Williams technical director Sam Michael, speaking at the livery launch of the new FW33 at the team's Grove, England base, confirmed that the start of the new F1 season should see more Red Bull versus Ferrari battles.



McLaren, in the thick of the action at the Abu Dhabi 2010 season finale three months ago, appears to be struggling with its new MP4-26 and, indeed, cancelled a planned press lunch scheduled for today at just 36 hours notice.

Michael, however, cautioned that with teams still bringing upgrade packages to cars and one test remaining in Barcelona, it is difficult to predict the early races with any certainty, but said that a pattern had emerged at the last Barcelona test.

"It's Red Bull and Ferrari," he said. "One day I think Red Bull, the next Ferrari. It's so tight and that could change at the last Barcelona test when everyone puts their first race updates on the car. The Red Bull is a more developed car than the Ferrari. If you look at its exhaust system, the back end, there's much less to come from that car then there is from the Ferrari. If Ferrari brings an upgrade package that gives them something at the last test, they could nip in front."