While the F1 Drivers Championship has been all wrapped up by Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, we can still take a look at Korea F1 Grand Prix betting. First of all to practice. Lewis Hamilton came out on top on the second day of practice in Singapore, perhaps now realising that with the season over, he can relax and get back to what he can do best. Winning. It has been a pretty rough season for the McLaren driver, and by his own admissions he has made far too many mistakes. Hamilton put in a good practice in the wet conditions, and was perhaps a direct response for his terrible showing in Japan last weekend. He really was not at the races in any way shape of form again there, and it has now been a long five races since we have seen the British driver stand upon the podium at the end of a race. It all signifies that Hamilton has not been in his head this season, not focused and the pressure has gotten to him. There is not much he can do for the rest of the season now, certainly not to make amends for his poor showing over the year, but rounding out the season in good form, will at least offer some kind of apology to his team. The thing is, that Hamilton should be far more competitive than he has been, and his wayward aggression on the track has led him to problems throughout the season. He is quick enough to compete and the former World Champion needs some good performances now, and perhaps can relax and show the world what he is made of. There is the question of momentum only now for Hamilton over the last four races of the 2011 F1 season. His good performance in practice should put him in good stead now for the weekend, and the Englishman did put in a good drive here last season to finish second. Is he worth getting behind as an outright winner in Korea F1 betting though this weekend. That is the question. There is a case for him, because he needs to respond. Truthfully the McLaren’s, Red Bulls and Ferraris are pretty competitive with each, so it does come down to driver ability.

Hamilton has been extremely overshadowed by team mate Jenson Button this season, and Button’s win in Japan last week confirmed that. With the title won, Vettel may take it a little easier, so that means there is an opportunity for Lewis Hamilton, and at 4/1 with SkyBet in the Outright Winner market, there is good value on him here. The admission of his mistakes to the press was probably a big mental barrier which has been broken down, which should allow to get some concentration back and use these last four races to his advantage to raise his stock again. Button though does remain the stronger of the two McLaren drivers, there is no doubt about that. Only Vettel has won more races than Button, and the perhaps unexpected success over Hamilton for Button this season, has fuelled Button to gun for his second world championship next season. Button has all the form with him at the moment out of the two McLaren drivers, and with Button right behind Hamilton in practice, there looks to be a great opportunity for the McLaren drivers here. Red Bull’s Vettel tracked home third fastest after the second day’s practice. For your Korea F1 betting, it is worth looking at the two McLaren drivers , with Button trading for 7/2 at Totesport to win the race. Drivers are having some problems getting heat into their tyres, which effects grip and therefore speed in the wet conditions, but the circuit in Korea is a good mix of high speeds and some street light tight corners near the end of the track. So hopefully the weather will clear and we can get a genuine competitive race, as the circuit provides a good balance and so it should be pretty competitive.

Vettel is still the favourite to win the race and to take pole position in Korea F1 betting, but the German has been a bit understated in practice so far, suggesting that he may be relaxing a little bit. His stellar season has earned him back to back Drivers Championship titles now, and with all the hard work done, and failure to win in Suzuki last week, where the Red Bulls have dominated, suggested that there could be a strong run of form from their rivals McLaren to close out the season. You can’t dismiss Vettel totally of course, because he is one of the most cool and pragmatic drivers on the F1 circuit. He is very business like and efficient and so will probably still be hunting down a podium finish. Only once this season has Vettel not made it to the podium. Still positive value at 6/4 with SkyBet in backing him to win the race, and you can’t just gloss over him. He is going to be in the running, and always worth taking him for Pole Position, because he just totally dominates that wherever he goes.

Korea F1 Grand Prix Pole Position Betting Odds
Sebastian Vettel: 4/5 at Bet365
Lewis Hamilton: 4/1 at Totesport (4/6 SkyBet for Top 3 Finish)
Jenson Button: 11/2 at Victor Chandler (4/6 SkyBet for Top 3 Finish)
Mark Webber: 12/1 at SportingBet
Fernando Alonso: 12/1 at Bet365

Korea F1 Grand Prix Betting Odds Outright Winner
Sebastian Vettel: 6/4 at SkyBet
Jenson Button: 7/2 at SkyBet
Lewis Hamilton: 4/1 at Boylesports
Fernando Alonso: 11/2 at Paddy Power
Mark Webber: 10/1 at SportingBet

