Bets on the boys in Brazil

According to British bookmaker Ladbrokes, the reigning World Champion is 8/13 on to finish first at Interlagos this weekend.

But what is unusual is just how far back the bookmaker reckons Schumacher's team mate Rubens Barrichello and arch rivals McLaren drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard will be. Barrichello, Hakkinen and Coulthard are all priced at 5/1 to win the Brazilian race.

Homeboy Barrichello will be keen to impress the local fans, Hakkinen will be desperate to close the gap on runaway leader Schumacher and remember that Coulthard drove a magnificent race at Interlagos last year, only to be disqualified on a technicality. Throw in Sao Paulo's unpredictable weather (see separate story), and there may well be enough variables in the mix to put a car other than one driven by M Schumacher into winning contention come Sunday.

Others to watch out for are Jordan's Jarno Trulli (who started 12th but finished fourth here last year) at 40/1, and over at Honda rivals BAR, Olivier Panis could nick a podium place. The Frenchman is 60/1 to win the race, so an each-way bet could prove profitable.

You might prefer to punt on the battle for pole. Michael Schumacher is again hotly tipped to take the top spot, but his brother Ralf at 16/1 might be worth a flutter. He almost got the better of his elder sibling during qualifying in Malaysia, so who knows what might happen in Brazil? Ladbrokes also offers bets on podium finishes, points finishes, dual forecasts, group bets and match bets.




M Schumacher
M Hakkinen
D Coulthard
R Barrichello
R Schumacher
H-H Frentzen
JP Montoya
J Trulli
J Villeneuve
O Panis
N Heidfeld
J Button
G Fisichella
J Alesi
K Raikkonen
E Irvine
J Verstappen
E Bernoldi
L Burti
G Mazzacane
F Alonso
T Marques

(E/w 1/5 First three)


M Schumacher
R Barrichello
M Hakkinen
D Coulthard
R Schumacher
H-H Frentzen
JP Montoya
J Trulli
J Villeneuve
Any other driver


Selected other bets


R Schumacher
H-H Frentzen
JP Montoya
J Trulli
J Villeneuve


Points finish
O Panis
J Verstappen
K Raikkonen