The first car developed a part of the new Alfa Romeo-Sauber partnership is to be launched on February 20, the team announced on Monday.

Part of a renewed relationship with engine supplier Ferrari, the Alfa name returns to Formula 1 for the first time in over three decades as a technical partner, with team boss Fred Vasseur hoping it is just a first step back for the Italian brand.

The Swiss team is also hoping 2018 will see a marked improvement after three troubled seasons impacted by financial problems, with the most upto date power unit made at Maranello in the back and one of the hottest prospects in recent years in Charles Leclerc alongside Marcus Ericsson.

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Last season Sauber slipped to the bottom of the Constructors' standings with former driver Pascal Wehrlein scoring their only points in Spain and Baku, however, with an all-new car, which will be named the C37, being created, the Hinwil outfit is one the likes of Haas, Williams & Toro Rosso will have to keep an eye on.

Assen circuit boss Arjan Bos has rated the chances of bringing Formula 1 back to Holland as "50/50" following a largely positive inspection by FIA F1 race director Charlie Whiting.

The venue is the annual host venue for MotoGP's Dutch Grand Prix but would require the necessary Grade 1 licence all tracks must obtain to hold an F1 race. That process took a good step forward, however, after Whiting reportedly mentioned only minor changes to the kerbs, barriers and the circuit layout to achieve it.

It follows a bullish claim late last year by Bos that Assen would be much better suited than Holland's last F1 venue at Zandvoort to welcome the sport back after over three decades.

"We're not there yet, but it is nice to hear that Whiting is so positive about the circuit, the modern facilities and the state of maintenance," he told De Telegraaf after the inspection.

"We have always said that we hope to bring the Grand Prix back to the Netherlands within three years. At the moment I estimate the chance at 50/50."

A race is a priority for commercial rights holder Liberty Media based on the surge of interest generated by Max Verstappen in recent years which has boosted attendances in Belguim and Austria to name a few.

Hopes for a street circuit event in Amsterdam or Rotterdam have dropped leaving one of the country's purpose-built circuits to take up the mantle.   

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has named the three drivers he feel could push him the hardest for the title in 2018.

Last year, the Briton faced a straight fight with Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel but his and Mercedes' superior consistency eventually won the day, with Lewis taking his fourth crown with three races to go in Mexico.

This year, however, hopes are the ever-improving Red Bull and a reborn McLaren - both using Renault engines - can leap into the frame and give the two most successful drivers of their generation more competition.

Unsurprisingly, Hamilton named Vettel as one main rival, admitting he could give the German "more space, albeit not in a negative way", perhaps referring to their Baku clash, and then named Fernando Alonso as "the toughest driver there is".

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But his most noticeable focus was on Max Verstappen, stating: "Max's racecraft is very impressive, he's doing wonderful things and he is going to grow so much over the next 10 years."

Known for his hard-line approach, the 33-year-old knows he would need to be wary of the 20-year-old Dutchman too.

"He is more inexperienced than the other guys," Hamilton cautioned. "Max takes a lot of risks ... you have to give [him] more space.

"I don't think it will be a problem, it'll just be freaking tough [to beat him]. Wouldn't that be a fight? Even I'd pay to see that."

Verstappen, who is slowly establishing himself as the lead driver at Red Bull, also hinted at that self-determination in a recent interview with Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport.

 “I always think you have to think of yourself as the best," he said, considering who he rated as the best in F1. "If you don’t, what’s the point of participating?

"The goal is to be the best and I have to prove it when I get the chance, that’s obviously depended on the car, but hopefully I’m able to prove myself more often."

Concluding his evaluation, Hamilton added: "We're the four strongest drivers, I really hope we are all in the fight [for the title]."

Sauber and Force India have dropped their complaint made to the European Union over anti-competition practices conducted by former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

Fighting for a greater say in the rule and decision-making process within the sport, the two teams made the complaint citing the unequal distribution of revenues and the power structure which sees only certain teams part of the influential Strategy Group.