The anticipation for the new Formula One season is growing, with winter testing getting under way. This is where the teams really start preparing for the new season, and tweaking and testing their cars. As things are getting under way, it is a good time to start looking at some ante post F1 betting on the 2011 season, which doesn’t start until March. As expected, the Red Bull team were drawing a lot of attention, after they had won both the drivers and constructors championships last season, with Sebastian Vettel picking up the title in a thrilling, topsy turvy season. Vettel, with a new car, really had set down an early marker on the first day of testing, by setting the fastest time. These winter testing trials really aren’t about competing for times with the other teams and drivers, it is more about the teams testing themselves and finding out more about their cars and designs. However, you can’t ignore pace, and Vettel was again looking ready to jump straight into the new season to defend his title. Fellow team mate Mark Webber really didn’t have a lot of time in his car, and was hampered by a red flag during his run anyway, so couldn’t get any real kind of testing done. The Red Bulls have upgraded their car from last year, and there have been specific changes to the design, which is drawing a lot of interest. There have been changes under the hood, and exterior designs as well, intended for more speed and aid in overtaking. They have also moved from the Bridgestone tyres to the new Pirelli ones, and that is something which will need a lot of testing. Vettel early showing certainly was a positive for the team, and is a good sign for the season ahead, and you can expect them to be one of the front runners again this season. Red Bull have thrown their hat into the ring, getting their new car out early. There is a lot more research and development to go into this before the start of the season, but the signs are improved evolution from last year’s impressive car.

The Red Bulls have to be looked at again as favourites for betting on the new season, as they definitely had the fastest package last season, taking 9 of the 19 races from the season. There is an extra race on the calendar this year for the drivers, and Vettel will have a tough time defending his title. It is often harder to defend than to win something for the first time, and there is always the somewhat frosty relationship between Vettel and Webber, but that could be interpreted as a positive thing, as it certainly instills healthy competition. The Red Bulls should be up there for the constructors championship. The McLarens too have switched from Bridgestone to the new Pirelli tyres as well, and Lewis Hamilton looked solid, picking up the fourth fastest time of testing on the second day. That was his first outing, and was going in the 2010 McLaren. The McLarens said that they were simply testing the tyres, seeing what performance they could get out of them. Expect a lot more to come from the McLaren team over the series of winter testing, as this is really early doors. The McLarens will launch and unleash their new car on Friday in Berlin, before testing resumes next week in Jerez. Really can’t take away anything from the McLaren’s performances here as yet, but as Hamilton was still on the pace in the 2010 car, you would expect faster things to come.

Ferrari though, simply won’t lie down. After putting in such an impressive second half to the season last year, where two times Champion Fernando Alonso started winning with regularity and putting pressure on the Red Bulls, it was the Spaniard who responded the strongest to the early showing of the Red Bull team from day one. Alonso bettered Vettel’s fastest time in testing so far, shaving 0.3 seconds off the German’s time. This is the 2011 Ferrari, and they didn’t run as much as expected, as they were testing and tweaking their aerodynamics more than anything. They were also embroiled in testing different tyres as well, so again, it is hard to take too much away from these winter testing. But Alonso, last year’s runner up in the F1 championship, and his strong showing, does mean that the Ferrari’s will be strong again. They were supposed to make a big impact last season, after being head and shoulders the best team through the winter testing. However, the early part of the season was dominated by the McLarens and Red Bulls and it was not until the second half when they started mounting a challenge for the title though Alonso.

Much more to come from all the teams, including the Renault team with their innovative designs, and teams testing out new tyres and new features. Renault driver Robert Kubica finished fifth fastest on day two (fastest on day three!), with his teammate Narain Karthikeyan just behind him. The Renaults fired in an awful lot of laps during their testing. All teams move on to Jerez next week for more testing, while the first race of the new season will be in Bahrain on March 13th. Has Vettel got the mettle to defend his title? It is not an easy thing, driving with that extra pressure and having everyone gunning for you. Vettel is a great, young, exciting driver though, and doesn’t look as if he is going to let things get to him. Held his nerve well at the end of last season to take the title. You have to feel though that Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso will go a lot stronger from the start, and after missing out so narrowly last season, after being so far back in the title race at one point, his class and experience will be a major boon to him. The McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, will also court a lot of betting, and could be worth a punt, particularly on Hamilton. He is the more aggressive of the two, and that seems to be a buzz word around the sport at the moment. It is very early stages, but nothing like a good ante post bet on the 2011 F1 season while the prices are still strong. Tough to pin down because of the car developments for the new season, but you can expect the familiar faces to be in the running for the top spot.

