Love it or loathe it, it’s hard to dispute that the Formula One circus is one of the most glamorous annual global sports competitions. High-octane on track action, pit lane wars, technological wizardry and a host of marketing and PR activity, it certainly gets our attention.

From a sporting perspective, last year’s Championship was wrapped up relatively early by the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel, but as the new season approaches, we take a peek into our crystal ball to see what’s in store for the 2014 F1 season:

1. Smoke and mirrors – this year sees the introduction of a host of new technical regulations which no doubt will bring their share of controversy as teams question the validity of their competitors’ cars. One of the most notable technical changes is the use of 1.6 litre V6 turbo charged engines. With the limited testing available to teams these days, it’s likely that we’re likely to see a fair few spectacular engine failures as teams push their machinery to their absolute limits. Bad news for the teams, but compelling viewing for TV audiences.

2. Surprise, surprise – reports suggest that the dominating Red Bull’s have been struggling in pre-season testing, although I’m sure the Milton Keynes boys will be doing their utmost to address this. However, as the teams get to grips with the new regulations, we could well be seeing some new faces and teams on the podium. Get ready to learn some unfamilar national anthems!

3. Glitz and high heels – From Monte Carlo to Singapore, there’s no escaping when the F1 circus is in town. A stampede of celebs will once again be racing through the paddock to ensure they’re seen during the pitwalk. Strange how a wet and windy Sunday afternoon at Snetterton in October doesn’t attract such “passionate fans”!

4. Dodgy marketing – But it’s not just celebs who want the F1 association, despite its enormous cost, brands are still queuing up to have their names plastered on the fastest billboards in the world. Our prediction is that we’ll see even more obscure brands ploughing their money into the “holy grail” of F1, with its resultant dodgy adverts to support (Santander anyone?)

5. Content’s King – it’s not just the teams that have been working hard to innovate and stay ahead of the competition. TV companies have been working hard over the last few years to bring us ever more exciting camera angles, in-race analysis and content to maximise our engagement and enjoyment. With social media, on-demand content and a host of other consumption methods growing by the day, you can be sure that the TV Execs will have some more exciting ways for us to enjoy the season ahead.

So, we look forward to sitting down in November at the end of the gruelling season to review which of our predictions come true. In the meantime, good luck to all of the drivers, teams, and support staff who work tirelessly to deliver such a great product, and if you need to offload any spare tickets – you know where we are!