LiveScore’s Jim Munro gets you up to speed with the big talking points around the Formula 1 paddock ahead of the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Can anybody catch Max Verstappen?

In two seasons Verstappen, 25, has graduated from precocious talent to being a double world champion. 

News from pre-season testing is that he has the best seat in the house again as Red Bull flew impressively out of the blocks. 

After a few technical gremlins at the start of 2022, Verstappen went on to dominate the championship with 15 wins from 22 grands prix and there is little sign of that momentum slowing. 

As the defending champion said after Bahrain testing: "There’s nothing really rushed or things on the car that we know are slower. 

"Everything that we put on the car is faster."

Is time running out for Lewis Hamilton? 

At 38 Hamilton has suggested that there is more to life than motorsport as he gets older — but has also said that it’s his dream to retire as world champion. 

From being the driving force in F1 for several years, Mercedes got it wrong last term, producing a car under the new regulations that struggled to compete for the first half of the season. 

Team principal Toto Wolff has naturally been bigging up their chances this time around but the reality for Hamilton is that this is his 17th campaign in F1 and his £40million-a-year contract expires at the end of this year. 

Another season lagging behind Red Bull and Ferrari may prompt him to rethink his future plans. 

Who are the new faces in F1 in 2023?

Dutchman Nyck de Vries, 28, is making the step up to F1 with AlphaTauri. 

The 2020-21 Formula E champion gave us a glimpse of his F1 potential at Monza last year when he deputised for Alex Albon at the Italian Grand Prix after the Frenchman was struck down with appendicitis. 

De Vries was voted driver of the day after bringing his Williams home in ninth place, earning his first F1 points. 

Logan Sargeant, 22, has been called up to an F1 seat with Williams after just one season in Formula 2. 

He becomes the first American to compete in F1 since 2007 in a season in which three grands prix will be staged in his home nation. 

McLaren have swapped Australians, with Oscar Piastri replacing Daniel Ricciardo at the Woking-based outfit, while there’s a popular face returning to F1 in the shape of Nico Hulkenberg. 

The 181-race veteran is ending his three-year exile from the championship by turning out for Haas. 

Will Ferrari be as competitive as the start of last season?

There has been change at the top at Ferrari after their 2022 championship bid unravelled quite spectacularly under team boss Mattia Binotto. 

Charles Leclerc began the campaign with two wins and a second place in the opening three races, but technical issues coupled with some catastrophic team calls saw Leclerc finish a distant second in the championship, 146 points behind Verstappen. 

There was no better example of Ferrari’s indecision than the chaos in Monaco. 

Leclerc was called in from a winning position for a pit stop, only to have the engineer yelling "stay out, stay out" when it was too late to change. 

Stuck behind a tyre change for team-mate Carlos Sainz, the Monegasque’s race was ruined and he eventually had to settle for fourth place.  

Former Alfa Romeo chief Frederic Vasseur is the new man in charge trusted with reviving the fortunes of the Prancing Horse. 

Testing in Bahrain was positive and if Vasseur has the ability to make decisive calls when it matters, they could have a stronger competitive edge this year. 

Which team is the best among the chasing pack?

All eyes are on Aston Martin. 

Sebastian Vettel has retired but is replaced by double world champion Fernando Alonso, who steered the new AMR23 through pre-season testing with ease. 

Even Red Bull boss Christian Horner was impressed, telling Sky F1: "I think they’ve made a big step. 

"It looks like their concept of car is moving forward and they look like they’re not too far away. 

"Fernando in particular looks very competitive."

Which drivers are fighting for their F1 future?

It is no surprise that the faces under more pressure will be near the back of the grid. 

AlphaTauri is effectively Red Bull’s talent pool so naturally much will be expected of new man De Vries, who has replaced Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly. 

Team-mate Yuki Tsunoda enjoyed a decent rookie season in 2021 but didn’t kick-on last year, leaving questions over his future in F1. 

After nine seasons in the Red Bull stable, Gasly has moved to Alpine to better his chances of being competitive in a crowded field. 

Much is also expected of experienced Haas duo Hulkenberg — who has replaced Mick Schumacher — and Kevin Magnusson, with owner Gene Haas demanding that the team collect more than enough points to better last season’s eighth place in the constructors’ championship.