Italians see Verstappen as a favourite: ''In Austria the best papers''

The Formula 1 season is about to start and that means looking at how the season will unfold from all sorts of angles and holes. In Italy people hardly look at Ferrari, which was very disappointed during the winter tests.

''The fight that everyone expects during the Austrian Grand Prix between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen is going to be great. Red Bull Racing will do everything possible to achieve a good performance at the Red Bull Ring'', says Giorgio Pantano opposite the Italian magazine Autosprint. The former driver of Jordan Verstappen is closing in on good chances.

''In Austria, aerodynamics is very important and Red Bull has done well," says Pantano, who is complemented by the former performance coach of Ferrari. ''The collaboration with Honda is excellent and I expect that the Japanese have things well done at the favorite circuit of Red Bull''.

Andrea Montermini, who competed in Formula 1 for Ford, Simtek and Pacific, however, sees one bigger favourite. ''Seen over the whole season Mercedes is of course the favourite, but Red Bull has the best papers to win in Austria, in my opinion. However, the weather conditions will play an important role and we shouldn't underestimate them'', concludes Montermini.