Max Verstappen looks set to cruise to a fourth consecutive drivers' title with Red Bull as the dominant team again this year when the curtain rises on Formula One's longest-ever season in Bahrain.
No matter the outcome of an independent investigation into allegations of controlling behavior by team boss Christian Horner, Red Bull has built a crushing level of momentum and a stunning car that oozed potential in preseason testing.
With stable regulations and no changes to the driver lineups, a year of deja vu appears likely as the F1 circus embarks on a daunting and unprecedented run of 24 race weekends stretching to early December.
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