The race is on, and finally we're on the brink of the serious stuff starting with the Formula One season opening Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

And based on pre-season testing, dare we hope for a genuine title fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Mastappen.

I'm Ed Strawn, and to answer that question and many more, I'm joined by Scott Mitchell, Mark

Hughes and Gary Anderson.

Well, we've got a huge amount to get through on this podcast, so I think we have to pile straight

into it, otherwise we'll be going on for hours.

So really exciting prospect, Mark.

Pre-season testing suggests that Vostappen might for the first time have a car capable of fighting for the World Championship. So if that is the

case, he's going to have to beat Lewis Hamilton in order to win it. So how do you see that battle

shaking out if they are in relatively comparable cars?

It's going to be fascinating if, as you say, the cars are about the same because it's the big

contest Formula One's been waiting for for a few years now, you know, just a straight driver's

fight between those two. And we've had little hints of it over the years when they've crossed swords a little bit,

but generally, you know, the Mercedes has been superior to the Red Bull.

And on the days when the Red Bull's been superior to the Mercedes, it's been a lot superior,

you know, in places like Mexico.

So in those few races, for Stappman's tended to disappear off from the distance.

So, yeah, a relatively few times that they have crossed swords.

But when they have, it's been fascinating.

And I think the first one I remember was Malaysia 17.

And Lewis was driving very much for the title.

He'd set pole, but he needed his Q3 engine advantage to do it.

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