MELBOURNE, Australia - Sebastian Vettel has a warning for those already writing off his chances of a fifth-consecutive Formula One title — the season is long and the teams current engine problems wont last. The Red Bull driver has experienced a troubled off-season, with the team severely restricted in its testing because engine supplier Renault suffered a myriad of problems trying to make the sports new six-cylinder turbo hybrid powertrain function in anything approaching a reliable fashion. While Vettel acknowledged that Mercedes will be the team to beat in this weekends season-opening race in Australia — and Red Bull will likely be off the pace in early races — he was adamant another title was within his reach, even if it was not in the imperious style of 2013 when he won the last nine races. "We are not in the best position for this race, but its a different story when you talk about the championship," Vettel said Thursday. Vettel did not have far to look for inspiration about how to overcome early-season difficulties as he was speaking while sitting beside Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, who found himself in a similar predicament in 2012. "Two years back Fernando was on the grid with 1.5 seconds to pole, and very close to beating us for the title at the very last race, so anything can happen," Vettel said. "We are a strong team. We have a lot of good people on board with a lot of strong resources. We should progress as the season goes on." Red Bull was not alone in suffering severe problems in the off-season. While the ongoing troubles are expected to particularly afflict the Renault-powered cars in the early races, all teams will be anxious heading into this Fridays practice sessions. The new computer-controlled engines must balance the power supply between the combustion engine, turbo charger, and the battery-stored electric power — the role of which is vastly greater than in previous years. Added to that is the need to reduce fuel use by about a third on last year to meet new rules, understand the altered aerodynamics and get used to new tires. Little wonder that F1 officials have relaxed the curfew restricting how many hours engineers and crew can spend in pit lane working on the cars. Some bleak forecasters are even predicting there will not be enough finishers on Sunday to fill the ten points positions, and race director Charlie Whiting on Thursday was asked questions about the contingency plans if no cars are running. Simple answer - the race will be stopped. While such doomsday scenarios are very unlikely, there was a strong possibility of several cars not getting within seven per cent of the pole sitters qualifying time and therefore being excluded from the race. Stewards have always had some discretion to exempt teams from that rule and Whiting said that Melbournes stewards will look upon such scenarios in Melbourne "very sympathetically." The men considered most likely to vie for that that pole-sitting yardstick are the Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg who, in contrast to most drivers, had enjoyed smooth and impressive testing sessions. The Mercedes drivers are old colleagues from their childhood days, and Hamilton said their friendship will not be tarnished if they end up fighting each other for race wins and perhaps even the championship as many expect. "It (the relationship) will be the same at the start as at the end," Hamilton said. "We have been racing together since we were 13. This is a stronger championship but I dont see any issues." Corey Knebel Brewers Jersey . Kenny Miller scored from the penalty spot and Camilo Sanvezzo came off the bench to add two late goals as the Whitecaps kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 victory over the sagging Impact on Saturday afternoon. Josh Hader Brewers Jersey .com) - Australian Open champion Li Na, former Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova and former world No. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/1919y-ryan-braun-jersey-brewers.html . - After sewage backups, toilet overflows and foul smells surfaced the past two years, nothing at the Oakland Coliseum surprises the home team anymore. Brent Suter Jersey . -- Isaiah Pead took a stutter step forward, then raced to the left sideline and travelled 60 yards up the field before finally getting tripped up by a leg tackle. Orlando Arcia Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July.GLENDALE, Ariz. - Blake Wheeler scored twice in 15 seconds, Bryan Little also had two goals and the Winnipeg Jets spoiled the season opener at home for the newly named Arizona Coyotes with a 6-2 victory Thursday night. Wheeler keyed a four-goal first period for the Jets, who were in control almost from the start as Arizona goalie Mike Smith struggled early. Wheeler also added an assist, his pass to Dustin Byfuglien for a tap-in from right in front at 12:31 of the second period to give Winnipeg a four-goal lead. Kane Downed The Jets lost winger Evander Kane to a lower-body injury in the win. Kane collided with Mark Scheifele less than two minutes into the game and did not return after being helped off the ice. Kane will undergo an MRI to determine the significance of the injury. Ondrej Pavelec made 26 saves. The Jets, also playing their opener, put 16 shots on net in the first period to eight for the Coyotes. Little opened the scoring 7 minutes in on a 2-on-1 break, taking a pass from Andrew Ladd and shooting the puck past Smith. The Coyotes, formerly the Phoenix Coyotes until rebranding in the off-season, tied the game less than a minute later when Mikkel Boedker took a pass from captain Shane Doan from behind the Winnipeg goal and slipped his shot past Pavelec. Doan has 14 points in 19 career season openers. Byfuglien had an assist in the first period, his 300th career point, before making the score 5-1 with his second-period goal. Wheeler, who led the Jets with 69 points last season, inncluding a career-high 28 goals, scored on a turnaround shot at 11:27 of the first.dddddddddddd Just 15 seconds later, he deflected in a shot by teammate Zach Bogosian with Smith partially screened immediately after a faceoff in the Coyotes zone. The Jets made it 4-1 with defenceman Mark Stuarts goal, which sneaked past Smith between the stick side and the near post. The goal was reviewed and allowed. The frustrated Coyotes served 17 minutes on seven penalties in the first period, including 5 minutes for fighting for Doan, who went after Wheeler in an apparent attempt to fire up his teammates. Wheeler also got 5 minutes. Little skated around the defence of Arizonas Keith Yandle, moving the puck from his backhand to his forehand for a goal less than 6 minutes into the third period, the last one of the night for the Jets. Martin Hanzal scored at 11:35 of the third for Arizona. Smith finished with 21 saves. NOTES: Winnipegs Evander Kane left in the first period after colliding with teammate Mark Scheifele in the middle of the ice. Kane didnt play in the second or third because of a lower-body injury. ... The Jets visit San Jose for their next game Saturday night, when the Coyotes host the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. ... Michael Buffer, widely known for his ring announcing at major boxing events and Lets get ready to rumble! catch phrase, introduced the Coyotes coaches and players during a pregame ceremony. ... The crowd of 17,125 at Gila River Arena was announced as a sellout. ' ' '