Red Bull driver Mark Webber believes that many of the pre-2010 Formula One championship favourites will soon be whittled down once the season begins.

Pre-season testing suggests Ferrari and McLaren are on top form and, with Mercedes GP and Red Bull expected to be prominent this year, eight drivers are expected to figure heavily in the points.

With McLaren boasting Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, Mercedes holding Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa at Ferrari and Webber paired with Sebastian Vettel, there is likely to be some intense team rivalry.

However, Webber can see many title challenges fading away as the season develops. Speaking to the official F1 website, he said: "I don't think that it will be eight. It will become a bit less than that quite quickly.

"Sure there are some very strong teams this year, but by halfway through the season I don't think that you will have eight people in contention for the Championship. There will be less."