Bookies get wise to Williams

For the first time this year bookies now rate the German as highly as McLaren's title contender David Coulthard, with the German 7-2 to take pole on Saturday and 4-1 to win the race - compared with Coulthard's odds of 5-1 to take pole and 4-1 to win the race.

Team mate Juan Pablo Montoya's odds have also been cut, but with the pair 14-1 to take the top two spots on the podium, fans of the Grove-based squad might fancy their chances on a Williams dual forecast in Sunday's race.

While championship leader and winner of last week's European Grand Prix Michael Schumacher is again the hot favourite - even money to win in France - punters could look at Jaguar's Eddie Irvine to net some cash come Sunday.

Despite failing to score points at the Nurburgring, the Ulsterman said he was impressed with his R2, and if it stays hot for the French GP and his Michelin tyres come into their own, he could be in prime position to take advantage should a Williams, Ferrari or McLaren falter. Irvine is 150-1 to win, 33-1 to get on the podium (well worth a flutter, remember Monaco?) and 6-1 to score championship points at Magny-Cours.

Ladbrokes has a whole range of bets for the French Grand Prix, to find out more visit www.ladbrokes.co.uk



Michael Schumacher
David Coulthard
Ralf Schumacher
Mika Hakkinen
Juan Pablo Montoya
Rubens Barrichello
Jarno Trulli
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Jacques Villeneuve
Olivier Panis
Nick Heidfeld
Kimi Raikkonen
Eddie Irvine
Jos Verstappen
Giancarlo Fisichella
Jean Alesi
Pedro de la Rosa
Enrique Bernoldi
Luciano Burti
Jenson Button
Fernando Alonso
Tarso Marques
(E/w 1/5 of odds, first three)


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


J Trulli
HH Frentzen
J Villeneuve
O Panis
N Heidfeld
K Raikkonen
E Irvine


J Trulli
HH Frentzen
J Villeneuve
O Panis
N Heidfeld
K Raikkonen
E Irvine


M Schumacher/D Coulthard
M Schumacher/R Schumacher
D Coulthard/R Schumacher
JP Montoya/R Schumacher