Motor Racing / Formula One Championship team-by-team guide

WILLIAMS-RENAULT

Damon Hill (GB). Age 35.

GP 18. Wins 3. Championships 0.

Ayrton Senna (Bra). Age 34.

GP 158. Wins 41. Championships 3.

THE champions again look the team to beat and if there was any danger of complacency, the arrival of Senna will have served to avert it. The FW16, powered by Renault's latest engine, should provide the Brazilian with the equipment for a fourth title, although Hill will try to disrupt his plans.

McLAREN-PEUGEOT

Mika Hakkinen (Fin). Age 25.

GP 33. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Martin Brundle (GB). Age 34.

GP 115. Wins 0. Championships 0.

NOT so long ago the Woking-based team dominated Formula One and had Alain Prost and Senna in their line-up. Senna's departure and Prost's refusal of the chance to return reflect their changing fortunes. They have considerable potential in Hakkinen and their new alliance with Peugeot, but need time to realise it.

BENETTON-FORD

Michael Schumacher (Ger). Age 25.

GP 38. Wins 2. Championships 0.

J J Lehto (Fin). Age 28.

GP 54. Wins 0. Championships 0.

THE team appear well prepared and could be Williams' most serious challengers. Schumacher is fired up and has been in stunning form in testing. Lehto, however, is not yet fully recovered from a crash at Silverstone two months ago, so the untried Dutchman, Jos Verstappen, races in Brazil.

FERRARI

Jean Alesi (Fr). Age 29.

GP 71. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Gerhard Berger (Aut). Age 34.

GP 147. Wins 8. Championships 0.

EVERY season the faithful expect the Prancing Horse to come good again, but it is now more than three years and 50 races since they had a win to celebrate. John Barnard's creation has inevitably raised hopes and Alesi has fanned the optimism. Berger, however, suggests that it is a little early to pop the corks.

TYRRELL-YAMAHA

Mark Blundell (GB). Age 27.

GP 30. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Ukyo Katayama (Japan). Age 30.

GP 30. Wins 0. Championships 0.

THE team with a glorious distant past is seeking a revival and the return of Harvey Postlethwaite to run technical affairs could at last steer them in the right direction.

ARROWS-FORD

Christian Fittipaldi (Bra). Age 23.

GP 24. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Gianni Morbidelli (It). Age 26.

GP 34. Wins 0. Championships 0.

ARROWS have back their old name and although they have lost much of their budget along with the Footwork tag, they may settle into a more efficient and consistent racing operation.

LOTUS-MUGEN HONDA

Johnny Herbert (GB). Age 29.

GP 47. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Pedro Lamy (Por). Age 22.

GP 4. Wins 0. Championships 0.

THE team rescued from extinction by Peter Collins have had a difficult winter and may find the going no easier once the real action resumes.

JORDAN-HART

Rubens Barrichello (Bra). Age 21.

GP 16. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Eddie Irvine (GB). Age 28.

GP 2. Wins 0. Championships 0.

THE Silverstone camp is buoyant again and Eddie Jordan aims to top the 'second division' this season. Irvine should keep Barrichello, if not another Brazilian, on his toes.

LARROUSSE-FORD

Olivier Beretta (Fr). Age 24.

GP 0.

Erik Comas (Fr). Age 30.

GP 44. Wins 0. Championships 0.

THIS French outfit are finding their feet after an uncertain period and have what appears to be a neat package this time. Could be up there among the points.

MINARDI-FORD

Pierluigi Martini (It). Age 32.

GP 94. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Michele Alboreto (It). Age 37.

GP 178. Wins 5. Championships 0.

THE Italian team have been revamped and have a reasonable budget this season. Two of the more experienced hands ought to put them on course for a respectable showing.

LIGIER-RENAULT

Eric Bernard (Fr). Age 29.

GP 31. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Olivier Panis (Fr). Age 27.

GP 0.

THEY have been the subject of constant takeover talk, with Benetton's Flavio Briatore the leading candidate, and approached the season without a confirmed second driver, but do not write them off.

SAUBER-MERCEDES

Karl Wendlinger (Aut). Age 25.

GP 32. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Ger). Age 26.

GP 0.

THIS could be the team to come through the pack and chase the Big Four. Their organisation is sound, the car is promising and Schumacher's old pals provide a strong driver line-up.

SIMTEK-FORD

David Brabham (Aus). Age 28.

GP 8. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Roland Ratzenberger (Aut). Age 31.

GP 0.

THE very appearance of this Banbury-based team in Formula One is a triumph for ambition and resourcefulness. They are in for a testing year, but are willing to learn.

PACIFIC-ILMOR

Paul Belmondo (Fr). Age 30.

GP 5. Wins 0. Championships 0.

Bertrand Gachot (Bel). Age 31.

GP 31. Wins 0. Championships 0.

THIS Norfolk team are also new to Formula One, succeeding where they just failed last year. Victorious in every other category they have entered, they mean business.