Ahead of the opening race of the 2018 Formula One season in Australia on March 25, we take a look at how each team is shaping up for the new campaign.

Here we assess whether Mercedes will remain the team to beat in the upcoming season.

HOW DID THEY PERFORM IN 2017?

Just as in the three previous seasons, Mercedes proved the most dominant team in F1.

However, Ferrari provided far greater competition than was managed from 2014 to 2016, with Sebastian Vettel looking like a serious title contender until two retirements in the space of three grands prix in the second half of the season.

Valtteri Bottas won the first F1 race of his career in Russia and only finished 12 points behind Vettel in third in the drivers' standings.

THE 2018 LINE-UP

Lewis Hamilton

After joining rival Vettel and Alain Prost on four world titles in 2017, Hamilton will be eager to push on and match Juan Manuel Fangio on five.

As the number one driver in what is likely to remain the best car, few would bet against hi