Technical revisions could be a huge factor in 2011 F1 season

F1 season 2011

The 2011 Formula One season begins next week in Melbourne, Australia, but a lot of questions remain as to how regulatory changes in the sport will impact teams throughout the year.

With a new tire supplier, the return of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and moveable rear wings among the revisions, the next season in F1 could feature another seesaw battle for the world championship throughout the year.

F1 Racing season

Teams have had plenty of track time during the off-season, with testing in Barcelona, Jerez and Valencia, Spain during the past month and a half.

Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing enter this season as the favorites for the driver and constructors' championships. However, Ferrari, McLaren and quite possibly Mercedes GP will be Red Bull's fiercest competitors.

F1 Racing

ANOTHER BULLISH YEAR?

In just its sixth season of F1 competition, Red Bull headlined the class of 12 teams in 2010. Vettel and teammate Mark Webber gave Red Bull a combined nine wins and 15 poles last year. The British team wrapped up the constructors' title in the penultimate round of the season in Brazil.

At age 23, Vettel became the youngest-ever world champion in the 61-year history of F1. The young German won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to clinch the title by just four points over Fernando Alonso from Ferrari.

"Last year was a great success and a big relief for me," Vettel said. "Hopefully, it will make me a bit stronger. Nevertheless, it will be a long, hard and tough season."

2011 F1 season

Earlier this week, Vettel extended his contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2014 season.

Vettel has been pleased with the team's development of its 2001 car, the RB7, throughout pre-season testing.

"The preparation has been good," he said. "Now we are just looking forward to Melbourne. If you ask me about performance, all I can say is I think we are there or thereabouts, and, as I keep saying, it's impossible to know until we get to Australia."

Last year, Webber had his best season since his F1 career began in 2002. The Australian notched four wins, including a victory in the Monaco Grand Prix. He finished the year third in points. Webber is eager to begin the new season, which begins in his home country.

2011 F1 racing

"I feel I'm ready for the first race now," Webber said. "In terms of team preparation, it's the best we've ever had going into the first part of a season in terms of reliability. All the departments have done a sensational job in getting every aspect ready. Hopefully, we're not too far from our main rivals to start with, and we'll just go from there."

One potential obstacle for Red Bull this year could be the on-going rivalry between Vettel and Webber. There was a bit of friction between the two at times last season, with Webber feeling like he was the "second" driver with the team.

Racing cars

Vettel and Webber were among the quickest in last week's test at Barcelona.

racing cars

NUMEROUS CHANGES TO THE CARS

Several technical revisions have been made to the cars this year, and that could work in favor for Ferrari and McLaren, which took a backseat to Red Bull this past season.

2011 F1 Racing cars

Following Bridgestone's withdrawal from F1 last year, Pirelli takes over as the sport's sole tire supplier. Bridgestone had been with F1 the last 13 years. Pirelli returns after a 20-year absence.

2011 F1 season Racing cars

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 F1 titleholder, has already become accustomed with the tire and has a favorable opinion of it.