Over the past month we've had 11 new cars, 22 drivers all claiming that this will be "their year" and thousands of kilometres in testing completed. This weekend the 2013 season starts in Melbourne, Australia and we get to see whether any great strides have been made during the off season. I'm only going to make one prediction in this preview and that is who will win the title: Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing. I am NEVER correct at making predictions so... go Vettel!
Infiniti Red Bull Racing
Drivers: Sebastian Vettel/Mark Webber
A new title sponsor adorns the triple double-World Champions but everything else stays the same. They claim the push they made for the title last year puts them a little unprepared for 2013, and in testing they haven't particularly set the track alight. I can't help but think they are holding back - they are the immediate front runners.
Scuderia Ferrari
Drivers: Fernando Alonso/Felipe Massa
Last year their car was a pile of turd, yet they were within 20 laps of Championship glory in the last race of 2012. Testing looks better this year and when Massa set a good time in testing you knew Alonso would be quicker - he was. Ferrari will be a tough challenge to beat in 2013.
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Drivers: Jenson Button/Sergio Perez
Jenson is the natural new leader at McLaren but I expect Sergio Perez to make Jenson's life difficult. Sergio came very close to winning twice last year and is known to be easy on tyres. Once he is settled, my hunch is that he will be ahead of Jenson come season end.
Lotus F1 Team
Drivers: Kimi Raikkonen/Romain Grosjean
The dark horses for the titles? Quite possibly. Kimi completed every race last year and despite just the one race win, finished very high up the table. With a bit more speed they could pull off an impressive campaign. As for Grosjean, as long as he doesn't crash he will have a solid season - and save his F1 career.
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1
Drivers: Nico Rosberg/Lewis Hamilton
The best lineup on the grid; Mercedes have invested heavily over the winter and have the strongest driver lineup and potentially the strongest technical team too. They have needed to do this as Mercedes have not impressed in their three years back in the sport. Whilst they have played down their testing form and focus is on a 2014 title challenge, I expect at least one win for Lewis and will see a revitalised Nico too. Cannot wait to see this team develop in 2013.
Sauber F1 Team
Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg/Esteban Gutierrez
The surprise package of 2012 has a new lineup for 2013. Sauber make good solid race cars and whilst seem rooted to the mid pack, they are the team that looks like a race win is just races away. Hulkenberg is in his third team as he enters his third season - some say a sideways move from Force India, but I suspect this is an opportunity for him to get a Ferrari seat - after all Sauber have a Ferrari engine.
Williams F1 Team
Drivers: Pastor Maldonado/Valtteri Bottas
Williams go into a season for the first time since 2005 where success means having to win a race. Will they? Well Maldonado still has a temperament that needs to be cooled and their new signing, the Finn, Bottas is highly rated. They had a quiet winter but there is a feeling the new car is quick. Could spring a surprise result or two this year.
Sahara Force India F1 Team
Drivers: Paul Di Resta/Adrian Sutil
The team born out of Eddie Jordan need a decent result this season - under any guise the Silverstone based team always build good racing cars, but only under Jordan's leadership have they ever had a top-flight season. I don't rate Di Resta, and the return of Sutil to the team will show the world whether Di Resta has what it takes to survive in F1. Will be an interesting battle but I expect Sutil to finish ahead.
Scuderia Toro-Rosso
Drivers: Daniel Ricciardo/Jean-Eric Vergne
The Red Bull junior team with two drivers supposedly shooting it out to get Mark Webber's seat at the main Red Bull team. Winter testing implies they've had a good development during the off season and they have built a solid car - whether it mixes in with the established mid-field is questionable. Regardless, it'll be another fascinating inter-team battle.
Caterham F1 Team
Drivers: Charles Pic/Giedo van der Garde
On paper, Caterham should have put themselves into point scoring places already during their three years in the sport. But an 11th placed finish in the last race was enough to put them in 10th place in the standings. Budget concerns has forced them to part ways with their established driver Heikki Kovalainen, and their first major upgrade isn't until the Spanish GP in May. I'll expect another year at the back for Caterham.
Marussia F1 Team
Drivers: Max Chilton/Jules Bianchi
Like Caterham, Marussia also had to part ways with their proven driver in Timo Glock, but they have two highly rated upcoming stars. Bianchi a late replacement for Luis Razia was expected to be at Force India until Sutil brought extra funding, and Chilton, the fourth Brit on the grid. The battle between Caterham and Marussia will be great to watch - my money is on Marussia.
It should be a close year, 19 races, lots of questions need to be answered. The greatest race on earth starts on Sunday.