Formula One makes a welcome return after a number of weeks away, and we’re back at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Where will the teams stand right after their time off? Let’s preview the weekend’s action here.

This weekend the Formula 1 teams visit Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and the track is one of the most fearsome circuits that the drivers have to drive upon all season long. The track rewards skill, bravery, a great aerodynamic package and a powerful engine and for these factors I see the race being another straight fight between Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari.

Last season’s race saw a victory for Ferrari as the KERS device on Kimi Raikkonen’s automobile allowed him to stay ahead of the clearly quicker automobile of Giancarlo Fisichella in the Force India. In truth Ferrari have won the last three Belgian Grand Prix and only McLaren and Ferrari have won at Spa because Damon Hill triumphed for Jordan in the 1998 race that saw Jordan claim their maiden victory.

Red Bull have the aerodynamic efficiency to be able to get the vehicle around the track well but fall down on the engine power region, meaning they could struggle at the ends of the long straights and finding the automobile up Eau Rouge, which is one of the greatest corner complexes in motor racing. Ferrari have the power but their aerodynamics are lacking slightly in comparison to both Red Bull and McLaren. Nevertheless, McLaren have the ideal balance for this race and with their F-duct, effective engine and smooth aerodynamics I see the race win going to either Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button. With Button’s lack of speed on Saturday ensuring that he has only out-qualified Hamilton four times in this year’s twelve races so far, I see Hamilton acquiring the advantage against his team-mate from the begin and going on to win the race. At odds of 6.00 Hamilton is outstanding value to win this weekend too.

Prior to the race, we have qualifying but can Red Bull continue their dominance of this session in 2010 and record their twelfth pole position from thirteen races? As I explained above, I feel that this race weekend will belong to McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton taking all the spoils, which includes pole position. He is the only man not in a Red Bull vehicle to start off from the front of the grid and I’m positive that he will repeat Canadian Grand Prix pole position commence. At odds of 10.00 for Hamilton to be on pole, Bet365 clearly do not agree with me, but this is where my funds is going this weekend.

To finish off, we’ll be looking at the best value prices on people to finish on the podium and in the top six locations. I could quite easily back Hamilton once again for a top 3 finish as he is obtainable at 2.25 to stand on a step of the podium with some on the web sportsbook, but I like the look of his team-mate, Jenson Button, to find himself on the podium at the end of the race as McLaren are going to dominate this race. He is available at odds of 3.75 to finish in the top 3 and this is where my income is going.

The top seven drivers – both Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari drivers along with Adrian Sutil – are all offered at worse than evens odds, so sportsbooks are covering the bases that all three of the big teams this season are going to get their drivers to the chequered flag and claim the leading six spots. They’re also are covering Adrian Sutil after last year’s exceptional performance by Force India, but Force India have not performed as well this season as they had completed up to the exact same point last season. As a result I’m going with the team that are using the very same engine as McLaren to grab a leading six place – Mercedes GP. Michael Schumacher may possibly have won this race on six occasions, but he is being out performed by his team-mate Nico Rosberg this season and I see Rosberg claiming a location in the leading six in this race. I will be backing him to do so at odds of 2.50.

For further bets over the course of the race weekend, please visit BetRepublic.com, where resident expert Anto will be supplying a selection of bets for Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race. We look forward to seeing you providing your own bets and joining in the chat with Anto.

Lewis Hamilton to start off the Belgian Grand Prix on pole position @ 10.00
Lewis Hamilton to win the Belgian Grand Prix @ 6.00
Jenson Button to finish the Belgian Grand Prix on the podium @ three.75
Nico Rosberg to finish the Belgian Grand Prix in the top six @ 2.50

Ferrari Motor Sports