Well the bookies seem to have rather a lot of faith in Schumacher's return...

Thought that I would pass comment on Michael Schumacher's return to F1 and rather than just rant, use some pseudo-statistics :)

The smug one's return to F1 seems to have been met with nothing but enthusiasm by the paddock but I'm sure I can't be the only one who isn't thrilled by his comeback. They should, in my opinion, have given the drive to their test driver who knows the car, instead of then being bitter about not then being allowed a mid-season test.

Clearly it has to be said that these were not the circumstances that anyone would have wanted to take up a drive, it's always sad when someone's been injured. Massa fortunately is making good progress, the latest being that he will "miss at least four grand prix" which is amazing given the man suffered a fractured skull! So hopefully Ferrari will be back to their main drivers well before the end of the season.

The selection of Schumi may well be a media and sponsor's dream. It's generated some good publicity for the sport. The return of anyone as successful in a sport as that will always be welcomed. It will be interesting to see how he places against the new generation of drivers (I'm trying to think off the top of my head how many drivers have driven in the same fields as Schumacher before, only the two Brawn, Kimi and Mark Webber spring to mind). Skybet has a whole range of different Schumi related flutters available, with the odds of a victory on his debut at 9/1 (favourite to win is Hamilton at 5/2). But those odds are pretty generous I would have said, it's only slightly worse than the odds for the current championship leader, Jenson Button at 8/1. Given the man hasn't yet driven this seasons car that's putting a lot of faith in him. Maybe this is the mysterious Schumacher effect at work again, which when he was still racing, seemed to make cars in-front (especially back-markers) leap out of the way.

I don't want him to do badly, because then people will make excuses for him, maybe a 5th or 6th would be good, just to take some of the shine off that halo...

If I was the gambling type, I'd place £1 on Lewis Hamilton to win the 2009 Driver's championship at 25/1. It's unlikely but it's a nice dream and McLaren have had worse seasons than this! If Hamilton can't win it, my support goes to "Aylesbury's own Mark Webber" (yes, my local paper did get a bit too keen!), ironic that the only F1 driver living in the UK isn't one of the two Brits on the grid.