It's all clear for the bookmakers: Jacques Villeneuve is the man to beat. He is the clear number one followed by Michael Schumacher.

Villeneuve is very self-confident: "I know everything now, there is nothing for me to learn," he said. "I just have to adapt a bit and improve what I've learned so far. Knowing the tracks will help a lot. The first few races, starting in Australia, are the most important. If you can put points in the bag and have a lead, then you can have a race strategy and play on that lead."

Arrows owner Tom Walkinshaw is expecting Damon Hill, this year's Formula One champion, to be competitive by the end of the season.

Hill commented: "We will be fighting to get on the podium, but that will be an extremely good result for us. There is every opportunity for us to do extremely well. But I am under no illusion. I had an enormous level of success last year. This time, I will be stepping backwards in order to go forward again."

Michael Schumacher showed himself not very optimistic: "I would not bet any money on myself. We have not made as big a step forward as I had hoped."