Schumacher’s return highlights F1’s most anticipated championship; Alonso favored

Schumacher returns for highly anticipated F1 fight

MADRID — After an anti-climatic championship capped a season of turmoil in 2009, Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One has set the stage for a highly anticipated title fight.

Schumacher’s comeback puts four champions on the grid, and at least four teams — including Schumacher’s Mercedes GP — are expected to challenge for the championship after a season of surprises on the track generated little excitement despite the victory of underdog Brawn GP.

Most of the news was made off the track in a series of scandals that included the teams nearly forming a breakaway series, Lewis Hamilton allegedly lying to stewards to gain an advantage and Renault’s Flavio Briatore being banned from the sport for ordering a driver to crash.