Striking the right note

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Seen by many as the de facto favourite for the 2018 title, Lewis Hamilton will aim to strike the right note once again this year.

The four-time world champion set the tone in last week's weather-impacted first installment of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Week 2, which gets underway tomorrow, will hopefully project a clearer picture of everyone's performance level, but it's likely the Mercedes driver will still lead the chorus.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.