F1 Betting Odds 2011 – Formula One Drivers Championship

Sebastian Vettel: 11/4 at Bet365
Fernando Alonso: 3/1 at SkyBet
Lewis Hamilton: 4/1 at Bet365
Michael Schumacher: 12/1 at BetFred
Nico Rosberg: 14/1 at Stan James
Mark Webber: 14/1 at Victor Chandler
Jenson Button: 18/1 at Bwin
Robert Kubica: 20/1 at Bodog
Felipe Massa: 30/1 at Bwin

F1 Betting Odds 2011 – Formula One Constructors

Red Bull: 15/8 at Victor Chandler
Ferrari: 5/2 at Bet365
McLaren: 5/2 at Bet365
Mercedes: 9/1 at BetFred
Lotus Renault: 22/1 at Bwin

1 ) 2010/11 Champions League

Chelsea to win – 5/1 at BetFred

Yes, Barcelona just have incredible power and are as near to a perfect team as you could want. Real Madrid, who are better than they have been for years, were crushed by Barca 5-0 in a recent El Clasico encounter in La Liga, and Madrid remain second faouvrites to win the Champions League. That is how good Barcelona are. The three times European Cup winners (the last time being in 2008-09) are favourites to go all of the way again, and who could argue against it? Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and Xavi merely scratch the surface of a phenomenal side. However, Chelsea really do represent England’s best chance of being a Champions League winner for 2011. They are the team whose style are most suited to winning the tournament, and they have come so close but just haven’t been able to get their hands on it. What may work in their favour, is their poor domestic form. Yes, that may sound weird, but last year, when they crashed out from the Champions League early to Inter Milan, their league form picked up. If they are falling behind in the Premier League race this year, perhaps it will spur them on to something bigger in the Champions League. They have the quality and technical ability up front to win it, as they are a great European side, patient and looking for just that one opportunity. No, they are not in great form at the moment, but that is what makes them such an interesting proposition and good value at the moment. Who knows what the draw is going to throw up in the future. Perhaps they can avoid one of the strong Spaniards until the final, and with the final at Wembley, it seems fitting that it could Chelsea’s time finally.

2 ) 2010/11 Premier League Title

Manchester United to win – 6/4 at SkyBet

Sir Alex Ferguson, who will be United’s longest serving manager by the time this season has been done and dusted, will probably be rewarding himself with the Premier League title. It is December and no-one has beaten the Red Devils yet this season. The worrying thing for the other challengers for the title, including defending Champions Chelsea, is that United have not even been in great form. Wayne Rooney has been absent for a chunk of the season, and they haven’t had his goals to count on. Dimitar Berbatov has blown very hot and cold, and the squad looks decidedly average to what it has done in the past. However, Ferguson knows how to get the best out of people, and make them into a team which is just incredibly hard to beat. The old flair and power play of wave after wave of attack isn’t there at the moment, but they are solid enough at the back not to suffer too many hiccups on the road this year. United were tipped here at the start of the season, and are looking a good bet now at the price above. The only tweaking that they need to do, is to find a bit more of a cutting edge away from home, just to accent their great home form. It’s not been a great season in terms of out and out quality from any of the main challengers this year, and if someone is going to rise above and go all of the way, then it will be Manchester United.

3 ) 2011 Cricket World Cup

England to win – 6/1 at SportingBet

Well, no-one expected them to win the Twenty20 World Cup last year, but they did. England have really grown as a force in the shorter formats of the game, and after a long (and hopefully successful) Ashes tour Down Under in Australia, England will be in good shape. It’s been a very good year for English cricket, and why not back them to continue their good run? The One Day International format would have struck fear into England fans over twelve months ago, but England have improved enormously and that is thanks to the selectors being a bit braver in their selections. England are in a group with Bangladesh, India, Ireland, Netherlands, South Africa and the West Indies for the tournament which starts in February. Yes, the hot cricket action really doesn’t stop! Four teams from the two groups will go through to a Quarter Final knockout stage. The tournament is being hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, so there will be the conditions to deal with, which aren’t really suited to England’s game. It has put the ball in India’s court as favourites really, and the Aussies will no doubt be having a big say in things. But, with England priced as they are, and with a pretty strong batting line up which can be selected from, they really represent some good value.

