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Schumacher's comeback, expanded grid highlight 2010 season

Fri 12th, March 2010

Sakhir, Bahrain (Sports Network) - After a four-month break, the 2010 Formula One season gets underway this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix. The new season begins with many headlines, most notably Michael Schumacher's return after a three-year retirement.

It's anyone's guess right now who the favorite is to win this year's F1 world championship, as several drivers, particularly reigning titleholder Jenson Button, have new rides. The grid has increased with three new teams added and new rules are in place to make this one of the most competitive seasons in the sports' 61-year history.

THE SEVEN-TIME CHAMPION RETURNS

Schumacher announced in December he was ending his three-year retirement in F1, as he joined the newly formed Mercedes GP. Mercedez-Benz recently acquired Brawn GP, which captured the constructors' title and drivers' championship with Button during the team's maiden season in 2009. Last August, Schumacher considered a comeback with Ferrari to replace the injured Felipe Massa for the remainder of the season. However, his injuries from a motorcycle accident earlier in the year prevented him from returning at that time.

The 41-year-old German holds just about every record in F1, including most world championships with seven and most grand prix wins with 91.

"I feel like a child looking forward to Christmas," Schumacher said. "I feel fresher than I have for many years. I am perfectly prepared physically, and most importantly, my energy is back completely. When I retired from racing in 2006, my batteries were simply empty. Now they are totally recharged, and I am ready for the challenge."

Schumacher will join three other world champions on the grid this year -- Button, Lewis Hamilton (2008) and Fernando Alonso (2005 and '06).

He also will pair up with Nico Rosberg, who departed Williams and found a new home with Mercedes. The duo will make Mercedes one of at least four teams where teammates will battle each other for title honors.

MCLAREN AND FERRARI REVIVED?

McLaren and Ferrari dominated F1 for years, but the downfall of both teams was one of the biggest surprises last season. After recent tests at Barcelona and Jerez, Spain, it appears McLaren and Ferrari are back on track with their programs.

Following his first championship in '09, Button left Brawn and headed to McLaren where he teamed up with Hamilton. The chemistry between the two British drivers could be a big storyline this season, especially if they are fighting each other for the title.

"I was with my previous team for seven years, so moving teams can be tricky," Button said. "It is a completely new environment, it is a real challenge and most of us do not really like change, but it has been good. Even after sort of two months I really feel part of the team."

Hamilton has welcomed Button with open arms, and there is peace between the two so far.

"Jenson has been welcomed into the team, and he seems to be doing a great job, very productive, enthusiastic and he has really brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team," Hamilton said. "For me, just from coming from not so good last year, but to finish [the season] on quite a high, I feel just as determined as ever, if not more."

One thing to consider though. In 2007, Alonso came on board with McLaren after winning back-to-back titles with Renault. Alonso expected to be the team leader at McLaren, but that wasn't the case, as he took a back seat to then rookie Hamilton. The Spaniard came back to Renault the following year.

Alonso is in his first year with Ferrari and back into a championship contending car. He joins Felipe Massa, who is healthy again after a high speed crash in qualifying at Hungary last July shortened his season.

"It is just nice to be back in business," Massa said. "I have lost a bit of races and just nice to be back. I feel really happy and a lot of motivation to get back to the job."

Kimi Raikkonen drove for Ferrari the past three seasons, but the 2007 champion has left the F1 ranks for this year's World Rally Championship after the Italian team shuffled him out of its driver lineup.

BULL-ISH SEASON

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber gave Red Bull a sensational season in '09, and the two should be consistent again this season. Both drivers combined for Red Bull's first six victories in F1 competition last year.

Vettel, now in his third season, is hungrier than ever to win the championship and replace Schumacher as Germany's top driver.

"I know that I will be battling four world champions in the fight for the title this season, but I don't really care what they do," Vettel said. "I want to be exactly where I got to last year, hoping that the final press conference will be with five world champions."

Webber is in much better shape at the start of this season compared to one year ago when he raced in front of his home crowd in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix while recovering from a broken leg.

NEW TEAMS EQUALS LARGER GRID

This year's F1 grid includes 12 teams with a total of 24 drivers.

Three new teams -- Hispania Racing Team (HRT), Lotus Racing and Virgin Racing -- make their debuts at Bahrain. USF1 was expected to become the first American-based team on the grid in more than 40 years, but governing body International Automobile Federation (FIA) took the squad off this year's entry list earlier this month when USF1 indicated it was not in a position to start the season.

HRT added newcomers Karun Chandhok from India and Brazilian Bruno Senna, who is the nephew of the late three-time world champion Ayrton Senna. Lotus recruited Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen, while Virgin signed Tim Glock and rookie Lucas di Grassi during the off-season.

NEW RULES

There are fewer rule changes this season compared to last year. The most significant change is the ban on refueling. Starting with Bahrain, teams are prohibited from adding fuel to their cars after they have left pit lane prior to the start of the race. F1 has not enacted a fuel ban since the 1993 Australian GP.

With the FIA approving a revised points system last December, race winners now receive 25 points, with 20 points awarded to second place and 15 for third. The next seven finishers score in the following order: 10-8-6-5-3-2-1.

Under the previous system, the top-eight finishers were awarded in a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 sequence. The increase of teams on the grid led to the new points format.

Other changes include: tougher penalties for engine changes (loss of 10 starting positions) and limited sets of tires for teams on race weekends.