Virgin debutants backed to make impact in 2010

So says Jake Humphrey, the BBC's Formula 1 presenter, who has seen and heard enough about the pedigree of John Booth and Manor Motorsport to suggest that Virgin Racing can establish themselves in the paddock in their debut season despite their 40m budget being the lowest on the grid.

Due to a history of helping young drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen on their way to world titles, Humphrey believes racing is in the blood at Virgin Racing.

"A lot of young drivers started with Manor and there's no question that those guys exist to race and I think the No 1 starting point for a new Formula 1 team is that you exist to race," said Humphrey.

"Don't exist to make money, don't exist for publicity, don't exist so you can show off to your mates – exist to win races and Manor do that and I think that's what's going to make it really special for them."

Nevertheless, he conceded the challenge ahead will be a tough one.

"To start a F1 team from scratch, despite other racing experience which Manor have got, is an incredibly tall order," he said.

"All of the new teams are having to build new facilites, recruit new drivers, design new cars and get up to speed with teams that have been in Formula 1 for 50 years and regularly spend well into the 10s if not 100s of millions of pounds each season.

"The good news for Manor and for their fans in Yorkshire is that this is a time when there's lots of new teams coming onto the grid so if they can beat the likes of Lotus, Campos and US F1 that will be a start for them and that will count as success in the first season.

"The new points system may well give them the chance to win a few points with a couple of really good races. So to know there's other teams coming in, the points are increasing and they've got racing in their blood, they are all advantages.

"Plus Timo Glock is a really talented driver and if the car's half decent he can certainly ring its neck and do the business."

Glock and Lucas di Grassi will be up against 24 other drivers in what is the most eagerly-anticipated Formula 1 season for many a year.

"There's great stories up and down the pit lane with all the new teams coming in, the change from Brawn to Mercedes and the return of Michael Schumacher," said Humphrey who will anchor the BBC coverage for a second year.

"You've got Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso who have got history going head to head in the Ferrari, and for many people Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari is a huge story, many people argue he is the most talented driver in the most famous F1 car. For a lot of Ferrari fans that's a dream.

"For us over here, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton going head to head is just going to be absolutely fantastic. It's going to be so fascinating the way it's all going to work out."