Motor Racing: McLaren's chance to be kings

Formula One could see changes in the ruling class this season. Derick Allsop reports

A NEW season, with new-look cars, new-look racing and new champions. It may sound naively catchy and simplistic, but this is the widely favoured perspective of sport's most extravagant roadshow as it opens again for business this weekend.

By the time day breaks over Britain on Sunday, we shall have a clearer overview on whether this is indeed the start of something different, or merely another false dawn in Formula One.

The only certainty is that the cars lining up on the grid in Melbourne for the first grand prix of the world championship will be substantially changed from last year's. They will be narrower and fitted with grooved tyres to make them slower and, the governing body contend, safer.

Some drivers - notably the world champion, Jacques Villeneuve - doubt the racing will be safer, suggesting mistakes will be more commonplace and the cars will spin further off the track.

Others, such as Jackie Stewart, are of the opinion that there will be more opportunities to overtake for drivers blessed with the natural car control to take advantage. That would surely be no bad thing for the likes of Villeneuve, or Formula One. Stewart is less convinced about the prospects of Damon Hill and David Coulthard.

It is highly probable that the established major players, Williams, Ferrari, Benetton and McLaren, will again be seen ahead of the rest, since they have the expertise and resources to exploit the new regulations.

There are, however, distinct signs that the order at the top is about to change and that McLaren are on the threshold of their first championship since 1991. Or could it be Ferrari will emerge from their lair and claim their first drivers' title since 1979? Or perhaps Benetton, who like McLaren have changed from Goodyear tyres to Bridgestone, will prove they can beat all comers without Michael Schumacher's leadership.

Schumacher, embarking on a third season with Ferrari, believes tyres will be crucial to the outcome of the championship, naming McLaren and Benetton, rather than Williams, as the most serious threats to his ambitions of winning a third title.

Williams themselves acknowledge the authenticity of McLaren's challenge, anticipate the continuing hounding by Schumacher's Ferrari, and recognise the potential of Benetton's rejuvenation. And yet, if they are worried, it does not show. In fact, an apparent lack of emotion tends to characterise Williams in the public perception as vividly as their consistent success.

However, the stoically British reaction to victory or defeat should lure no one into the misapprehension that Williams' appetite for winning has been satisfied. Renault's withdrawal from Formula One would appear to indicate a possible weakness in Williams' armoury, but they are satisfied the engine will be no less powerful or reliable. They profess themselves equally confident that the combined prowess of their drivers will have been significantly enhanced.

Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen are in tandem for a second season and each should be better for the additional experience in the front line of grand prix racing.

It is conceivable, though not likely, Villeneuve will be less motivated now he has a championship in his account, but he is conscious that he still has to persuade the world he is the best.

Frank Williams confirms: "It gets up his nose to keep hearing Michael Schumacher is the best. He believes he is or will be better than Schumacher. I think he can be as good as Michael, and remember he has had only two years in Formula One against Michael's seven.

"Jacques has got the hardest head I've ever come across. He's brilliantly skilful and a very tough competitor. I think his homeland has a lot to do with it. They breed tough guys in Canada.

"You can give him advice but in the end he will do what he wants to do. He does, though, learn with every race."

Frentzen will be aware that he must heed the lessons of last year if he is to retain his place in Formula One's most successful team. "We believe he will do a better job," Williams said.

The subject of Frentzen's fitness - or comparative lack of it - became a source of irritation and mirth within the Williams camp last year. The German will have understood Frank Williams' message behind the jokes and will doubtless respond accordingly.

Fitness has never been a dirty word for Frentzen's compatriot, Schumacher, who remains the strongest single element in the Ferrari equation. His unrivalled powers of improvisation almost denied Villeneuve the championship last season.

The quality of Schumacher's new car is still something of a mystery, because Ferrari have avoided testing alongside their rivals. That may mean they have too much to show, or too little. Now they can hide no longer. If the car is just about as good as any other, then Schumacher ought to make the difference.

Everyone in Formula One recognises Schumacher's ability to outwit the rest in abnormal circumstances, but McLaren, like Williams, are banking on their ability to out-engineer and out-organise Ferrari.

Ron Dennis has led McLaren through six seasons of indifferent performance but much as he publicly resists the notion his team are favourites for the championship, contending "it's a waste of time to make predictions", the body language shouts out his confidence and expectation.

He takes the view that if the car is good enough a 15-year-old should be able to drive it across the finish line ahead of Schumacher, and in Mika Hakkinen and Coulthard, he has two rather more experienced, if scarcely geriatric, drivers.

Evidence of McLaren's revival was apparent last year and Adrian Newey's new car has been the talk of pre-season testing. If Mercedes achieve reliability to complement the power of their engine and the tyres work as well as has been forecast, then Dennis has a formidable package.

Benetton are no slouches either. Under the guidance of the ubiquitous David Richards, they seem to have found a fresh vitality, epitomised by their young drivers, Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz. Their inexperience may betray them at critical moments, but they could well be competing for victories.

Prost, Jordan and Sauber can anticipate some robust midfield jousting, while Arrows, whom Hill abandoned for Jordan, Tyrrell and Stewart will be anxious to ensure Minardi hang on to the wooden spoon.

Stewart, who have the benefit of Ford factory support, will be expected to take a significant step forward in their second season of grand prix competition.

Ken Tyrrell, had planned a sentimental last journey on the world championship tour before relinquishing all links with his team to the British American Racing organisation, but a difference of opinion has forced a premature split. Which is a shame, because this year's Tyrrell looks a useful car.