Mercedes is "clear favourite" - Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has insisted that Mercedes remains the "clear, clear favourite" for the title in 2017, in spite of the new regulations that could prompt much closer competition.

Mercedes has won every title available since 2014, when the current turbocharged V6 hybrid engine formula was introduced, along with 51 of the 59 Grands Prix during that time, but for this year wider cars, revised aerodynamics and fatter tyres will be present.

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This has already led to some surprises during testing in Barcelona, with Ferrari emerging as the fastest overall team ahead of Mercedes, Williams and Red Bull.

Despite this result, Horner still believes the Silver Arrows will come out on top this season, telling F1's official website: "Mercedes is the clear, clear favourite. They have won (51) races in the last three years, we've won five and Ferrari three."

Speaking of the new rules, he added: "The regulation changes aren't that big. There have been times with equally big changes: refuelling/no refuelling, blown diffusers and no blown diffusers, a change from Bridgestone to Pirelli (tyres). And one thing is crystal clear: good teams adapt."

Red Bull was able to beat Ferrari to second in the 2016 constructors' championship, and Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen won a race each. When asked about his team's prospects in 2017 and whether they would be better, Horner answered: "Again, Mercedes are total favourites. We've made a good car - a good basis of car that we will hopefully be able to develop effectively.

"Renault has had a busy winter as well, (so) hopefully the engine in our car will perform well this season. How well - and what the others will find - is pure speculation."

Red Bull endured a quiet eight days of testing in Spain, due in part to ERS issues and resulting in generally unspectacular lap times, but Horner is evidently satisfied with how the team has prepared for the season.

"We do analysis, but what you don't know in modern Formula 1, with energy levels and of course fuel loads, is what specifications others are running with on their cars," he explained.

"We are content with our pre-season, we are pleased with the way that the car is reacting, the drivers feel confident - they like the feel of the car, so we are ready."

Mason Hawker