Barrichello - desperate for home win (Getty Images).

By Tom Millard

Betting Box Tipping Guide

BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
	8pts Rubens Barrichello to win at 4/1 (Bet Direct).	Certain to have the support of the Ferrari team.
	3pts e.w. Jenson Button to win at 14/1 (Bet Direct).	BAR getting stronger and should be suited to this track.
	4pts Takuma Sato to finish on the podium at 10/1 (Blue Square).	Far too long given the progress made on his car recently.

Unfortunately it seems the bookies are running scared of laying Rubens Barrichello at their initial prices, which is a shame but understandable under the circumstances.

The 4/1 we recommended with Bet Direct was cut on Tuesday afternoon and the best price available at the time of writing is Totesport's 3/1 - this also may not see Thursday morning.

Nevertheless, anything bigger than 5/2 would be a decent bet this weekend when taking into account the noises coming from inside Ferrari.

To reiterate, Michael Schumacher's quote earlier this week was: "It's important that a Ferrari finishes first at Interlagos on Sunday - which one of the two cars it will be is not important. Each us will drive his own race, but that doesn't mean that I won't help Rubens if the situation calls for it."

"Rubens is a very strong driver, there's no question about that. He doesn't need anyone's help, and I'm sure that he would prefer to win by himself, and not rely on someone else helping him."

These words indicate that the German is challenging his team-mate to have the hunger to beat him - the driver who wants the victory the most will win.

It is impossible to forsee a scenario whereby if Barrichello has a chance of winning the race, Schumacher will prevent him from winning.

He would never be forgiven in Brazil and even in Italy, where Barrichello is as loved as the world champion is respected.

At the very least, 'Rubinho' should be disputing favouritism with his team leader, who will be delighted to see his number two take the emotional victory that has been denied him on so many occasions in the past.

Last season for instance, victory was almost guaranteed before his Ferrari coasted to a halt with fuel feed problems, while in previous years plucky drives against the odds have been rewarded with only retirements.

The prices we recommended on the BAR drivers have also been chopped, but odds of around 6/4 on Jenson Button to finish on the podium are a steal in the absence of a decent each-way price.

The Englishman, who learned on Wednesday that he will be racing for BAR again next year, has ended up on the rostrum an incredible ten times in the 17 races so far this season, so the healthy odds-against quotes on the Frome-born racer look way off the mark.

Those who missed out on the 14/1 each-way tip can take their fill with UKBetting, Totalbet, Skybet and Bet365 at the 6/4 available.

Looking further down the grid, it looks as though the layers have finally woken up to the threat from Giancarlo Fisichella in the Sauber.

Incredibly, Fisi won this race last year in a Jordan, on a day when a timing error saw Kimi Raikkonen handed the winner's trophy only to have to pass it over to the Italian at the following race.

He always goes well here but at 8/11 for a points finish represents little value this time around.

After we bade farewell to Olivier Panis in Japan, this could be the final time we see David Coulthard in a race seat.

The veteran of 174 grands prix will lose his McLaren seat next year to Juan Pablo Montoya and as yet has not got a confirmed drive for 2005 - although he may be a contender to be Mark Webber's team-mate at Williams following the Button verdict.

Coulthard has largely been off the pace of team-mate Raikkonen this season, with the exception of the Japanese Grand Prix but despite the Finn's impressive victory at Spa in September, the McLarens have not looked as sharp of late.

Ralf Schumacher's well-deserved second place at Suzuka was an excellent result and a timely response to the critics who accused him of lacking pace and motivation since he returned to action after his high-speed crash at Indianapolis.

The German will be keen to notch successive podium finishes but the feeling is that BAR, rather than Williams or Renault will be Ferrari's biggest threat this weekend.

The race starts at 1800BST on Sunday evening, with final qualifying taking place at 1700BST on Saturday.