5 bold predictions for Formula 1 in 2019

#4 McLaren to struggle... Again

There's a new driver line-up for McLaren, but will the same problems persist?

McLaren are currently enduring the worst period of their history, there's no getting away from that. No win since 2012, and no podium since 2014, they're firmly in the doldrums with no clear way out. Lando Norris has been promoted to full-time driver and Carlos Sainz joins from Renault in the hope that they can turn the papaya cars' luck around, but I believe they'll continue to struggle at the back.

Australia 2018 was classic flattering to deceive by the Woking outfit; Fernando Alonso's fantastic performance meant that he was able to hold off Max Verstappen's Red Bull to the chequered flag but this was the only time that McLaren showed they could fight.

It all went downhill from there, culminating in some of the worst racing and qualifying performances of the team's history and I don't think that 2019 will be much better. Sainz is a good driver, but he's no Fernando Alonso, and can't be relied upon to score points in races when he should be outside the top 10. Norris, meanwhile, is quick, but he's also a rookie, an upgrade on Stoffel Vandoorne, but hardly a different class of driver.

McLaren need a huge upgrade in both their chassis' pace and their Renault power unit to be closer to the forefront of the sport, and I hope I'm wrong on this one, but I don't see that happening.