Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull team won the Formula One world titles for drivers and constructors in the past two seasons, and the extent of that domination last year left most observers and rival competitors thinking that Vettel and Red Bull will do the same this year.

Yet the 2012 Formula One season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 18, is looking to be one of the least predictable ever: Little is certain, including the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, the style of racing and whether certain venues will even hold their planned races.

Becoming the youngest double world champion ever last year at 24, Vettel began to look like one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. But he faces a formidable statistic this year: Since the series began in 1950, only Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher have won three drivers’ titles in a row — with the former winning four in a row and the latter five.

Moreover, Vettel will also confront some of the toughest driver competition ever, with a record six world champions racing this year: Vettel, Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, and Kimi Raikkonen, who is returning after two years in rally racing.