The Formula 1 motor racing season has a belated return today with what is supposed to be the second race of the season, The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia. The season opener was supposed to be in Bahrain two weeks ago but this event has been postponed due to the civil unrest in the region. Sebastian Vettel looks set to pick up from where he left off last season having set a blistering pace in the practice rounds.
What may worry a few punters who took early odds is the apparent lack of pace coming from the Ferrari team. Pre-season testing suggested they were the team to beat this season, but judging on their performance in Melbourne, they may have issues that still need ironing out. The surprise packet is former world number one Lewis Hamilton (McLaren). They had the reverse situation to Ferrari, their pre-season suggested they would struggle in the early part of the year, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Motor sport betting has Vettel a short 5/6 favourite to win today’s Grand Prix. He will start from pole, and with a time that is over half a second faster than his nearest rival, he will be hard to beat if he drives a clean race. Lewis Hamilton will start from two and is second favourite at 9/2. Although Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso could only struggle in to fifth on the grid, bookmakers have him third favourite at 11/2.
Mark Webber (7/1) will certainly be a driver to watch as he races on his home circuit. He managed to grab third place on the grid and is driving a car that is identical to Vettel. Like Vettel, Webber will need to drive a clean race to figure in the finish. Jensen Button (McLaren), another former world champion will start from four on the grid and, at 12/1, should not be ignored.
This is a harder race to tip than it seems. Vettel, on the form exposed, should win in a canter. However, he seems to find the grass a lot on this track and will need to balance speed and safety to win. Webber, on the other hand, will be desperate to win a home GP and this may well be his last opportunity to do so. Hamilton will be looking to stamp his name on this year’s drivers championship while Alonso will be trying to work through the issues surrounding Ferrari. We’re going out on a limb and suggest you back Vettel/Webber or Hamilton/Button for a 1/2 finish.