Michael Schumacher is back in the car this season(credit:
wikipedia)
German one of the favourites for this year’s Driver’s Championship
Formula testing for the new season gets underway this week in Valencia, and with four former Champions set to line-up for the first race of the season, bookmakers are undecided on who should be classed as the favourite for the 2010 season.
Seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher returns to the Brawn team at the age of 41, and Bwin make him 3/1 market, although the German can be backed at 9/2 with BetFred.
Schumacher replaces Jenson Button, who made a post-season move to MacLaren to team up with youngster Lewis Hamilton. Most firms believe that Hamilton will be the team’s main driver, and the 2008 Champion is therefore much shorter (74/17, Bwin) than the 2009 winner Button (15/1, Bwin).
Fernando Alonso, 2005 and 2006 Champion with Renault, will race for Ferrari this year, and the Italians have high hopes for the Spanish driver, who is a best-priced 4/1 (Boylesports). His team-mate, Felipe Massa is 15/1 (Bwin) and has proven himself, by finishing second overall to Hamilton in 2008, although he may have to play more of a supporting role this time out.
Sebastien Vettel is the only one of the favourites not appearing in Valencia this week. His Red Bull team have opted to work further on their car, and thus will not be testing until later this month. Taking Vettel at 13/2 (PaddyPower) would be a risk anyway, but it would definitely be foolish to back the German without being able to compare him to his rivals.