McLaren have come out with a new sort of concept for their car and Jenson [Button] is fired up for it. [Sergio] Perez is looking to try and make his mark. But I think we can safely say Jenson is the team leader.
Lewis [Hamilton] has gone to Mercedes and their performance in testing was better than expected, although it might be a little bit early for them. Lewis was though, supreme last season, in my opinion. He was racing so well and is probably still number one when it comes to qualifying.
Fernando has got a bit of a point to prove.
Ferrari and Alonso have got to do it this year because they have been so close - and especially last year with such a bad car. Now the car looks to be so strong in comparison to what they had at this time in 2012. They really have to make it work.
If I was to put my money down on someone right now, before the first race, to actually take the title away from
Red Bull and from Vettel, then I would probably say it would be Alonso and Ferrari. But that is just like looking into a crystal ball right now. There is a lot of racing and a lot of things to come between now and then.
Crash.net:
Last year we had a lot of different winners as you say, including
Williams and Lotus. Is it possible for those two teams to win again?
Allan McNish:
It is more likely for Lotus because of the nature of their team and also their driver line-up.
[Romain] Grosjean out-qualified Kimi [Raikkonen] quite a few times but had too many incidents. But if that can be tempered he will pull some good points, I am sure, and win a race.
Kimi, well his line of, 'Leave me alone, I know what I am doing', it is still legendary. It is absolutely fantastic. But he knew what he was doing and we all expected that win to come earlier. So, yes, the chance is there.
With Williams, I was so pleased when they won that race [in Barcelona], especially on Frank Williams' 70th birthday weekend. That was just superb. But they have to maximise it when the opportunity presents itself because these sorts of chances don't come along every weekend. They had a quick car and they have got to take the chances when they come because if you don't, the other teams are too good to let that slip.
Crash.net:
We touched a moment ago on the tyres and the role they have played in improving the spectacle. Do you think the Drag Reduction System [DRS] has done its job as well? Are you a fan of it?
Allan McNish:
My father hates it, he says: 'Son that is ridiculous - if you just press a button and then you can blast past someone else, that is not overtaking, that is not racing'. He is a purist and I argue with him, and admittedly I agree with him to some extent.