4 )  2011 Women’s World Cup

England to win – 14/1 at Bwin

England do have a pretty good chance of some glory here. They are not one of the outright favourites, but an impressive 2010 has put them in some pretty good standing. They came through qualification unbeaten in their group, running up a crazy amount of goals all backed up by a solid, watertight defence. Hope Powell has built a pretty strong squad and are well worth a punt. Bwin has them out at 14/1 to win Germany 2011, and yes, they will be up against it, but why not. They are arguably the strongest European team in the tournament behind hosts Germany, and they should come through their group stage without any hassle. They are teamed up with Mexico, New Zealand and Japan. It is only Japan who realistically should cause England any real problems, and it should be a two horse race between those for the group winner. The draw could have been a lot worse for England, so they have a great chance in front of them. Germany, led by Birgit Prinz, who is probably the best woman footballer in the world are outright favourites, and Brazil and the USA will be in the mix as well. England really don’t stand toe-to-toe with the quality that Germany and the USA produce, but you know, being patriotic and hopeful of progressing further than last time, they are worth a long punt. They exited from the 2007 World Cup in the first knockout stage against the USA, but now, with veteran forward Kelly Smith leading the line, England are unbeaten in 10 matches since early 2010. They are currently the ninth ranked team in the world. Ground to make up, but potential.

5 ) Lee Westwood to win a Major in 2011

Yes: 3/1 at Unibet

Why shouldn’t the World Number One be able to win a Major? He came pretty close again during 2010, even carrying an injury. He still looked one of the most natural and comfortable players out on the PGA Tour. He surely has to be destined to win a Major, and as he keeps improving his performances in the Majors, the next natural progression for Westwood will be to land one in 2010. He has worked hard in finally deposing Tiger Woods from his world number one spot and he didn’t show any signs of letting the fantastic accomplishment get to him. Now he just needs to crown himself a Major winner to put that extra bit of gloss on his career. One of the finest strikers of the ball, with immaculate approach work with the irons, Westwood will be a threat wherever he goes. He will be in a lot better shape next year of course if his injuries do not bother him, but at least he gets a bit of a rest now before he hits the fairways next year. Helped Europe win the Ryder Cup this year as well, put it is as if the entire PGA Tour is just waiting for him to lift that Major. In a way it almost seems inevitable. Has to be backed to get that missing feather in his cap.

6 ) 2011 RBS Six Nations

England to win – 9/4 at Totesport

After some good performances in the November series of matches against Southern Hemisphere opposition, England have been instilled as favourites to win the 2011 RBS Six Nations. While England only won two of their four matches in November (against Australia and Samoa), there was a lot more promise there than has been seen for a long, long time. England finally started playing with a bit of adventure, throwing the ball around and running at the opposition instead of kicking aimless balls away. There are still plenty of flaws to their game, but at least they are now addressing one of the biggest ones, developing a cutting edge. Still, in those November matches, the gulf between real finishing power and coming close was evident against South Africa and New Zealand. The Six Nations takes on extra importance for Martin Johnson this year, as there is a World Cup to be contested in 2011. If England are going to be serious contenders there, then they have to be serious contenders to win the RBS Six Nations. England need to continue building momentum, and with the Premiership back in full swing, hopefully there is more to come from England. They have to be brave and tactically sound enough to win the Six Nations in 2011 if they are going to make an impression at the World Cup, and they stand a good chance. France and Ireland will be the main challengers, with the French looking awesome last year. The Irish always play a tight, solid game and they will push hard. It could be a close run thing, the next RBS Six Nations, and if England prevail, it will say a lot about their character.

7 ) 2011 Wimbledon

Andy Murray to win – 7/1 at Victor Chandler

It is what every British tennis fan wants to see. They all want to see the Scot lift the title at Wimbledon, and it will be worth having a punt on Murray there for 2011. That price for a third favourite is worth a flutter! Murray had an OK 2010, but didn’t quite live up to the start he had made by reaching the final of the US Open. Murray lost there to Federer, and while he had some great moments throughout the season in beating Federer and Rafael Nadal, again he could not get over the line to win a Major. His performance at the US Open really summed up his year, as he went in on pretty good form, but then crashed out early, looking a bit fatigued and out of sorts. There has to be more to come from Murray, who spent a lot of the season without a coach. On his day, he has proven that he can take on the best and beat them, that is because he is one of the best players on the ATP Tour. If he can get that same consistency and focus that Nadal and Federer is blessed with, then Murray has the natural talent in him to reach the pinnacle of men’s tennis and get his name in the hall of fame by winning a Major. He will get another four chances next year, so why not see him do it at Wimbledon?

