Resurgent Raikkonen hunts down Alonso

The second half of the Formula One season kicks off on Sunday at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, with Fernando Alonso protecting a 24-point lead over Kimi Raikkonen at the top of the drivers' standings.

The Spaniard is an overwhelming favourite to win his first world title at 5/11 (1.45), while Finn Raikkonen is 15/8 (2.87) and Michael Schumacher, five points further back in third, is 11/1 (12.00) to roar back and win his eighth championship.

Alonso has been the outstanding driver of the season, with Renault outperforming the rest of the teams, but there are signs that Ferrari, who've dominated the sport in recent times thanks to Schumacher, are getting it right when it matters. The German has not given up on winning the title again this season, and will be looking forward to a string showing this weekend at Silverstone, where he has bitter-sweet memories. Three times a winner, he also broke his leg in a crash there in 1999.

Somewhat surprisingly, Alonso is 3/1 (4.00) for victory at Silverstone, while Raikkonen, who's won three of the past five grands prix, is a 5/6 (1.83) favourite. However Alonso won the last grand prix, in France, which makes bet365's quote of 3/1 seemingly generous. Similarly, Schumacher, who won the farcical race at Indianapolis, is 6/1 (7.00), despite the fact that you can guarantee he'll be going flat out for victory.

Juan Pablo Montoya is third favourite at 9/1 (10.00), while Britain's hopes of a home winner would seem to rest with Jenson Button, who has shown some encouraging form in the season to date, rated as a 16/1 (17.00) chance. David Coulthard is a 125/1 (126.00) shot.