The focus of the motorsport world will be on the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend for the start of the 2010 Formula 1 season.

Four months after the final event of 2009 in Abu Dhabi, the world’s top motor racing returns to the Middle East with huge amounts of interest.

The headlines are dominated by the return of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, three years after the German maestro retired. The 41-year-old returns to the fold not with Ferrari, his team for five of his titles, but with Mercedes GP, newly created following a buy out of last year’s champions, Brawn GP.

Brawn’s reigning world champion Jenson Button has moved to McLaren to partner the 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton. And with 2005 and 2006 champ Fernando Alonso now at Ferrari (below), the stage is set for a titanic battle between four men that have all tasted the highest level of glory in F1. Will Schumacher still have the skills that brought him unprecedented success, or will the latest batch of aces prove too strong?

There will be plenty of other drivers too, anxious to prove themselves against the big boys. The Red Bull cars were hugely strong in 2009 and retain the services of championship runner up Sebastian Vettel and Australian Mark Webber, who was revitalised after his first win last year. Experts are also warning that Schumacher’s team mate Nico Rosberg could be strong, as could Felipe Massa, who returns to driving duties for Ferrari after his horrific accident last year.

The Force India car too has looked quick in pre-season testing. The team retains Vitantonio Liuzzi and Adrian Sutil as its drivers. Torro Rosso also keeps the services of Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastian Buemi.