8 ) 2011 Formula One Drivers Championship

Lewis Hamilton – 3/1 at Stan James

Another chance to get all patriotic with your betting. The only thing really which stopped Lewis Hamilton from winning his second Drivers Championship this year, was Lewis Hamilton. The British driver was in a strong position, but he edgy driving caused him to have a couple of crashes towards the end of the season, and he blew his lead and couldn’t catch up. The McLarens really were playing catch up to the Red Bull and Ferrari teams for most of the season, but still Lewis Hamilton put himself in a position to challenge for the title. If the McLarens can now go off to be upgraded properly through winter testing, then there is a great chance for Hamilton to get back to being the best in the world. What Hamilton has is bravery, and is one of the most aggressive drivers on the F1 circuit. It is a fine line which he treads which makes him so dangerous, as he pushes the limits between success and failure, unlike the steady controlled driving of team mate Jenson Button. Exciting to watch, and although he is relying on his team, worth backing to be world number one again in 2011. Hopefully he will have learned from his mistakes this year to make him an even better driver next season.

9 ) 2011 Rugby World Cup

England to win – 12/1 at Totesport

Martin Johnson’s men are currently four favourites to win the 2011 World Cup. They are worth a bet, simply because of their past performances in the tournament. Yes, we all remember the Jonny Wilkinson drop goal against Australia, and yes,  we all remember the try that wasn’t against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup final. That’s two consecutive finals for England, with the latter coming against the odds. England went into that tournament in terrible form, and without much hope, but they showed that they could grind it out when necessary (apart from the final), enjoying a much heralded victory over the Australians along the way. England are in a pool with Argentina, Scotland, Georgia and Romania, and naturally they will be clear favourites to win that group. The All Blacks, the Aussies and the Springboks are all ahead of England in the betting and understandably so. The tournament is in New Zealand, and it should be their time to lift the trophy, as they are simply a phenomenal side, and the Australians have one of the most dangerous back lines in the world. South Africa were crushed by New Zealand and Australia in the Tri-Nations this year, but they got the better of England at Twickenham in November with a great performance. World Cup winners though have pretty much been built on a solid defence, something which has been a strength of England in the past. If they can because hard to beat again, but add that spark of running creativity from the backs, then they are worth an outside bet.

10 – Elena Baltacha World Ranking

Over 61.5 6/7 at Unibet
Couldn’t let any though of the 2011 sporting year pass by without mention of Britain’s Elena Baltacha. Britain’s number one ranked tennis player has been something of an inspiration this year, picking up victories over top ten ranked players in the season, winning titles and being the face of women’s tennis for Britain. Making a return after a long injury to action in 2010, the Scot wasted no time in racing up the rankings and currently sits at a career high of 55th after starting the season in 89th. Always smiling and giving her best, there is a lot of promise and hope that there will be even more to come from her. Baltacha really epitomises British women’s tennis, and with Laura Robson and Heather Wilson coming up behind her, things are looking pretty good at the moment. Keep an eye for her on the WTA Tour.

Lewis Hamilton is looking to go out of the 2010 F1 season with a bang. After the Red Bull drivers were looking ominous in the first practice of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which is the final race of the season, Hamilton took a firm grip of things by finishing the second practice with the fastest lap. Hamilton, as optimistic as he can possibly be in this situation, has a chance of winning the F1 drivers title, albeit a very slim one. He is 24 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso, and with a maximum of 25 points for winning the race, it is unlikely that Britain will have a World Champion Formula One driver this year. However, the McLaren driver will have a big role to play in the Grand Prix at Yas Marina, and therefore the outcome of the Drivers Championship this year. Hamilton has to push hard now, to keep alive his slim hopes, while at the same time hoping that the other drivers in the title race all fall by the wayside by some miracle. The pace set in qualifying raises hopes that McLaren will round off the season with a win, and even though there will still be some unknown quantities over speed due to unknown fuel loads, it looks as if McLaren will be able to keep pace with the Red Bulls and the Ferrari of Alonso. Hamilton edged out Sebastian Vettel into second place in practice. Vettel’s Red Bull team mate Mark Webber, who stands second in the title race, ran in the fourth fastest lap of practice, and it looks as if you are not going to separate him from Alonso, who was third fastest. You can still expect a lot more to come from Webber over the weekend though.

