him every step of the way.

"This Red Bull Racing versus McLaren battle is going to be fascinating one to watch. And I expect [Nico] Hulkenberg and [Carlos] Sainz at Renault to throw in some surprises."