NO SMOKING

Champions Renault, whose last two launches have been in Monaco to circumvent French anti-tobacco advertising legislation, unveil their new car in Amsterdam on January 24 after Dutch financial services giant ING replaced Japan Tobacco as title sponsor.

The attention then switches to Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya for Honda's low-key get together on January 25 and Red Bull on the 26th.

That marks a departure for the Austrian energy drink-owned team, whose previous launches have been extravagant parties just days before the first race of the season.

Former champions Williams, now powered by Toyota, bring up the rear with a presentation of their challenger at the Grove factory on February 2.

"While secretly we'd like to win all the races, our realistic thinking is that if we get in the top three in the constructors' championship we will have done a good job," Frank Williams declared last year.

By the end of the season, with Williams eighth overall, suffering their worst run of form in 30 years and just 11 points, the boss recognised his team's predicament as "unblinkingly, humiliatingly shocking."

It may not be tempting fate too much to suggest that this year, at least, should be better.

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