3 Michael Schumacher

An abortive return with Ferrari in place of the injured Felipe Massa in 2009 relit the fire, and two decades after racing for the marque in sportscars Schumacher is finally in a Silver Arrow in F1.

His three-year retirement at an end, concerns over Schumacher's fitness following a monster superbike shunt at Cartagena in February 2009 have been allayed.

The only question that remains is whether the seven-time world champion will be able to roll back the years and beat the new generation of superstars.