Lewis Hamilton is itching to prove this is the season he can finally land his second world title, six years after he won the championship in highly-dramatic circumstances in Brazil in 2008.
Over the five intervening campaigns Hamilton has finished fourth on three occasions and fifth on two others, with the closest he has come to doubling up being in 2010 when he was 16 points adrift.
But Hamilton heads into the latest campaign as clear favourite to reclaim a crown that has been the property of Sebastian Vettel for the past four years.
He said: “We’re as ready as we can be for Melbourne and I’m more fired up than ever.
With all the changes within the sport and the hard work that’s been going on within the team, I believe this can be our year to really show what we’re capable of.
“That’s not to take anything away from our opposition, who will be incredibly tough to beat as always, but I feel like I’m equipped with the tools I need to succeed, and I can’t wait to get started.”
After reigning champion Vettel concluded last year with nine straight victories that had viewers turning off in their millions around the world, Hamilton has implored them to tune back in.
He added: “I’m excited about the new season, not just as a driver, but as a fan. As a fan, you want to see overtaking throughout the field, you want to see different race winners, you want to see the championship go down to the wire.
“I hope the changes for this year will make that happen.
This is the year you need to watch Formula One!” Mercedes Motorsport boss Toto Wolff said: “We now face the ultimate reality check in the first race of this new era for Formula One. The feeling within the team is not one of nerves, however. It is more a sense of relief to finally be unleashing our cars in race conditions.
“Everybody now just wants to get out there and see where we stand. Expectations are high, both internally and externally, and although we’re not quite where we want to be right now in terms of a complete package, I’m optimistic in that we’ve done everything possible to prepare for the challenges ahead.”
