The countdown to the start of the new Formula One season begins in earnest tomorrow as Toro Rosso and Williams launch their new cars for 2019, following on from Haas, who unveiled their VF-19 machine last week.

On Tuesday Renault get in on the act, followed by Racing Point, Mercedes and Red Bull on Wednesday, McLaren on Thursday and Ferrari on Friday.

And in what may not be a good omen for the coming season, Alfa Romeo Racing bring up the rear with the final launch next Monday at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona when the activity really picks up with the start of pre-season testing.

Testing returns to Barcelona on 26 February... then it's all eyes on Melbourne from 14 March for the build-up to the first race of the season at Albert Park.

Lining up on the grid this season for the all-conquering Mercedes team, one of only two squads to retain both their drivers, are five-times world champion Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

The only other team apart from Mercedes to keep their 2018 line-up, Haas retain Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen having enjoyed their most successful season to date last year.

Sebastian Vettel will embark on his fifth campaign with Ferrari, while after one of the most lauded rookie seasons in F1 history Charles Leclerc steps up from Sauber to drive alongside the four-time champion in place of Kimi Raikkonen.

Alfa Romeo have an all-new set of drivers in Raikkonen, who becomes the first champion since Jacques Villeneuve to drive for the Swiss team, while he’s partnered by Ferrari academy graduate Antonio Giovinazzi.

Pierre Gasly moves up from Toro Rosso to partner his old karting buddy Max Verstappen at Red Bull, with Daniel Ricciardo moving to Renault, where he’ll drive alongside Nico Hulkenberg, who starts his third year for the Anglo-French team.

It’s all change at McLaren, with Carlos Sainz switching over from Renault, while promising rookie Lando Norris moves up from Formula 2 to drive the second car, having readied himself with several practice sessions for the team in 2018.

Canadian Lance Stroll moves over to Racing Point from Williams, where he joins incumbent Sergio Perez in place of Esteban Ocon, who becomes Mercedes’ third and reserve driver for 2019.

Toro Rosso bring Daniil Kvyat, who lost his drive midway through the 2017 season, back from his role as Ferrari’s development driver for his third stint at the team, while he will be joined by F2 third-place finisher Alexander Albon.

And in one of the most hotly-anticipated returns in the sport’s history, Poland's Robert Kubica races in F1 for the first time since 2010 driving for Williams alongside F2 champion George Russell.

For more information about Formula One and the Australian Grand Prix visit the websites.

THE 2019 F1 RACE CALENDAR
Mar 17, Australia, Melbourne
Mar 31, Bahrain, Sakhir
Apr 14, China, Shanghai
Apr 28, Azerbaijan, Baku
May 12, Spain, Barcelona
May 26, Monaco, Monaco
Jun 9, Canada, Montreal
Jun 23, France, Le Castellet
Jun 30, Austria, Spielberg
Jul 14, Great Britain, Silverstone
Jul 28, Germany, Hockenheim
Aug 4, Hungary, Budapest
Sep 1, Belgium, Spa
Sep 8, Italy, Monza
Sep 22, Singapore, Singapore
Sep 29, Russia, Sochi
Oct 13, Japan, Suzuka
Oct 27, Mexico, Mexico City
Nov 3, USA, Austin
Nov 17, Brazil, Sao Paulo
Dec 1, Abu Dhabi, Yas Island