Formula 1 returns this weekend after a mid-season break following the first four races of the season. The interlude has given the 12 teams a chance to improve their cars and, in testing in Mugello last week, it looked as though Ferrari and Lotus-Renault could be the ones to watch out for on the European leg of the campaign. Ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix we assess the state of play in F1.

The race for the 2012 world drivers’ title once again looked like it would be a straight shoot-out between the duos from McLaren and Red Bull but last weekend’s win for 16/1 shot Nico Rosberg might have changed everything.

Lewis Hamilton (9/4 – Chinese GP Outright) is keen to repeat 2011’s masterful Shanghai performance and win the Chinese Grand Prix for a second time in as many years this weekend

The Formula One season finally got underway and bore a resemblance to last year with an emphatic and dominant victory, only this time it was Jenson Button who was streets ahead in Melbourne and making a real statement of intent.

The countdown is now well and truly on for the start of the 2012 Formula season, with reigning champion Sebastian Vettel looking to win three world titles on the bounce (Vettel 11/8f – Australian GP -Race Winner).

Lewis Hamilton has endured a tumultuous 2011 Formula One season but answered a number of critics with his win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Can the 2008 title-winner take this new-found confidence into Brazil and ensure he ends a topsy-turvy season on a high? (Hamilton 3/1 Brazilian GP Outright).

Michael Schumacher reckons the Buddh circuit suits the Mercedes car ahead of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix on Sunday, but the veteran German is well aware competition will be fierce in India.

The world drivers’ championship may be all done and dusted with Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel (5/4 Korean GP outright) securing the title for the second year running, but that won’t detract from what should be an intriguing race at the Korean Grand Prix this weekend.

The Formula One jamboree rolls into Singapore for this weekend’s night race under the lights and Jenson Button (6/1 Race Winner) says it is a case of survival of the fittest.

The Italian Grand Prix is the main event on Sunday but can Championship leader Sebastian Vettel claim another victory from pole (2/1 Race Outright) to edge him closer to the world title or could Fernando Alonso (4/1) triumph to delight the local Ferrari fans?