Formula One Drivers Championship Standings

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari 246 pts
Mark Webber, Red Bull, 238 pts
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull 231 pts
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren 222 pts

Hamilton had the Drivers Championship in his own destiny at one stage of the season, but a couple of crashes later and his hopes have fallen by the wayside. Along with a car which has been playing catch up to the main rivals this season as well, it has still been a valiant effort by Hamilton. The British driver pulled out a fourth place finish in Brazil last week, and the win by Sebastian Vettel there pushed the race to the final Grand Prix of the season. Fernando Alonso is still the man to beat though, as he holds an eight point lead at the top of the leader board from Red Bull’s Mark Webber. All the Spaniard needs to do, is to finish first or second in the race, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else does, he will be crowned Champion for the third time in his career. Alonso has really come to life in the final part of the season, and he has picked up three wins out of the last five races, putting him in the driving seat to win the Formula One drivers title again. He really won’t be worrying too much about what Hamilton is doing, because as long as he stays ahead of Webber and Vettel and finishes in the points, then the title is his. Only if Hamilton wins and Alonso finishes outside of the points, will the British driver be in with a chance. Alonso was third fastest out of the group after practice two in Abu Dhabi, and is fully confident that he will win the title, being 100% confident going into the last race of the season. He doesn’t even need to win the race, and that’s important to remember for your formula one betting here.

Formula One Drivers Championship Betting Odds

Fernando Alonso: Evens at Stan James
Mark Webber: 7/4 at Bwin
Sebastian Vettel: 13/2 at Bet365
Lewis Hamilton: 40/1 at Totesport

Formula One Drivers Title Permutations (assuming a top six finish)

Fernando Alonso: A win or second place gets him the title.
If he finishes third, fourth or fifth then he needs Webber or Vettel not to win.
A sixth place finish, and Alonso will hope that Webber doesn’t come higher than third, and hope that Vettel doesn’t win.

Mark Webber
Will win the title if he takes the chequered flag, and Alonso is no higher than third
If Webber runs in second (to anyone but Alonso of course) then he wants Alonso no higher than six, and needs Vettel not to win
A third place finish needs Alonso outside of the top six, and again hoping Vettel doesn’t win
Anything lower than that, he needs Alonso to finish three places behind him, and doesn’t want team mate Vettel winning the race

Sebastian Vettel
A win for Vettel would need Alonso no higher than fifth for the German to win the title
A second place finish would need Alonso back out to ninth, and Webber to not finish higher than fifth.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Winner Odds
Mark Webber: 7/4 at Blue Square
Sebastian Vettel: 40/17 at Bwin
Fernando Alonso: 5/1 at Totesport
Lewis Hamilton: 5/1 at Bwin
Jenson Button: 33/1 at SportingBet

Those are the basic permutations for the race and the Championship, and basically, while it looks open, realistically, the cars in the title race would not be there without consistency as well as performance, and you have to expect all of them to finish in the top six in some kind of order. That all basically puts the ball firmly in the court of Fernando Alonso, as he has the most permutations on his side by which he can win the title. One interesting outcome, is the fact that the three main challengers (not counting Hamilton) could all end up with the same amount of points. This would be incredible, but if Vettel wins with Webber in second place behind his teammate, and Alonso rolls across the line in fifth place, then all three drivers would finish with the same amount of points. If the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finishes like that, then who would win the title? Well, Alonso and Vettel would finish with five wins apiece, both would have two second places to their name, and incredibly three third place finishes for the season. The winner would therefore be Sebastian Vettel, as he has had two more finishes in fourth place than Alonso .

