Here’s the final part of our introduction to the new 2019 Formula 1 challengers, the best of the rest: Racing Point, Alfa Romeo, Toro Rosso & Williams.
All photos © Andrew Balfour / motorsportguides.com
Racing Point
The team formerly known as Force India did remarkably well to finish last season in 7th place, despite losing more than half of their points when they went into administration before the Belgian Grand Prix. The team was rescued by a consortium of investors led by Canadian Lawrence Stroll, who has put his son Lance into a race seat alongside Sergio Perez for 2019. Racing Point didn’t have the best results in pre-season testing, but always seem to come good when it matters.
Where will Racing Point finish in 2019? Leave a comment below!
Alfa Romeo
Sauber made a big leap forward last year – increasing their points haul from 5 points in 2017 to 48 points in 2018 – thanks to some eye-catching performances from young hotshot Charles Leclerc. He has moved on this year, of course, swapping places at Ferrari with Kimi Räikkönen and opening the way for the Finn to return to the team where he made his Formula 1 debut in 2001. After sponsoring the team last year, Alfa Romeo takes naming rights for 2019. Definitely a team to watch this year!
Can Alfa Romeo continue improving their results in 2019? What do you think about the return of Kimi Räikkönen? Comment below!
Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso’s switch to Honda power last season paved the way for sister team Red Bull to do the same in 2019. The package looked especially fast early in the season when Pierre Gasly finished a sensational fourth in Bahrain, but good results were harder to achieve in the second half of the season. Gasly got the call up to a race seat at Red Bull this year, while Brendon Hartley lost his seat after being comprehensively outscored by his teammate. The all-new Toro Rosso driver lineup for 2019 features another comeback from talented Russian driver Daniil Kvyat and the debut of British youngster Alexander Albon.
What do you think about the chances for Toro Rosso this year? Leave a comment!
Williams
It’s been a sad slide to the back of the grid for the once-mighty Williams team, whose early success in the turbo-hybrid era (third best team in 2014-2015) seems like a distant memory after last year, when the team scored just 7 points and finished last with a car that had some fundamental design flaws. Hopes of a resurgence this year seem dashed before the season has even started – Williams missed the first few days of pre-season testing due to delays with the new car, then was slowest of all in Barcelona. Willliams’ all-new driver line up for 2019 is one ray of hope if the team can get their new car sorted – a strong combination of youthful speed (reigning Formula 2 Champion George Russell) and experience (the fairytale return of Robert Kubica).