It's human nature to grasp for the worst-case scenario. By Formula 1 standards, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner's assertion that half of the field might not make the finish of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix is a conservative one.
With uncertainty surrounding both the performance and reliability of the new 1.6-litre turbocharged engines, there are plenty willing to make far more dramatic predictions.
Some anticipate that the 22-car grid might make the early Renault turbos of 1977/1978 (four finishes in 18 starts) seem dependable by comparison.