However, buoyed by the stance taken by Liberty Media in their first year as the commercial rights holder, their call for an investigation has now been rescinded they confirmed on Thursday.

"We have been greatly encouraged by the dialogue that has been introduced following the appointment of Chase Carey as Executive Chairman and CEO and his new management team," a statement issued read.

"Their approach has brought a new culture of transparency to the sport and illustrates willingness to debate fundamental issues such as the distribution of the prize fund monies, cost control and engine regulations.

"We are encouraged and reassured by the even-handed and fair negotiating approach taken by the new management of F1 to all the teams and their issues."

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With an important year ahead politically in F1, as the new leadership and the established powers try to negotiate a future direction which both can accept, Force India and Sauber hope their decision takes away a lingering cloud.

"We believe this new approach provides the necessary degree of assurance that our concerns will be looked at objectively, and we prefer to resolve the issues facing the sport through dialogue rather than a legal dispute," the statement continued.

"We want to support this transformational process in F1 and thus have resolved to withdraw our complaint with immediate effect."

Formula 1 bosses are considering a drastic change to the start time for the majority of races as part of efforts to increase TV audiences, it has been revealed.

Altering the format of Grand Prix weekends has been one of the topics brought up since Liberty Media completed their takeover a year ago, particularly after the success Formula E has had with their single-day schedule.

While managing director of motorsport, Ross Brawn, recently played down the idea, moving the start time from 2pm to 3:10pm at the majority of daytime events is being suggested.

Such a move would make it a little easier for American fans, who face early starts for the European and Middle Eastern events but could come to the detriment of Asian and Australian fans who stay up late before the start of a working week.

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Changes to the sporting regulations have now only made a minimum gap between sessions a requirement, after qualifying in Austin was pushed back last year and some are wondering if this will allow for better scheduling to coincide with other major sporting events.

Meanwhile, alterations to how F1 is broadcast are being suggested with in-race music and highlight packages being touted, according to some paddock insiders.This comes as a promise for a new TV experience is being promised as part of the commercial overhaul in 2018.

Calling off Sauber's planned tie-up with Honda in 2018 was the first act Fred Vasseur undertook as team principal, he has revealed.

Last year the Swiss team used year-old engines from Ferrari as expectations were they would end their association with the Scuderia after 20 years and jump to the Japanese manufacturer with Haas emerging as the Italian outfit's top customer.

The deal was announced in May, after being agreed by former boss Monisha Kaltenborn but, as Honda's engines problems continued, Vasseur immediately reversed the decision fearing the worst.

"I joined on July 17 at 9am, and the meeting [about Honda] was at 10am," the Frenchman told Autosport. "For me it was important. It is never easy to change the engine supplier first, but Honda was not in very good shape."

Well before agreeing to end their partnership after three years in September, the former Renault boss also believed the writing was on the wall regarding McLaren's future with Honda. 

"I was convinced, as I had some contacts at McLaren, that they would do their best to leave," he said. "So I could not be in a position to risk that.

"Imagine today if I had to request the Honda gearbox from McLaren (which had been agreed under the deal)? It would be an absolute nightmare."

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Instead, Sauber re-signed with Ferrari but not only that, now they have a title sponsor and technical partner in Alfa Romeo, the most upto date engine from Maranello and F2 champion Charles Leclerc in one of their seats.

Meanwhile, with McLaren now powered by Renault, Honda's future lies with Toro Rosso, with Red Bull keen to weigh up their engine options for 2019 and beyond.

Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell has played down concerns the reduction of permitted engines to just three in 2018 will put too much priority on reliability over performance.

With particularly Renault and Honda far exceeding last year's limit of four units for the season, many believe engine makers will have to turn down the power to ensure each engine last as long as possible.

But Cowell, who oversaw the only manufacturer not to take a forced grid drop in 2017, with Lewis Hamilton's optionally taking a fifth after his qualifying crash in Brazil, sees it as just a continuation of a recent trend in F1.

"The move to the three engines means that you need to do seven races with each power unit, rather than five," he told Motorsport.com.

