Michael Schumacher is fourth favorite to win this season's Formula One title, in his first year back in the cockpit.

Canadian sports betting fans will be looking forward to the start of the 2010 Formula One World Championship next weekend.

Fernando Alonso is the pre-season favorite to regain the title he has won twice before.

Alonso, who will be driving for Ferrari, will be confident of beating defending champion Jenson Button, who will be in a McLaren car this season in an all-British line-up with 2008 winner Lewis Hamilton.

Ferrari are the favorites to take the constructors' title, with Mercedes, the Brawn team from last season, trailing behind in the sports betting odds.

Formula One fans will be eagerly awaiting the start of the new season in Bahrain, with the return of Michael Schumacher one of the burning issues of the year.

Seven-time champion Schumacher, who won four consecutives championships from 2001 to 2004, will partner Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.

It promises to be one of the tightest races for the title in many years, with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, second in last year's championship, expected to challenge again this campaign.

The strength of the field is shown by defending champion Button's place in the odds, with five other drivers, including Felipe Massa, more fancied to win the title.