Assessment: Untouchable in 2011, Red Bull had to come from behind to reel in Ferrari last year. The concern is whether they put development on the back burner during that late charge, but they are still favourites to make it four constructors' titles on the trot.
FERRARI
Last year: 2nd
Drivers: Fernando Alonso (2), Felipe Massa (7)
Assessment: More of a workhorse than a prancing horse as the team from Maranello discovered a level of mechanical reliability that could give Italian cars a good name. That could provide the platform for another serious title push.
VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
Last year: 3rd
Drivers: Jenson Button (5), Sergio Perez (10)
Assessment: Lewis Hamilton has moved on, but Button will face stiff competition from his new team-mate, young Perez, who has raw ability and natural pace, and after his move from Sauber, now has a car to show it.
LOTUS
Last year: 4th
Drivers: Kimi Raikkonen (3), Romain Grosjean (8)
Assessment: In 2012, Raikkonen proved he had lost none of his wondrous ability during his two-year break, giving Lotus a race win for the first time in 25 years. Lotus had speed and reliability, but were let down by Grosjean's errors.
MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS
Last year: 5th
Drivers: Nico Rosberg (9), Lewis Hamilton (4)
Assessment: Not since Michael Schumacher turned up at Ferrari in 1996 have a team invested as much hope in a driver as Mercedes have in Hamilton. The 28-year-old will need all his skill and speed to help them break into the top four.
SAUBER
Last year: 6th
Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg (11), Esteban Gutierrez (n/a)
Assessment: After a solid but unspectacular 2012, the Swiss outfit may struggle to get among the points now they have an all-new driver line-up. Great things are expected of the 22-year-old Gutierrez – but probably not yet.
SAHARA FORCE INDIA
Last year: 7th
Drivers: Paul di Resta (14), Adrian Sutil (n/a)
Assessment: Force India put in a series of good performances last season, but were caught in a squeeze as other teams upped their games as well. They have experience aplenty in their two drivers, but neither has won a grand prix.
WILLIAMS
Last year: 8th
Drivers: Pastor Maldonado (15), Valtteri Bottas (n/a)
Assessment: Returned to the winner's circle in 2012 after an eight-year absence when Maldonado pulled off a stunning victory in Spain, but probably should have done even better. Frank Williams has shaken up the backroom team.
TORO ROSSO
Last year: 9th
Drivers: Jean-Eric Vergne (17), Daniel Ricciardo (18)
Assessment: It's not a great surprise that the Austrian-owned, Italian-based team who do much of their development work in England have been all over the place results-wise too. Found reliability last year, but need more pace.
CATERHAM
Last year: 10th
Drivers: Charles Pic (21), Giedo van der Garde (n/a)
Assessment: The Malaysian-owned team have a big budget and big ideas. However, they lack track miles and will have to learn to walk before they can run. Recruiting young Pic from Marussia may prove to be a smart move.
MARUSSIA
Last year: 11th
Drivers: Max Chilton (n/a), Luiz Razia (n/a)
Assessment: Endured a pretty hopeless 2012, failing to score a single championship point. And things don't look a lot brighter this year, with a tight budget and two drivers who have no F1 race experience. Still, hope springs eternal.
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