F1 – Season and Bahrain Grand Prix Preview

Wed, Mar 10, 2010

The 2010 Formula One World Championship gets underway in Bahrain on Sunday and the season is one of the most eagerly anticipated with the quest to win the drivers’ title race looking one of the most open in years and any of the top four teams capable of becoming constructors’ champions – as well as a new points scoring system which rewards the race winners more.

In Bahrain, we will see the return of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher at the Sakhir circuit, this time driving a Mercedes rather than the Ferrari we all know him so well in. In his old red Ferrari will be Fernando Alonso, the two time world champion, while the reigning champion Jenson Button has opted to leave Brawn GP (now Mercedes GP who Schumacher will drive for) in favour of joining Lewis Hamilton at McLaren. Throw in Alonso’s team-mate Felipe Massa, Mercedes’ other new recruit Nico Rosberg and the unchanged Red Bull line-up of Sebastien Vettel and Mark Webber, second and third in last year’s championship behind Button, and you have the makings of a classic year.

In recent weeks, Alonso has been backed into strong favouritism for the drivers’ crown following some quick performances in winter testing. He is as short as 2/1 in places with a best price available being the 11/4 on offer with Sky Bet, Ladbrokes, William Hill and Extrabet. Hamilton, the one-time favourite, can be backed at 4/1 while Vettel is third in the market with Boylesports going a standout 5/1 about his chances. Schumacher is the least fancied of the big four’s ‘number one’ drivers with Extrabet having odds of 13/2 available. Massa, Button, Webber and Rosberg follow in the market with prices varying from 7/1 to 30/1 about their chances.

It is the 5/1 about Vettel that catches my eye most of all. The German showed impressive speed as he pushed Button for most of the way last season. But for a couple of errors, including early in the season, when in contention for a podium finish he would have got a lot closer to the world champion. With Red Bull’s car likely to be quick from the outset he can make a better start to the campaign and land a maiden world title.

Alonso and Hamilton look the most likely to challenge him but at the odds Vettel looks a much more appealing bet – particularly if you are as confident as I am that he will be in the first three in the standings come November. Backing him each-way effectively gives you a free win bet, provided he does finish in the top three! With Extrabet not offering each-way terms, there may be some value in taking the 11/2 offered by totesport and Boylesports and backing Schumacher each-way too. There are doubts about whether he retains his speed after three years out of the sport but there is no telling how he will perform until the cars hit the track in Bahrain.

The constructors’ championship looks a hard one to call. Ferrari will start the season as favourites thanks to their performances in testing, but the short odds (biggest priced 2/1) are a turn off at this stage. Red Bull are a 10/3 chance but I have a feeling that Mark Webber may find things happening a bit too quickly this year. On the other hand, McLaren’s line-up of Hamilton and Button should ensure they are regularly on the podium and at 7/2 with bwin they look the best port of call ahead of the season.

For the Bahrain Grand Prix itself, Alonso is a strong favourite for the race victory based on his pre-season performance and having won the race twice in 2005 and 2006. At odds of 3/1 (Extrabet) he is a tempting proposition. But, with his team-mate Massa another to have won the race twice in 2007 and 2008, a safer option would be to take the 13/8 (Blue Square, 888Sport and William Hill) about a Ferrari winning the race.

Following the banning of refuelling during the race for the 2010 season, all cars will carry full race fuel in qualifying and it will be interesting to see how the sessions pan out. Last year Toyota caused a shock when locking out the front row of the grid, but it is hard to see a major shock this year. With Alonso looking strong take the 7/2 (Extrabet) on offer for him to grab pole position.

Bettrends advice

Sebestien Vettel – to win the drivers’ championship (each-way) – 5/1 (Boylesports)

Michael Schumacher – to win the drivers’ championship (each-way) – 11/2 (totesport, Boylesports)

McLaren – to win the constructors’ championship – 7/2 (bwin)

Ferrari to be the winning car in Bahrain – 13/8 (Blue Square, 888Sport and William Hill)

Fernando Alonso – to be on pole position – 7/2 (Extrabet)