Team boss Christian Horner believes Red Bull could well have competed against Ferrari and Mercedes more regularly with an extra 50 horsepower.

The Milton Keynes-based squad often found themselves the third best on the grid in 2018 thanks mostly to the Renault power unit which didn't have the same 'party' modes available in qualifying.

That meant Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo often sat fifth and sixth and unable to take advantage of a strong race pace.

"It's always easy to say ifs, buts and maybes, but if there'd have been another 40kw [50hp] in the back of the car, the season could have looked quite different," Horner told Motorsport.com.

Red Bull did claim four wins in 2018 and would have had a fifth in Brazil but on all the occasions, the team took advantage of tyre wear or a nullifying of the engine deficit on less power-sensitive circuits.

Much of the reason for that was an RB14 chassis that was better than the Silver Arrow and the Prancing Horse.

"Hats off to everybody in Milton Keynes for producing arguably one of our best ever chassis," the Briton commented.

Also Read:

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• Hulkenberg: Renault must unlock the same 'mystery' as top three teams
• Renault 'not unhappy' to be ending Red Bull partnership - Prost

Continuing his Renault remarks, Horner also pointed away from Red Bull suggesting: "When you look at the other users with the same engine, there is a world of difference," referencing how teams like Sauber, Haas and Force India were able to match the works Renault team.

Of course, even with the extra power, there would have been another factor that would have prevented Red Bull from competing with those ahead.

"Reliability isn't something we've had," Horner admitted. "We've had 11 or 12 retirements this year. That's [been] our biggest Achilles heel."

To try and rectify both counts, Red Bull will drop their long-time engine partner of 12 years and switch to Honda for 2019 along with junior team Toro Rosso.

"Lewis Hamilton had one DNF this year, likewise with Sebastian [Vettel]," the team boss noted. "That's the rate we have to be aiming to achieve.

"The trajectory [with Honda] is going the right way," he added. "What we see and hear in the pipeline as well but pieces of paper are one thing, the stopwatch ultimately never lies."

Valtteri Bottas claims the chains will be off and he will go all out to achieve the best he can as he looks to save his Mercedes seat in 2019.

This past season couldn't have gone much worse for the Finn as bad luck and playing a support role to Lewis Hamilton meant he became the first driver since 2012 to go a whole year without a win while driving for the German manufacturer.

Now, Bottas faces a new threat to his career with Esteban Ocon off the Formula 1 grid next year, after been dropping by Force India, and sitting as reserve driver at Mercedes for the next 12 months, ahead of what many think will be a move into the 29-year-old's car for 2020.

“This sport is funny, you never know what happens in the future but I think the right mentality for me to approach next year is like I have nothing to lose," he told Autosport this week.

“I just want to go for it and drive like I stole it, like it’s my last race, last day ever. That’s a good plan.”

Also Read:

• Bottas the 'only slight flaw' in another successful year for Mercedes
• Mercedes hoping tough 2018 hasn't 'damaged' Bottas
• Bottas declares 2018 his 'worst season' as 2020 speculation swirls

Many accept that for Bottas 2018 was more about luck than his own lack of pace, certainly in the early races where he could have won in Bahrain, China and particularly Baku.

And the man himself thinks Mercedes has seen the disconnect between the headline-grabbing stat of a winless season and how he has actually performed.

“What we’ve analysed as a team and what we spoke about with the guys, is qualifying pace and race pace, compared to my teammate, has been better this year on average, which is positive, but the results haven’t," Valtteri claimed.

“We need to analyse why the results weren’t there. Obviously, sometimes it was unlucky, sometimes were different reasons.

“But I think performance-wise this year was better and results-wise last year was better.”

Fernando Alonso was left reminiscing about Formula 1's lack of engine noise after a brief outing in a V8-powered McLaren on Monday.

The Spaniard was taking part in the car swap with NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson in Bahrain and less than 24 hours after ending what could well be his final F1 race in Abu Dhabi, the double world champion inadvertently found himself back behind the wheel.

"It was not planned to be honest," said Alonso. "I was supposed to only drive the other car but it made sense if I was doing the installation lap just to make sure the car was feeling OK.

"I found myself in the cockpit at 11am this morning after retiring yesterday."

And in that lap plus the rest completed by Johnson, Alonso admits the scream of F1 between 2006-2013 was welcome in comparison to the V6 turbo whoosh of today.

"It was a lot of fun even if from the inside of the car the noise is not so different compared to the cars we are driving now," he noted.

"But even from the outside, it was again something very, very special. So, we are missing a lot of action because of the sound right now."

The noise is one of the reasons many believe Alonso has fallen out of love with the sport, calling time after 17 years.

Fernando insists, however, he has plenty of good moments to remember in retirement and he'll always be a fan.

"There are things that I will miss from Formula 1, things that I will not miss, and I will try to take the positives," stated the 37-year-old.

"It's going to be a good memory. The whole package in F1 was a fantastic journey.

"From a young age until now fighting always in any circumstance, in any car, and I think achieving a lot of success that I never expected.

"I will come back maybe one day as a tourist, as a commentator maybe, and enjoy F1 in a different way."

