Paddy Power pays out on Schu!

Anyone who bet on Schumacher with the generous bookie can now look to collect their winnings - even though 14 races still remain. The bookie is looking at a large five-figure payout ahead of this Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

Paddy Power is famous for declaring early winners having also paid out on Arsenal to be this year's Premiership champions way back in early March.

Paddy Power, operations manager for the bookie, said: "In the best traditions of Formula 1, Paddy Power's customers will be getting the chance to spray their celebratory champagne before any other punters.

"Schumacher's supreme driving skills and Ferrari's awesome reliability has put the mockers on this season before it has started. Hopefully the other teams and drivers will capitalise on the proposed rule changes and make F1 exciting again next season.

"Like our customers," continued Power, "we also like to have a gamble from time to time to make things more interesting."

Schumacher was just 13/8 to claim his seventh world title at the beginning of the season but, after winning the first four races of the year, the German has been repeatedly cut to his current price of just 1/12. For the few F1 fans that don't believe the season is over already you may be tempted by Paddy Power's latest odds on Schumacher's nearest rivals. Rubens Barrichello and Jensen Button are 12/1 and 16/1 respectively to claim their first world titles.


M Schumacher, 1/12, N/A
Barrichello, 12/1, evens
Button, 16/1,9/4
Montoya, 20/1, 7/2
Alonso, 40/1, 12/1
R Schumacher, 100/1, 25/1
Raikkonen, 100/1, 66/1