Red Bull has revealed the first images of their new car, the RB14, with a variation on the camo livery used in 2015 being used for a filming day at Silverstone prior to the first test in Barcelona.

After making up substantial ground on Mercedes and Ferrari in the second half of last year, there are greater expectations that the Anglo-Austrian team can finally challenge for the championship for the first time in the V6 hybrid era in 2018.

Learning from the slow and difficult starts to recent seasons, Red Bull switched focus earlier to the RB14 with the hope they can complete more mileage in testing and arrive in Australia with a much more competitive package.

Certainly, that will be the hope of drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen who grew frustrated at the lack of reliability and performance in 2017, indeed Ricciardo is biding his time this year before signing a new contract with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.

The Australian is the first man to step behind the wheel of the new car, completing a 100km filming day at Silverstone which Red Bull hope will also act as a shakedown to find and fix any initial teething problems before heading to Spain for the first test on February 26.

The blue camo livery is a one-off for that with the paint scheme the Milton Keynes outfit will race with being launched in Barcelona. 

Always one of the most anticipated designs in the launch season, unsurprisingly Red Bull haven't revealed too much with the car mostly resembling that which finished last season.

For 2018, Red Bull welcome also Aston Martin as title sponsors as part of the growing relationship between the two parties.

Mercedes has included the rejuvenated McLaren and ever-improving Renault teams on their list of potential threats for the upcoming Formula 1 season.

Last year, the two former championship-winning outfits made good strides through the midfield and by the final race in Abu Dhabi were often battling with Force India and Williams to finish 'best of the rest' behind the top three teams.

Both have tried to ease growing expectations, with Renault in-particular claiming it will be at least another year until they can fight at the front, but with both using the same engine, after McLaren switched from Honda, and considerable resources, Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff isn't taking them lightly.

"We are taking Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Renault seriously as these guys can fight for a championship," the Austrian told Motorsport.com.

"Some others might be surprising us too. This is the pinnacle of motor racing you need to respect every team and the top drivers."

Nevertheless, the German manufacturer is still expected to be the team to beat, particularly after ending 2017 very strongly, and Wolff accepts that should be the case if the team at Brackley continues to work well.

"I want to remain humble [but] if we are able to align the dots like we have done in the last year, then we will be winning races and then we will be fighting for championships," he said.

"If we don't, then we haven't been good enough."

Also Read:

• Alonso maintaining earlier prediction of race wins in 2018
• Ricciardo confident of greater Red Bull title challenge in 2018

One man already backing Mercedes to make it five consecutive title successes is 2016 champion Nico Rosberg who doesn't expect to see the pecking order change.

“My prediction corresponds to what happened last year,” he told German broadcaster RTL.

"Lewis Hamilton wins, this time just one point ahead of Sebastian Vettel. After that is Lewis’ teammate Valtteri Bottas and the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.”

Robert Kubica insists he is satisfied with the progress he has made over the past year despite missing out on a return to the Formula 1 grid in 2018.

Earlier this month marked seven years since the Pole's first career was cut short after sustaining severe arm injuries in a rally crash in Andora, an incident that is was thought would prevent him from driving an F1 car again.

However, last summer the 32-year-old completed three tests with Renault before later taking part in three further outings with Williams, aiming to replace the now-retired Felipe Massa.

"Of course when you are so close you always hope to have a happy end," Kubica, who is now reserve and development driver at the Grove-based team told ESPN. 

"In some way, I was hoping to have a drive, but the most important point of the last year was it gave me confidence I could do it - physically, mentally, all my work which I have done in the last years, where I'm coming from a very difficult period, has paid off.

"The last 12 months of my life have been very positive, nobody was expecting myself to be in a position to drive an F1 car, nobody was thinking that I would be having this opportunity."

Also Read:

• Kubica admits watching races will be "quite difficult" in 2018
• Williams reveals first image of new FW41 in London
• Kubica had "plenty of opportunities" to earn 2018 seat, Chandhok claims

The 2008 Canadian Grand Prix winner is not giving up on the goal of earning a race seat, however, and hopes to take advantage of test days and three practice sessions he will complete in 2018.

"Everything can change very quickly so for me it was important to get opportunities to drive," Kubica said. "I'm happy to be part of the Williams team in this role, which is not really a standard third driver, reserve driver role where you go to races and don't do anything.

"Only by driving I can maybe achieve - I say maybe because you never know in your life - the possibility to achieve the final goal. Last year gave me a big boost on believing it's possible but that doesn't mean it will happen but at least I know it is worth to try it."

Miami is emerging as the likely destination for a second Formula 1 race in America with "very active" talks underway, according to McLaren executive director Zak Brown.

The city in Florida was one of several touted as preferred options with owners Liberty Media keen to add a second Grand Prix in the States as part of a drive to increase interest in the sport.