Following Lance Stroll's confirmation at Force India on Friday, Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, revealed the entry list for the 2019 season.

The Canadian's arrival isn't the only thing new at the Silverstone-based squad next year as the team name has been changed from Force India to Racing Point F1 following their mid-season takeover by entrepreneur Lawrence Stroll.

Elsewhere four teams, McLaren, Sauber, Toro Rosso and Williams, will see an all-new driver line-up, something that is pretty unprecedented in the modern era.

Four of the six new faces on the grid have all chosen their race numbers, with only Alexander Albon at Toro Rosso to be confirmed.

Robert Kubica, Antonio Giovinazzi and Lando Norris have all picked numbers that have had previous owners too in Rio Haryanto, Adrian Sutil and Max Chilton respectively.

George Russell is the only driver to keep the number assigned to him as a reserve driver, while Daniil Kvyat's return sees him keep the same number as from his first stint on the grid.

There are also no fewer than six drivers changing teams for 2019 in what is one of the biggest shake-ups in many a year.

Two new faces move to the front in the 'big three' replacing Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen who take their step back into the midfield.

Kubica makes his big return for the first since 2010 and it will be the first time since 2002 the name Fernando Alonso is absent from the grid.

The full list can be seen below:

Esteban Ocon believes he will be in store for a busier 2019 as Mercedes reserve driver after losing his seat at Force India.

The Frenchman was forced off the Formula 1 grid next season with Lance Stroll moving to the team bought by his father this past summer.

As a result, Mercedes have had to put together a contingency plan together for a driver they still consider the likely successor to either Valtteri Bottas or Lewis Hamilton.

“Of course it’s always better to race than to not race,” he told France’s Auto Hebdo. “But I will have a lot of work anyway, it seems I will have even more to do than before.

“I will go to all of the Grands Prix, work on the simulator and we will try to give me as much work as possible on the track. Perhaps I will take part in tests with Force India and Williams as well.

“Mercedes continues to support me and believe in my Grand Prix career, and I hope everything will work out.”

Also Read:

• Bottas to approach 2019 'like I have nothing to lose'

With Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff ensuring Ocon will be back in F1 in 2020, it is leading many to predict he'll do so at the wheel of a Silver Arrow taking the same step as Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly have at Ferrari and Red Bull respectively.

Formula 1's worst kept secret is now official with Lance Stroll confirmed as a Force India driver for 2019.

The Canadian has been widely expected to make the switch from Williams after his father Lawrence completed his takeover of the Silverstone-based squad in the summer.

Stroll, who made his debut with the Grove-based team in 2017 and scored a podium in Baku during his rookie season, will replace Esteban Ocon with Force India pointing out this is a long-term deal for the youngster.

For the former European F3 champion, it's a chance to kick on with his career after being unable to show any progress due to Williams' problems this season.

“This is the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey in my Formula 1 career," he said.

"I look forward to working alongside a successful team with a great culture. It’s a new challenge and I am excited to embrace this new opportunity!”

Also Read:

• Stroll: I've 'improved well as a driver' despite 'awful' Williams car
• Force India: Signs point to Stroll being a 'great driver'
• Stroll pleased 'bridge hasn't burned' with Ocon over F1 seat

Stroll already made his first appearance in pink at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi and team boss Otmar Szafnauer has talked up his newest recruit.

“I’m pleased that we can finally confirm Lance’s arrival to race alongside Sergio next year,” he commented. “It gives us an exciting line-up with the perfect blend of youth, talent, and experience.

“Lance is only 20 and already has two years of Formula 1 experience under his belt, as well as a podium finish and a front row start. We see huge potential in Lance and believe we can create an environment in which he can flourish.”

Alexander Albon admits a return to the Red Bull program was probably his only way to achieve his Formula 1 dream.

The British-Thai racer was chosen to replace Brendon Hartley at the junior Toro Rosso team in 2019 but only after a tough negotiation to be released from a two-year Nissan deal in Formula E.

With the deal done, however, it has given Albon the chance to look back over his junior career and the tumultuous end to his first stint with the Austrian energy drinks giant back in 2012.

“Very tough, it was a difficult year for me for numerous reasons, not least because of my results, but it made me work that much harder,” he said of being dropped by Red Bull after a poor Formula Renault campaign.

“I was on the brink of stopping racing all together. Since then, I knew I had to impress every time I drove and fortunately Dr. [Helmut] Marko gave me a second chance.”

Without much financial backing, Albon depended on DAMS to help him in F2 after moving up from GP3 alongside Charles Leclerc at Prema but finishing third behind George Russell and Lando Norris this year proved enough to get his big break.

“I never gave up on it, I needed to believe that it could still happen,” he declared. “Having said that, I knew that my chance of going to F1 was very slim as I didn’t have a proper budget.

“In reality, the only way I was going to have the opportunity was through Toro Rosso/Red Bull, but as we all know, it is not easy to impress Dr. Marko!”

As for what Albon hopes to achieve alongside another returnee to the Red Bull stable in Daniil Kvyat, the 22-year-old will take it one step at a time.