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Pole Position Odds
Sebastian Vettel: 11/10 at SportingBet
Mark Webber: 4/1 at ExtraBet
Fernando Alonso: 9/2 at Bet365
Lewis Hamilton: 5/1 at Stan James
Jenson Button: 33/1 at 888Sport

For the race, you have to again look at the speed and performance which you know will be coming from the Red Bull drivers, predominantly in this case Vettel. Both have a hand in the title race and both should be going for it hard. There is no team orders of course, but Vettel has hinted that given the right circumstances, he would try and help Webber if he could. The Red Bulls were phenomenally quick in Abu Dhabi last year, and they of course have an even better car this time around. Vettel needs to beat his teammate to win the title, but if he is behind him, then he will do all he can to keep Alonso back in third place, letting Webber win the title. This is ironic, as Webber wasn’t happy after the Brazilian Grand Prix as he felt that Vettel should have moved aside and let him win in order to put him in a stronger position in the title race. That didn’t happen because Red Bull wants their competitors running competitively, and in a completely sporting manner. If any one moves aside, then it will be under their own volition.

This is a thrilling climax to a wonderful season, full of ups and downs. The race is run during twilight, giving a wonderful feel to the Grand Prix, and will make a fitting spectacle to round out the season. Vettel won the race last season, and will make a strong candidate for your betting as well. The weather should not come into play, as there is not much danger of rain, giving a fine, even keel for the title contenders to run out on. The Red Bull team should go very well here, and that means that the race, and therefore the title will go to the wire. They should dominate qualifying as well, and a one-two at the front of the grid is not out of the question at all. What is certain, is that you have three world class drivers in Alonso, Vettel and Webber all going for it. There will probably be some brave moves and some thrills and spills in Abu Dhabi.

The gloves are off and the penultimate race in the 2010 Formula One calendar is upon us. After Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso kept up his great form over the last quarter of the season to take the chequered flag at the inaugural Korean Grand Prix, the Spaniard can now win his third F1 title in Brazil on Sunday. The win for Alonso in Korea was huge, as Championship leader Mark Webber, along with his team mate Sebastian Vettel, both failed to finish, handing the impetus to Alonso. That is three out of the last four races now that Alonso has won, and he is going to take some stopping from here on out. Alonso is now in control at the top of the Drivers Championship by eleven points, and knows that he only needs to keep finishing ahead of Webber to take the title over the last two races. There are connotations which will see Alonso lift the title this weekend though, for if Alonso wins again and Mark Webber finishes fifth or lower, Alonso will be champion. If Alonso is second, he will win the title if Webber finishes eighth or lower, and if Alonso rolls in third, then Webber will need to be tenth or lower for Alonso to take the title. As for the chasing duo of Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, they would really need to outscore both Alonso and Webber heavily to keep their hopes alive going into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Formula One Drivers Championship Outright Odds

Fernando Alonso: 8/11 at SkyBet
Mark Webber: 23/10 at Bwin
Sebastian Vettel: 14/1 at Bet365
Lewis Hamilton: 14/1 at Blue Square

It really is looking like Alonso can’t and won’t be stopped now, in what has been a fantastic and thrilling season. Just to stir things up a bit, Alonso’s Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa has come out and said that he will help Alonso to win the title. This will no doubt stir up some controversy, as it was Massa who moved aside when leading the German Grand Prix to let Alonso through for the victory, when team orders are banned. That will, no doubt, raise its ugly head again, should Alonso go on and win the title. But this is all a little more innocent than that really, because what Massa means, is that by producing a strong race himself, he can take points away from Webber and the others. Why this is a big deal, is because Massa usually runs pretty strongly in Brazil, which is his home course. Having a team mate who should be challenging for a top six place at least comes in really handy. This is the case of the McLaren team with British duo Lewis Hamilton and defending champions Jenson Button. The finish of Massa in third at Korea, really helped team mate Alonso stretch his legs at the top of the standings. The win itself for Alonso, in the wet, really put a cap on some fine driving over these last few races.

