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This Sunday (18 March) in Melbourne, on the other side of the world, sees the start of the Formula One World Championship: the biggest media event, and the most widely followed, in the world's motor-sport calendar. The event in question is the Australian Grand Prix, the first of the races that make up Formula One's race calendar, and an event that involves huge amounts of money.

Although the majority of grand prix races take place in Europe, the traditional home of Formula One, they also take place on other continents; proof of the worldwide interest in the competition. Having said that, the grand prix with mythic status takes place in Europe: the Monaco Grand Prix, with its circuit that runs through the streets of Monte-Carlo, making it one of the most spectacular in the race calendar.

Formula One also holds one of its races in the Catalan Countries, with a long history of motor sport and motorcycling. The Circuit de Catalunya, at Montmeló (Vallès Oriental), will be the venue for the fourth race of the season and will be held on 13 May.

Eleven motor-racing teams compete in Formula One's World Championship, with two official drivers per team. This year the competition is very open due mostly to the retirement of the German driver Michael Schumacher, who won seven world championships. However, some drivers and teams are starting out as favourites. Let's have a look at which ones they are.