F1: 2012 Season Preview

Formula One gets back underway on Sunday at Melbourne in what is set to be the longest season ever - an epic 20 races are scheduled between now and November.  There will be a record-breaking six world champions taking to the grid as the 2007 top dog Kimi Raikkonen returns to the fold with Lotus.

The big question will be whether anyone can challenge the all-conquering Sebastian Vettel, who ran away with the title last year by an extraordinary 122 point margin. We look at the main contenders to see where the value may lie. All odds given are the best available on the market.

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
Best Odds: 11/10 (Skybet)
2011: Champion

Verdict: Clearly the man to beat. A fair few legends (8) have won back-to-back Drivers’ Championships but only two - Fangio and Schumacher - have completed the hat-trick. There is a feeling that Red Bull won’t enjoy the same mechanical superiority this time and certainly there were a few issues in testing. But are we just clutching at straws?

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
Best Odds: 11/2 (WilliamHill)
2011: 5th

Verdict: Had his worst year to date last campaign when the relative shortcomings of the McLaren were compounded by a series of mistakes made by the 2008 champion. To finish 33 points behind his team-mate, let alone 165 behind Vettel, was shocking for Hamilton. That he starts as second favourite this time is testament to his talent, and if he comes back with a better attitude and an improved car then anything’s possible.

Jenson Button (McLaren)
Best Odds: 7/1 (Bet365)
2011: 2nd

Verdict: Emerged with great credit for coming in as runner-up in a season where that was realistically the best he could have done. Picked out by Red Bull boss Christian Horner as the most likely challenger to his own team again. Must be bemused as to why the bookies continue to side with Hamilton despite his better all-round performances and consistency. Perhaps the best strategist in F1, if the McLaren is competitive with Red Bull, he could go close.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
Best Odds: 9/1 (PaddyPower)
2011: 4th

Verdict: All the noises coming out of pre-season are very negative for the Scuderia. The word on the street is that Ferrari can forget challenging for the title - they may have trouble even staying ahead of Mercedes. The decision to go with a pull-rod front suspension for the first time in over a decade has been heavily criticised. All of this leaves Alonso looking scuppered; for all his ability, there is only so much he can do.

Mark Webber (Red Bull)
Best Odds: 16/1 (Betfred)
2011: 3rd

Verdict: An interesting one. Hard to comprehend how he went from a genuine rival to his team-mate in 2010 to such an also-ran a year later. He seemed to constantly struggle with the tyre set-up until he won the last race of the year in Brazil. Back home this weekend, the Aussie will be desperate to get off to a strong start. If Red Bull do remain dominant then he will surely rate as a decent each-way prospect at these odds.

Michael Schumacher (Mercedes)
Best Odds: 20/1 (StanJames)
2011: 8th

Verdict: Remarkably short odds for a man who finished over 300 points behind Vettel in 2011 - seven world titles will do that for your reputation. But the big news really is that Mercedes look like a growing force, especially if the early indications in Melbourne are anything to go by. With Ferrari seemingly on the wane, at least a few more podium spots should be up for grabs.