Motor Racing – Brawn Likely to Be On The Button Again At Silverstone

Indulge me, and those foolish enough to take my inane ramblings seriously, in a little moment of self-congratulation if you will. Back at the start of the year word reached this column that the new Brawn Formula One team, and Jenson Button in particular, were anticipating a much-improved showing this season. This, of course, has proved to be a significant understatement and those who availed themselves of the 9-1 advice on Button (or the 8-1 on Brawn to win the Constructors Championship) are now sitting pretty with the Briton now a best 1-12 to win the Drivers’ title with Paddy Power and his team a best 1-10 to accumulate most points (sportingbet). This week, of course, sees the Formula One circus reach Silverstone and British motor racing fans haven’t been slow in coming forward with stacks of cash for their new hero. Nearly all bookmakers report Button has been backed to the exclusion of all others ahead of the weekend, with only extrabet (evens) not going odds-on he wraps up his seventh victory in eight starts at the Northamptonshire circuit. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is next best at a general 5-1 with Button‘s team-mate Rubens Barrichello a general 8-1 chance. Button’s rush to stardom has, however, come at a cost to others, most obviously Lewis Hamilton. The reigning champion has cut a forlorn figure at times this year, scrambling around at the back of the grid just months after his dramatic last-gasp triumph in Brazil. Clearly, it’s going to be a while before his McLaren is competitive again but Skybet haven’t forgotten the 24-year-old completely and are offering 8-1 Hamilton grabs a podium finish in the British GP. Coral, incidentally, make him 7-2 to win a race in 2009. William Hill appear to have already conceded Button will win the Drivers’ Championship and have now priced up where he’ll confirm that fact – the Singapore GP in September is rated the most likely venue at 2-1.