Features

F1 welcomes back Schuey

Author: John Harris
Date: 04/01/2010
Formula One betting

The 2010 Formula One promises to be one of the most exciting for many years with the return of the legendary Michael Schumacher providing a much-needed impetus to the sport.

The seven-time world champion will lead the charge for the Mercedes team, which in its previous incarnation as Brawn GP helped Jenson Button become the 2009 title-winner.

Inevitably the media focus will be on the 41-year-old German, who returns to the sport after a three-year retirement to try and re-kindle the glory of years gone by.

Mercedes chief executive Nick Fry is ecstatic about the return of Schumacher, telling BBC Radio 5 live: "The thing that has been very interesting is that all of F1 wants Michael back.

"It's good for the sport and will help us build more and more fans around the world and that's important for all of us."

The 91-times race winner will be joined at Mercedes by compatriot Nico Rosberg, who joins from Williams to complete a winter of total change for team director Ross Brawn.

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Mercedes' hopes of another title are expected to be challenged by a number of teams, with McLaren widely thought to be the team to beat.

Reigning champion Button has joined fellow Englishman and 2008 title-winner Lewis Hamilton at McLaren and both men are hotly tipped to land a second drivers' title.

Hamilton is another man to be intrigued by the return of Schumacher, adding: "It's great to have Michael back in Formula 1, he is a legend."

While change has been the order of the day at many teams, Red Bull go into the 2010 campaign with the same two drivers as last season, with both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber both certain to have their eyes on the main prize.

Much will be expected of Ferrari, with the fit-again Felipe Massa joined by two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who proved the better of Schumacher in both 2005 and 2006.

The grid will be bolstered to 26 cars this season, with four new teams having joined the F1 circus.

Virgin Racing, US F1 and Lotus will be joined by Campos Meta, who will bring another famous name back to the sport.

Bruno Senna, the nephew of the late, great Ayrton Senna, has been confirmed as his team's first driver, with his team-mate yet to be confirmed.

Rule changes will also play a major part in the campaign, with no refuelling allowed during the races for the first time since 1993.

Also the points-scoring system has been changed, with 25 points available for the winner of each race, 20 for second and 15 for third - with even the tenth-placed car earning a single point.

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