5 bold predictions for Formula 1 in 2019

#2 Hamilton to win a sixth title

Lewis Hamilton has won four of the last five driver's championships

Here's what's probably my boldest prediction for the upcoming season, because it ultimately depends on a lot of pieces falling into place in the near future. What I don't doubt is that Lewis Hamilton has been in the form of his life and if he doesn't win the 2019 driver's championship, it probably won't be down to him.

The Brit is simply the fastest and most reliable pilot on the grid, if anybody finishes above him come Abu Dhabi, they will be champion. Meanwhile, Mercedes have consistently produced the fastest and usually most reliable challenger every year since 2014, a slipup in car design would be unprecedented from the German outfit.

As for the competition?

Ferrari are once again in turmoil, as Maurizio Arrivabene has been forced out the door thanks to some classic Scuderia political upheaval. The Maranello outfit can barely keep their own ship afloat, let alone challenge Mercedes, I expect them to have a mountain to climb when Albert Park rolls around.

Honda have caught their engine opposition rapidly and Red Bull probably have the best chassis on the grid, but Max Verstappen still has to round off his raw edges if he's to challenge a competitor as experienced as Hamilton over a 21-race season. Any other team would require a huge hike in the performance of their cars to get close to Mercedes, something that really isn't possible, with a slight opportunity for one outfit...