“Personally, I don’t really set goals for the end of the year. It’s more about trying to maximize each race weekend as it comes," he explained.

“I won’t have many days in the car before Melbourne, so it will be very important to be as prepared as possible and take each race as it comes. Of course, it would be nice to fight regularly for points and at the sharp end.”

2019 McLaren driver Lando Norris is hopeful he can draw on the "valuable" advice of Fernando Alonso next season.

The young Briton, who finished second to George Russell in Formula 2 this year, earned the promotion and has been gaining crucial experience with a number of practice appearances while building a strong friendship with Alonso.

But with the Spaniard set to run his own schedule including a return to Daytona, WEC and in the Indy 500, it's unknown currently what kind of role if any he'll have at McLaren.

"I think it'll be very valuable," Norris said if the double world champion remains close with the British team.

"He's obviously got the best idea of how the car has changed over the year, the best experience of what's good and what's bad - a lot more than I do."

Also Read:

• McLaren open to Alonso testing 2019 car
• Alonso on 'speed-dial' should McLaren need a driver in 2019
• Vandoorne exit proves Norris must capitalise on F1 chance

During Alonso's final race weekend in Abu Dhabi, he left the door open to a future return to F1 in 2020 which might worry Norris and teammate Carlos Sainz as to their long-term positions

Lando though doesn't believe it's anything to think about just yet.

"Obviously, I don't know what's going to happen, if he's still going to be part of McLaren, he still is part of McLaren, I guess a lot is up to him," he said.

"But I think there’s a long way to go until we see what he wants to do and if he wants to get in an F1 car again."

This week also saw Norris complete his first day of running as a race driver with the Woking-based squad at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi and he spoke about the different approach that brought.

"It did feel a bit different," he after doing 136 laps on Tuesday.

"I think it was not more pressure, but you just had to think more, or know, now that I knew, realizing basically that a lot of this stuff is for a lot more of my own good.

"[There were] things that will really benefit me a lot more for next year.

"Although doing all the FP1s and everything is the same thing, everything is going to be helping, this is a lot more, for me, working with the team, the engineers, trying to get everything based more around me rather than Fernando and Stoffel.

"So it definitely did feel a bit different. More focus on really trying to make the best for me, and not so much about the others."

Alexander Albon admits a return to the Red Bull program was probably his only way to achieve his Formula 1 dream.

The British-Thai racer was chosen to replace Brendon Hartley at the junior Toro Rosso team in 2019 but only after a tough negotiation to be released from a two-year Nissan deal in Formula E.

With the deal done, however, it has given Albon the chance to look back over his junior career and the tumultuous end to his first stint with the Austrian energy drinks giant back in 2012.

“Very tough, it was a difficult year for me for numerous reasons, not least because of my results, but it made me work that much harder,” he said of being dropped by Red Bull after a poor Formula Renault campaign.

“I was on the brink of stopping racing all together. Since then, I knew I had to impress every time I drove and fortunately Dr. [Helmut] Marko gave me a second chance.”

Without much financial backing, Albon depended on DAMS to help him in F2 after moving up from GP3 alongside Charles Leclerc at Prema but finishing third behind George Russell and Lando Norris this year proved enough to get his big break.

“I never gave up on it, I needed to believe that it could still happen,” he declared. “Having said that, I knew that my chance of going to F1 was very slim as I didn’t have a proper budget.

“In reality, the only way I was going to have the opportunity was through Toro Rosso/Red Bull, but as we all know, it is not easy to impress Dr. Marko!”

As for what Albon hopes to achieve alongside another returnee to the Red Bull stable in Daniil Kvyat, the 22-year-old will take it one step at a time.

“Personally, I don’t really set goals for the end of the year. It’s more about trying to maximize each race weekend as it comes," he explained.

“I won’t have many days in the car before Melbourne, so it will be very important to be as prepared as possible and take each race as it comes. Of course, it would be nice to fight regularly for points and at the sharp end.”

Michael Schumacher looks "as we all remember him" and "senses" loved ones around him, according to German archbishop George Ganswein.

News on the condition of the seven-time Formula 1 champion has been rare following his skiing accident in December 2013 which left him with severe head injuries as family look to protect his privacy.

Even so, Ganswein offered an insight into Schumacher, who he met in 2016 as he continues to recover at home in Switzerland.

"I sat opposite him, took hold of both hands and looked at him. His face is as we all remember, the typical Michael Schumacher face – only a little fuller," he reportedly told German outlet Bunte.

"He senses that loving people are around him, caring for him, and, thank God, keeping the all too curious public away. A person who is ill needs discretion and understanding.

"The family is the protective nest that Michael absolutely needs. His wife is the soul of the family. Of course, I include Michael Schumacher and his family in my prayers."

Also Read:

• Following Michael 'not a burden' for Mick Schumacher
• Hamilton on matching Schumacher records: "We'll see"
• Vettel would have sought Schumacher advice 'on many things'

Currently, there is another Schumacher making headlines as his son Mick won the European F3 championship this year and will race in F2 in 2019.

Also, the debate rages as to whether Lewis Hamilton can surpass his F1 records with the Briton two titles and 19 wins away from his biggest achievements.