Belgian weather key to bets

Odds on the Ferrari drivers are predictably short but Hungary showed us that the team's priority is Barrichello finishing second in the driver's championship. Whether that will transcend Michael's desire to score a record 10th win in a single season on the 10th anniversary of his first win, at Spa, is another matter.

If, as seems likely, they are dominant, the bookies still favour Michael at 8-15, over Rubens at 11-8. Although it's hard to see past Michael for pole here, it could rain and then Rubens (3-1) would be in with a decent shout, so 7-1 for a Barrichello one-man show (pole and win) is possibly the best price available on the red cars this weekend. But it's risky.

Rain, Bridgestones, Fisichella. But the odds on the Italian (2-1) for points are not especially generous. Perhaps take a punt on a wet race and a Fisi podium at 16-1. Other podium prices include Juan-Pablo Montoya at 6-4 and Ralf Schumacher at 13-8. JPM, of course, took the Spa pole last year with a ballsy lap in wet/dry conditions that could always be duplicated. The price for a repeat is 10-3.

After a couple of uninspiring races, Montoya will be out to remind everyone what he can do at Spa. A dual forecast bet, therefore, for JPM and Michael Schumacher to finish 1-2, in any order, at 6-1, could make a lot of sense. Barrichello is the spoiler, of course.

And now for a long shot. The odds on anyone outside Ferrari/Williams/McLaren setting fastest lap are 80-1. A wet Belgian Grand Prix with something happening to the Ferraris must happen more regularly than one time in eighty, and the others are on Michelins... Worth a thought.