New York is the alternative, though plans for a race in New Jersey fell through earlier in the decade, but with Miami set to host an F1 event similar to that in London last year, it would be natural to see that as the first step.

“The festivals will be big, they are definitely happening,” Brown said.

"I’d be surprised if we can get it done for next year just because of the infrastructure which would need to be built up, but l think it’s definitely a pre-cursor to another race in North America and they are definitely very active in conversations around Miami.

"It’s definitely warming up America and that market,” he added.

Should such plans go ahead it would not be the first time the USA has had two races on the schedule with an East and West Grand Prix held in the late 1980's, early 1990's.

Valtteri Bottas admits he would do "anything" to beat Lewis Hamilton to the Formula 1 title but insists he would only do so fairly.

The Finn stepped up to replace Nico Rosberg for last season and his arrival brought a refreshed atmosphere to Mercedes after the 2016 world champion's own tactics generated massive tension within the Brackley-based team.

Bottas' performances against the Briton were patchy, however, and troubles with the car in the second half of the season have put him under pressure to up his game in 2018.

"I proved to myself a few times last year that I can do it and I can beat him," he told ESPN. "It's up to me to be performing well consistently all through the year and not having those kinds of race weekends when I'm a couple of tenths off or something.

"I need to [perform] in all conditions: no matter what track, which temperature and which tarmac. I need to be there."

Also Read:

• Bottas admits self-doubts led him to "overthink" in 2017
• Bottas has "no excuse" not to challenge Hamilton in 2018, says Mercedes boss
• Hamilton expecting Bottas to be better prepared for 2018 title fight

The 28-year-old has already made it clear the title is his main target this season and motorsport boss Toto Wolff admits a little more tension within his drivers may not be a negative, however, Bottas won't be encouraging it.

"Normally my style is not to mess with other people's things," he said. "I tend to focus on my performance and getting the most out of myself and the team around me and I'm not planning to change anything of what I do."

"I can't see any issues of why we wouldn't be able to work together in the team. I just want to focus on my performance and that will hopefully get me further."

Robert Kubica admits he will find it "quite difficult" to watch races from within the Williams garage despite returning to Formula 1 as a reserve and development driver for 2018.

The Pole was hoping to make a remarkable comeback to the grid this season, seven years after a horrific rally crash ended his first career in the sport, instead, he just missed out to Sergey Sirotkin after the Russian impressed at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old is pleased to be back in the F1 fold and doesn't expect to be left without work during the upcoming year with three Friday practice outings confirmed with the first in Spain in May.

“I’m back permanently in the F1 paddock, so I’m looking forward to it,” Kubica declared at the Williams launch on Thursday.

“It will be interesting to go back to some of the places I have been before, some of them providing different emotions from different moments in my life.

“Sometimes it can be quite difficult watching others racing, but I have a different role this year. It’s sure to be a tough season with a lot of races and things to do.

"I have to be on top of the work I have to do for the team.”

Also Read:

• Williams reveals first photo of new FW41 in London
• Kubica had "plenty of opportunities" to earn 2018 seat, Chandhok claims

Also speaking at the launch event in London, deputy team boss Claire Williams addressed the decision to choose Sirotkin calling those who simply cite his financial backing as "naive".

"I'm really looking forward to seeing how Sergey does," she continued. "The guy's had an impeccable track record in single-seater racing, having come third twice in what was the GP2 championship and obviously, Renault thought he had the talent in order to make him their reserve driver.

"For me, it's really exciting to see him. He did a phenomenal job for us in the Abu Dhabi test and I think probably Sergey is one of those drivers we haven't heard of as much but I think he's going to surprise a lot of people this year."

Bosses at both Red Bull and McLaren are pushing Formula 1 owners Liberty Media to continue with a bold vision for the future despite opposite pressure from manufacturers.

2018 is set to see a showdown between CEO Chase Carey and Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne with the latter threatening to take the sport's most historic team off the grid after 2020 should it not agree with the direction F1 takes.

Mercedes issued a similar warning with the two closely aligned politically while also being bitter rivals on the track but Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has played it down as bluster and calls on Liberty to call their bluff.

“They are going to have to come up with a set of rules and say ‘that’s what Formula 1 is, sign up or not’," the Briton told Racer.

McLaren executive director Zak Brown echoed that sentiment believing Liberty to put the interests of the sport over those who have wielded power behind the scenes.

"They need to be prepared to recognise that they are not going to make everyone happy," he said.

“Their centring needs to be on what is best for the sport. I would rather lose one [team], replace them and have 10 teams than have one or two teams fighting in the championship."

Also Read:

• Ferrari "unique" but can't be prioritised, says F1 CEO Carey
• Liberty/ Ferrari confrontation "inevitable", McLaren boss claims
• Brawn rejects notion F1 would struggle without Ferrari

The catalyst for Ferrari and Mercedes to take their positions was a proposal to alter the engine rules for 2021 but both Horner and Brown welcomed the ideas insisting it was time F1 looked to attract new manufacturers back.

