LEW'S GREIGHT EXPECTATIONS

Two weeks to first race and Verstappen's Red Bull are NOT happy... just what seven-time champion Hamilton and favourite Lando want to hear!

- DANIEL MOXON

LEWIS HAMILTON'S dream of a fairytale Ferrari title bid has had a turbo boost - with defending champion Max Verstappen's Red Bull team misfiring in Bahrain.

But 40-year-old seven-time champ Hamilton faces a Battle of Britain after McLaren's Lando Norris showed in pre-season testing why he is the bookies' favourite heading into the new season.

And a third Englishman, George Russell, might even be dreaming of title glory himself, with his Mercedes team quietly happy with what they saw over three days of official preparation in the Middle East this week.

While their main rivals are pleased with progress, Red Bull fear the worst.

Verstappen, 27, is the four-time champion gunning for five on the bounce this year - but may simply not have the ammunition.