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Formula 1 in 2019: 19 things that are different

New beginnings. New drivers. New rivalries. Get ready for a 2019 Formula 1 season full of changes...

Ferrari have gone big in their changes for 2019
If the decision to replace Kimi Raikkonen with Charles Leclerc was strong, the ousting of Maurizio Arrivabene to promote Mattia Binotto as team boss was seismic.

Lewis Hamilton is now a five-time world champion
Which makes him, for the first time in his F1 career, the most successful driver currently in the sport.

How to follow F1 2019 with Sky F1
How to follow F1 2019 with Sky F1

On TV, Online, On Demand and on the go: All the ways you can watch every Formula 1 race weekend on Sky Sports F1 this year...

Just two teams - Mercedes and Haas - have kept the same driver line-up
Everybody else - so that's Red Bull, Ferrari, Renault, Racing Point, Alfa Romeo, Toro Rosso and Williams - have changed at least one of their drivers.

The season ends in December
December 1, in fact. Which is not excessively later than normal seasons. But has a nice ring to it.

F1 2019: All the key dates

Red Bull will be powered by Honda after opting to drop Renault
Which is either brave, risky or ingenious. Or, quite possibly, a combination of all three!

Also See:

Ricciardo has swapped Red Bull for Renault
See the combination of words above. But with more risk involved...

Alfa Romeo are back
One of F1's most historic brands return to the grid after taking over the Sauber name. And Raikkonen will be there to lead their midfield charge.

When's the Australian GP on Sky?
When's the Australian GP on Sky?

Race underway at 5.10am on Sunday, live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports Main Event. Full schedule here!

The cars are very different
Simplified front and rear wings are the eye-catching changes, which F1 bosses hope will lead to...

...better chances for overtaking
It should be easier to follow in these new-for-2019 cars. The early signs from winter testing were promising, so say the drivers, so let's see what the opening races have in store.

The triple header is no more
It was fun while it lasted for fans, but a logistical nightmare for teams.

McLaren have a new management structure
Zak Brown will still oversee the F1 team, but McLaren have a new team boss in Andreas Seidl and a new technical director in the highly-regarded James Key.

The mid-season break has shifted a week
The Hungarian GP takes place in August, while the Belgian GP moves to the beginning of September.

Tyres should be easier to understand
The hypersoft, ultrasoft and supersoft names are no more. Instead, there are five tyres available but the three selected per race weekend will be known simply as soft, medium and hard.

Drivers can bulk up
There is a minimum driver weight of 80kg this year, and it is now considered separately to the car. That means heavier drivers are no longer disadvantaged by the weight regulations. Get eating, boys...

The Force India name is no more
How will Racing Point fare in F1 2019?

Williams Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams looks on from the garage during day three of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Catalunya

Williams start an F1 season as backmarkers
They are one of the sport's most successful teams but they come into F1 2019 as favourites to be at the back of the grid after a poor 2018 season, and a delayed car which led to technical chief Paddy Lowe taking a 'leave of absence'. It will be a tough task for Russell and Robert Kubica, returning to the grid after nine years away, this year.

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There is a new chapter for F1 in 2019, Sky Sports F1, the Home of Live and Exclusive F1. To celebrate becoming the home of live and exclusive F1, Sky Sports F1 will be available for just £10 a month from March 1

An extra point for fastest lap?
For the first time in 60 years, F1 will award a bonus point to the driver (and his team) who sets the fastest lap in races this year - provided said driver also finishes in the top 10. If the driver with the fastest lap is outside the top 10, no bonus point is awarded.

There are two more Brits on the grid
Welcome, George Russell and Lando Norris. And do not forget the British-born Thai, Alex Albon!

Find out more about Sky Sports F1
Find out more about Sky Sports F1

Watch every race, qualifying and practice session live with Sky Sports F1 in 2019

Oh, and Sky Sports F1 is the home of live and exclusive F1
And new and existing customers in the UK can now get the channel for just £10 extra a month, our best-ever offer. Find out more here to watch the 2019 season live

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