Live on BBC 1: Sun 12.10: As F1 comes back to Europe, Lewis Hamilton is 7/2 (Sportingbet) to win and put pressure on Seb Vettel.
The China GP really mixed things up in the F1 season, the Pirelli tyre strategy appeared to be working, allowing overtaking and variety.
Sebastien Vettel is the 13/10 race fav in Turkey with 888sport but there’s evidence to suggest that he may not be as dominant as the odds imply.
Vettel may still be the 8/11 strong fancy with bet365 to lift the Drivers Championship but perhaps his main season rival, Lewis Hamilton, is the man who could succeed here in Istanbul.
McLaren improved in China and arguments suggest that they have more improving to do while Red Bull perhaps don’t have the same scope; they hit the ground with a top-notch car and risk being reeled in by their opponents. McLaren are 7/4 with Ladbrokes to win the race.
Hamilton has some form here too, winning in 2010 and finishing second in 2008 while Vettel has achieved just one podium position. Short odds backers should look to the 8/15 with William Hill for Hamilton to finish in the top three while Betfred say 4/6 that Vettel will take his fourth pole position in four races.
Other drivers to look out for are Felipe Massa and Jenson Button. Massa, triple winner from ’06 to ’08, had valid excuses for seventh place in both ’09 and ’10 and whilst he probably won’t win at 33/1 (Skybet), a top six placing is very achievable, a 10/11 punt with bet365. He probably still has the edge over teammate Alonso in the Ferrari and 7/1 () to finish on the podium is probably a step too far.
Jenson Button has enjoyed Istanbul over the years also, winning ahead of Webber in 2009 and runner-up last year, he is 9/1 with Sportingbet to grab something of a surprise win and 11/8 with Stan James to be in the medals.
Finally, Mark Webber has been racing very steadily, coming fifth, fourth and then third this season. He has set fastest laps twice in three races and Coral’s 7/2 about him setting a fastest lap here shouldn’t be ignored.
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