"That's a reasonable step forward, but for the last 10 years every single engine engineer has had a progressively increasing life requirement from everything that he or she's been working on, and so it's not a new science, it's just a different number."

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Indeed, even during the V8 era drivers were limited to eight units, which became five for the V6 hybrids and has dropped by one the last two years, so for Mercedes and the rest, it's all about balance.

"It's what the engineers have completely accustomed to managing and our ambition is always to not compromise our qualifying pace, nor our race pace but not have a DNF or need a grid penalty," Cowell added.

Former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell believes the sport cannot risk Ferrari following through on their threat to leave after 2020, arguing the grid is already smaller than it really should be.

The Scuderia, which the Briton drove for in 1989 and 1990, is putting their future on the line as teams prepare for a vital year of talks with owners Liberty Media to determine the future direction of F1, both from a sporting and commercial aspect.

A plan for cheaper engines with more standardised parts led to chairman Sergio Marchionne's ultimatum and while many have wondered if F1 could cope without their most famous team, Mansell has a more basic reason why Ferrari must stay.

"F1 will have great challenges ahead if they let any manufacturer walk away," he told Sky Sports. "We only have 20 cars on the grid now. In the heyday, there were 43 cars trying to qualify for 26 places.

"The fans worldwide are crying out to have 26 cars now. We need new drivers, new blood, new manufacturers to start competing on a level playing field."

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Though to keep Ferrari happy would likely mean a watered down version of what Liberty has planned for the future vision of F1, Mansell does accept the sport much change if it is to be successful again.

"Hopefully Liberty are going to get some new regulations that everyone will embrace and there will be a more level playing field where people can be competitive," he said.

"There is something wrong with any sport when you have, as a good or bad example, an incredible team like McLaren who have won so many world championships and an incredible manufacturer of engines like Honda, they couldn't get it together.

"It shouldn't be that difficult."

Williams has become the latest team to confirm the launch date of their 2018 car, announcing the earliest date of the five outfits to have done so, so far.

The FW41 will be revealed at an event in London on February 15th, a full week before Mercedes and Ferrari who will both unveil their challengers on the 22nd.

The confirmation comes after Williams became the final team to decide their driver line-up, opting for young Russian Sergey Sirotkin alongside Canadian Lance Stroll, making for the youngest combination on the grid this season.

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Sirotkin's performance at the post-Grand Prix test in Abu Dhabi saw him beat former F1 winner Robert Kubica, with the Pole signed as reserve driver.

Meanwhile, Stroll will enter his second season after a mixed rookie year and still questions about his ability. He recently admitted, however, his experience has changed his approach to racing.

"I've learned a tremendous amount, I've gained a lot of experience competing at the highest level with the best drivers in the world in F1," he was quoted by F1i.com.

"It has taught me so much about being a racing driver, travelling the world and racing all these different kinds of tracks against the best drivers in the world. I've really just had to learn and adapt more than ever before because there's so much to do in F1.

"I definitely feel like compared to where I was in Melbourne 2017, I'm a completely different driver."

Williams too, is under pressure after a difficult few seasons that have seen them slip behind Force India and could fall even further with McLaren and Renault set to move up in 2018.

Manor CEO Graeme Lowdon says the British team has "unfinished business" in Formula 1 but would not be able to return without costs being reduced.

The company was forced into administration almost a year ago after takeover talks collapsed but the team's other motorsport activities continue with a new LMP1 project in the WEC being developed for 2018.

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But F1 is where the dream remains and Lowdon hopes the talked about changes to try and level the financial playing field provide that opportunity.

“If nothing changes — if there is no cost cap and the costs stay the same — then we cannot go back because it’s impossible to race against the big teams," he was quoted by PlanetF1.

“We have heard from the FIA and Liberty (Media) that work is being done to reduce the cost for private teams. In that case, we are interested in returning as both myself and (former Manor team principal) John Booth have unfinished business in F1.”

The team scored points twice in their seven seasons on the grid, first through Jules Bianchi in Monaco in 2014 and then Pascal Wehrlein in Austria two years later.