Australia's Mark Webber faces his most challenging year in Formula One.
Webber needs to come to terms with radical changes to the sport, overcome a broken leg and the challenge from fellow Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel became the sport's youngest winner with a stunning wet-weather victory at Monza last season, and will push Webber for the title as Red Bull's No1 driver.
Webber said the addition of Vettel to the team was a major boost, and something he was excited about.
And instead of feeling worried about the rising talent of Vettel, Webber was relishing the challenge the 21-year-old would bring to the team.
''I've had plenty to do with him, we get on well and we're both focused on taking the team forward,'' Webber told The Canberra Times.
''Every year in Formula One you're under the squeeze it doesn't matter who is in the other garage and I've been around the block.
''I know Sebastian is very talented, but that's why I aspired to get to Formula One so much, you want to compete against the best guys, and I have been doing that for a number of years.
''Sebastian is a red-hot talent so I'm looking forward to racing with him.''
When it comes to challenges and concerns during the pre-season, Webber has had bigger things to worry about.
The 32-year-old broke his leg on November 22 last year when he was hit by a car during his own adventure race the Mark Webber Challenge in Tasmania.
Faced with an altered pre-season, Webber vowed to return to the car for the first day of testing with Red Bull on February 11.
And he did, just 81 days after the accident.
''It's good as gold in the car, the weight bearing is a bit of an issue because it's still healing on the inside of the leg but that's all,'' Webber said.
''I've made some good progress I would like to feel a bit better when I'm walking around but it's fantastic in the car and that's the main thing.
''I told the team to treat me as if I'm normal and they did, I've done every bit of mileage that I would have been able to do.''
Webber returned to Australia last Sunday and headed to Melbourne yesterday to prepare for this weekend's Australian Grand Prix.
Once again he will feel the pressures of being the sole Australian on the grid in Melbourne, but it's a feeling he's well and truly used to.
Since he debuted at Melbourne in 2002, Webber has been the only Aussie in F1.
He said the expectation to succeed was again there, but he felt more pressure to get the season off to a good start for the Red Bull team.
''This race is about the accumulation of so much work we've put in over the winter,'' Webber said.
''Whether it's the first race in Budapest or Australia we'll be very interested to see how we go as a team and see where we finish and hopefully that's as far up as we bloody can.''
It is clear Webber has set the bar high for himself and the team this season.
Since he moved to Red Bull in 2007, Webber has finished outside the top 10 in the driver's championship in both years.
But he said the team expected plenty this year.
''Our goals are high this season no question about that,'' Webber said.
''As a team we expect to get more podiums.''
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