Mark Webber, former Formula 1 driver, WEC champion and television pundit, is backing Ferrari over Mercedes for title success in 2020.
Ferrari started the 2019 season on the back foot, but following the summer break the team came into its own with Charles Leclerc enjoying a run of four consecutive pole positions and a total of seven across the season – more than any other driver.
However the team came undone when it came to strategy and team-mate rivalry with Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel colliding in Brazil to deliver the team's only double retirement of the season.
If the strategy errors can be ironed out and with stable regulations in 2020 set to deliver what many expect to be the most competitive season in recent memory, Webber reckons Ferrari can bring the fight to Mercedes and deliver a first Constructors' title back to Maranello since 2008.
"For the Constructors' Championship it looks good for Ferrari provided Leclerc and Vettel manage to score regularly," Webber told Formule1.nl.
However with Leclerc still inexperienced in what will only be his third season in F1 and Vettel needing to rediscover his form – which Webber recently suggested might require some professional guidance – the Australian expects Lewis Hamilton will take the Drivers' Championship and with it match Michael Schumacher's record.
"I think Lewis will still show his superiority in the Drivers' Championship over a whole season," he added.
"I look forward to seeing in 2020 if Hamilton can match the seven world titles of Michael Schumacher, whilst dealing with Leclerc and Verstappen."
On the topic of F1's youngsters, Webber called Leclerc's maiden season at Ferrari "one of the highlights of the year", and added: "We don't even have to talk about Verstappen anymore. He is now an established name and is on fire at the moment!"
