We’re massive motorsport fans here at Double Apex. We are also huge fans of Formula 1, with a dedicated section on our site. F1 teams are busy putting the final touches on their 2020 cars (which you view at this link) ahead of the first test session at the end of next week. With that in mind we bring you our 2020 Formula One predictions. We’ve asked our regular F1 contributor, Nick van der Meulen resident nuclear scientist and walking F1 encyclopaedia to comment in three categories to give us his 2020 Formula One predictions.

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1) What I’d like to see happen in the 2020 season.

I would like to see close racing between the top teams this year, with Ferrari and Red Bull bringing the fight to Mercedes. Imagine a showdown for the title between at least three drivers at the final round of the season… wouldn’t that be incredible? I would love to see the gap between the top three and the mid-field teams decrease dramatically. Perhaps the stability of the rules may make that a reality. Lastly, I would like to see Williams bounce back from the doldrums.

2) What will probably happen in the 2020 season.

Lewis Hamilton will win his 7th world title – more of 2019. Toto Wolff and Hamilton have proven to be a lethal combination over the years. The top three teams ought to remain exactly in that order.

Mattia Binotto has not been an impressive team manager for Ferrari to date and, should he continue with this management style, the marque will not win the world title as a result of internal squabbles between Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel. Vettel is a multiple world champion, but he is struggling to get to terms with the fact that young Leclerc is currently quicker – and hungrier – than he is. Let’s hope the stories of Ferrari’s new challenger being sub-par is merely sandbagging…

Red Bull Racing has everyone in the team focused on Max Verstappen. The Dutchman can be petulant at times, however, I think he will win races in 2020. Adrian Newey is a class act, so the car should be competitive and Honda is improving all the time.

3) The dark horse team and driver of 2020.

I would like to say Daniel Ricciardo in the Renault, but it will probably be Carlos Sainz and McLaren. They were a revelation in 2019 and, although Zak Brown is downplaying McLaren’s progress for 2020, he has two fine drivers in Sainz and Lando Norris. It will be interesting to see how Esteban Ocon fares upon his return to F1 – he is a talent and I hope Renault can turn their fortunes around.

If you haven’t already seen it, we’ve added a video (below) that takes some of the most memorable pit-to-car radio messages from the 2019 season and turns them into very funny cartoons.