Well, what d’ya know – this season the Formula 1 Championship might, whisper it, actually be exciting.

Certainly, since Brawn GP posted the fastest times in testing, and with teams accusing each other of cheating before a race has even been run, it should be fun to watch for the outsider.

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX RACE PREVIEW

The Australian Grand Prix is where it all starts.

Last year’s champion Lewis Hamilton is back in 15th place in a completely uncompetitive McLaren, while the Brawn GP duo of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello sit pretty on the front row of the grid.

They look to be well challenged, however, by the duo behind them – hotshot Sebastien Vettell in 3rd place has got a reputation for getting results that appear to be beyond the capabilities of his car.

It’s no surprise that Vettell’s Red Bull is one of only two cars in the first three rows that doesn’t use the controversial ‘rear diffusers’.

In fourth for the Australian Grand Prix is Robert Kubica for BMW-Sauber. Kubica came 4th in last year’s drivers Championship and could also threaten here.

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX BETTING TIPS

It’s hard to see past Jenson Button as the winner of this one – Brawn have the fastest car and Button is an aggressive driver, but I think Sebastien Vettell represents a good bet for a podium place.

AUSTRALIAN GP BETTING ODDS

Jenson Button :  5/4 at Victor Chandler – Click To Bet
Rubens Barrichello : 11/4 at Victor Chandler – Click To Bet
Sebastien Vittel : 14/1 at Bet365 – Click To Bet
Robert Kobica : 16/1 at Bet365 – Click To Bet
Nico Rosberg : 14/1 at InterTops – Click To Bet
Timo Glock : 33/1 at Bet365 – Click To Bet

See All The Driver’s Odds at Bet365 – Click To Bet Or Open An Account

Please Note : These bookmakers don’t accept bets from gamblers in the USA. We recommend BetUS for USA gamblers wanting to bet on Formula 1.

So, it’s more than refreshing to see the defunct-Honda-but-now-resurrected-as-Brawn-GP team come out faster than fast in testing in Spain this week.

Jenson Button and fellow Brawn GP driver Rubens Barrichello were by far the fastest in the trials and have left the other constructors reeling.

Both Felipe Massa, driving for Ferrari, and Lewis Hamilton, for McLaren, confessed that they just weren’t able to compete.

Massa is quoted as saying:

“Many people were running on a low fuel load, not just them. I think their lap time is just much quicker than everybody else can do.”

Could Brawn GP be a genuine competitor this season. If so, now is the time to back them with the bookmakers. Don’t mess around here – Brawn’s odds are already tumbling.

LATEST 2009 FORMULA 1 CONSTRUCTORS ODDS

Ferrari : 5/4 at William Hill – Click To Bet
McLaren : 10/3 at William Hill – Click To Bet
BMW Sauber : 5/1 (6.0) at Unibet – Click To Bet
Brawn GP : 9/1 (10.0) at Unibet – Click To Bet
Renault : 16/1 at Bet365 – Click To Bet