Eddie Jordan tips Lewis Hamilton to win in 2010

Ferrari may have set the pace in testing as the new Formula 1 season approaches, but one former team boss believes that McLaren have the edge over their Italian rivals and that Lewis Hamilton will reclaim his world crown in 2010.

Eddie Jordan, who is now a media pundit, says that despite Ferrari's good showing in the first test session at Valencia, Hamilton will be the man to beat this year.

He dismissed the results from the session in Spain where Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were the two fastest men on the track, and said: "I wouldn't put any credence at all on what's going on at the moment. What matters is what happens in Bahrain on that first Sunday."

That view was echoed by the Ferrari team itself. Team principal Stefano Domenicali urged caution and said the times should be "handled with care". "There are no miracles in Formula One," he added. "If you want to be fast you have to work hard for months and months."

He said that some cars had yet to be put through their paces while the teams that have tested could be playing "hide and seek".

And Jordan believes that it is McLaren not Ferrari who are on a roll. "We saw how bad McLaren were in the first half of last season. I went on record saying it was the worst car ever and they still came back," he said. "I think the momentum is with McLaren and Hamilton is a class act."

He added that the return of Michael Schumacher would play into Hamilton's hands. "It's perfect for him. My money wouldn't be anywhere but on Hamilton," he stated.

Hamilton's team mate is reigning world champion Jenson Button, who struggled at Valencia. And Jordan said the driver would be under no illusions about the task ahead of him.

"This will be the measure of the man," said the Irishman. "I'd like to see him in the top three but it will be a big ask."