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Sebastian Vettel will on Friday at last get some insight to the reality of his quest to win three Formula One world titles in succession.
After six days of testing and guessing, the pecking order of the teams will be previewed when practice for the Australian Grand Prix gets underway.
The Red Bulls are still seen as the likely pacesetters with Vettel trying to become the third driver after Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher to take a hat-trick of championships.
The German and his Australian teammate Mark Webber say there are still issues with the new car although testing has been productive.
A strong challenge is expected from McLaren while Ferrari bosses say they are going to be off the pace as they struggle to redesign a car which proved troublesome in testing.
Jenson Button was runner-up behind Vettel in the series last year, ahead of fellow McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner sees Button as the main threat to Vettel’s continued dominance.
“Jenson seemed to get the team around him and strung a set of results together that was very impressive,” Horner said.
There will be two Australians competing in Australia for the first time with Webber joined by Daniel Ricciardo, in his first full F1 season with Toro Rosso.
Team bosses have told Ricciardo and his French teammate Jean-Eric Vergne to push as hard as possible as they look for a successor for Webber at Red Bull.
“We’re going to be on the edge,” Ricciardo said.
“They have said if you make a mistake, it happens. At least we know you’re pushing it.
“Obviously we’re not going out there trying to crash the car, but sometimes a team needs to see you go off, whether it’s a crash or you run across the grass’ to know that you’re trying to find that limit.
“I’m not going to hold back.”
Two 90-minute practice sessions for the Formula One cars will be held on Friday ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.
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