“They (Liberty) are trying to be responsible for ensuring cost, performance, noise -- it ticks all the boxes that an engine should do in F1,"  the Red Bull boss added. "We’re already seeing interest from manufacturers like Aston Martin if it’s affordable and reasonable value.”

As the first Halo-era Formula 1 cars begin to be launched, Max Verstappen admits he is still "not looking forward" to racing with the cockpit protection device.

The Dutchman, whose Red Bull RB14 will be revealed on Monday, has remained firmly in the camp against its introduction but will have no choice after the FIA forced it through on safety grounds for 2018 last summer.

Though many expect the controversy it has created to die down as fans and drivers alike adjust to the new visual, the 20-year-old hopes the Halo doesn't ruin the overall look.

“The Halo will be very ugly, I’m not looking forward to that,” he said in a pre-season interview produced by Red Bull. “But in general I hope the car will look great and hopefully is fast.”

Despite being one of the youngest drivers on the grid, Verstappen also has the issue of also being one of the biggest which brings its own complications due to the weight of the Halo.

“It’s definitely not favourable for me,” he stated. “But I’m not going to adjust my training for it because otherwise, I won’t feel well during the races.

"Especially for me being a taller driver and I guess also a bit of a heavier driver than most, it’s not ideal.”

Also Read:

• McLaren expecting some aerodynamic development with Halo
• FIA confirms ongoing work with IndyCar after successful windshield test
• Wolff admits desire to saw Halo off 2018 Mercedes

The enormous loads the FIA have put in place for the Halo to withstand have amazed some with Mercedes claiming a London double-decker bus could sit on top but the governing body is now looking at curing the weaknesses with the next version of the device.

"We have two main objectives," safety delegate Laurent Mekies told Racer."One is the central strut, to see if we can have a reduction in thickness for visibility purposes and secondly a better integration in the car, i.e. better aesthetics ultimately.

"So that's what we would like to see in stage two." 

Formula 2 race winner Nicholas Latifi will be given the opportunity to drive in front of his home crowd in Canada for the first time as part of his program as Force India reserve in 2018.

The Toronto native, who is part of Renault's development program, was drafted in at the Silverstone-based team after the requirements to obtain a practice superlicence in F1 were tightened up for this year.

Though it will likely not be his only Friday appearance this season, it will be the most special for Latifi who admits he has never even driven around Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"This will be my first opportunity to experience an amazing circuit," he said. "I'm super excited about driving the car in front of the Canadian fans and I'm sure it will be a highlight of the season.

"I will try and enjoy the moment, but I'm well aware that the priority is simply to work through the practice programme and give the team all the information they need."

The 22-year-old will get his first chance inside the new VJM11 at the start of next month on the final day of the opening pre-season test in Barcelona which begins on February 26th.

"I'm really excited to be getting in the car so soon," he stated. "Driving the last day of the first week is ideal because it will give me a few more days to observe how the team works and hear the feedback of Esteban [Ocon] and Sergio [Perez].

"I know that track time is critical early in the season so my goal is to make sure I give the team the best possible feedback and help with the car development."

Formula 1's managing director of motorsport, Ross Brawn, has claimed DRS will remain a part of the sport for years to come.

Introduced in 2011, the rear wing flap which drivers can open in certain zones remains a controversial topic with many, though accepting of why it is needed, still believing it to be an artificial gimmick.

Upon taking up his new role with owners Liberty Media, one of Brawn's first actions was to put a team of engineers together to research ways of improving aerodynamics to allow cars to follow closer and take away the need for DRS.

However: "I don’t see it disappearing in the near future," the former Ferrari and Mercedes man was quoted by RaceFans.net. "Its a necessary band-aid because of the nature of the cars at the moment.”

In fact, the introduction of new design rules last year would make the problem worse with a near 50% reduction in the number of overtakes compared to 2016 and the Briton concedes it won't be an easy issue to solve.

"It won’t be a switch we turn on overnight, it will be an evolution of the cars. Each step we make has got to be in that direction,” he said.

Also Read:

• Vettel: F1 doesn't need record levels of overtaking
• F1 using eSports to simulate possible future rule changes
• Brawn hopes to reveal "exciting" work on F1 aerodynamics in early 2018

Brawn also doubts changes in aerodynamics alone will be enough, with the research also including the simulation of other factors which impact the racing.

"It will be a model that will have to include the tyre characteristics and engine characteristics and other factors on the car, where we put different elements in to help us understand whether what we are doing is making the racing better or worse," he explained.

“And that’s something we’ve lacked. We’ve been using our intuition, and that’s not good enough now with the complexity of these cars.”