Brazilian Grand Prix Winner Betting Odds

Sebastian Vettel: 5/2 at BetFred
Mark Webber: 13/5 at 888Sport
Fernando Alonso: 4/1 at Paddy Power
Lewis Hamilton: 6/1 at Stan James
Felipe Massa: 16/1 at Bet365
Jenson Button: 33/1 at SportingBet

Button is out of the running and would need a miracle not to lose his crown at the very track where he won it last year. That the wonderful irony of sport. However, he could still have a role to play in helping out his buddy Lewis Hamilton. There is no issue of seniority at McLaren, with the team supporting both Button and Hamilton equally. However, all that may change on Sunday, if Button can get in amongst things heavily. Hamilton is still in with a chance, however slight, of taking the title, or at least pushing it close for the final race of the season. For that to happen, he may just need the back up of Button to take points away from Alonso and Webber in particular. Hamilton is sitting 21 points behind the leader at the moment, and with 25 points up for grabs for a win, there are permutations which could see Hamilton in a much stronger position, but that would mean that Alonso and Webber would have to have very bad races really. That’s not too likely, but if Hamilton and Button grabbed a 1-2 for McLaren then it would be a huge boost for Hamilton, a former world Champion. Button can really make a nuisance of himself and help Hamilton out here, and with Button 42 points off the lead, with a maximum of 50 remaining, it looks as if he will have to settle into a supporting role whether he likes it or not. However, the McLarens really aren’t keeping up to the overall pace of the Ferrari’s or Red Bulls, so it will need something really special from Hamilton.

Brazilian Grand Prix Pole Position Betting

Sebastian Vettel: 15/8 at BetFred
Mark Webber: 3/1 at Bet365
Fernando Alonso: 6/1 at ExtraBet
Lewis Hamilton: 7/1 at SportingBet
Felipe Massa: 14/1 at BetFred
Jenson Button: 33/1 at SportingBet

Hamilton really has disappointed over the closing stages of the season, failing to finish in two successive races, until he got things back on track with a second place behind Alonso in Korea. Hamilton seems pretty up beat and confident, and if you want someone to go and aggressively chase down a title, then Hamilton would be your man, as he is an expert at driving the thin line between guts and glory. His crashes at the Italian and Singapore Grands Prix when he was leading the Drivers Championship though, will probably end up hurting him greatly. He will have no-one else to blame but himself for his aggression being his undoing in those races, and now he simply has nothing else to do but to go out and give it everything he has. From a F1 fan’s point of view, hopes are that there will be some big upsets in Brazil and everything will be extremely tight for the final race. Is there to be another twist in one of the most fascinating seasons there has been for years? It is great that there have been so many drivers in the hunt for so long, with the lead changing so much. The McLarens had the early upper hand, but have let it all slip away way, and the resurgence of the Ferrari’s has simply been brilliant. The Red Bulls looked to have gained a big advantage going into the closing stages of the season, but now with both drivers failing to finish in the previous race, everything has turned on its head.

The Track: Interlagos
A miserable weekend weather-wise is expected in Brazil, making the race something of a lottery. This is exactly what the chasing title contenders behind Fernando Alonso will want. There is wet weather expected all weekend, and that will have a huge influence in practice, qualifying and the race itself. Mark Webber won here last year, and should be one of the front runners again. Interlagos is one of the shorter circuits on the Formula One Grand Prix calendar, but is poses some interesting questions of balance in setting up the car. Some teams opt for maximum straight line speed, while others compromises to get optimum lap times. The track also runs counter clockwise, which is not as common, putting stresses on the other side of drivers’ bodies, and with high g-force turns, it really is a physically demanding track. With the track as it is, you have to look towards the Red Bull team being quick enough through the slower portions of the track, plus having enough speed to nab top spots in qualification. Alonso will be in the mix as well, make no mistake about that. As for Hamilton’s chances here, the McLaren may compete down the straight, but can’t stand up to the performance the Red Bull and Ferrari drivers can get through the turns.

1st Practice – things are looking up for a thrilling finish to the season, with the two Red Bull drivers leading the way in practice. Sebastian Vettel was quickest, with team mate Mark Webber running close behind him. Hugely positive news for the British McLaren duo, as Lewis Hamilton was running third quickest, and Jenson Button fourth. Early days, but Alonso could only manage 13th quickest.

F1 betting odds and preview for Korean Grand Prix. Can the Formula One Drivers Championship swing back in the favour of the McLaren drivers at the inaugural Korean Grand Prix this weekend? While Lewis Hamilton and defending champions Jenson Button have fallen back in the pecking order over the past few races, the exciting new challenges in Asian could suit the British drivers. McLaren have been playing catch up to the Red Bull and Ferrari teams, seeing their rivals gain advantages on tracks which really haven’t suited the McLaren team. However, there is enough in this track to suggest that the F1 Drivers Championship could be thrown wide open again. Because of the three long straights, especially in between Turns 2 and 3, the McLarens could press home their straight line advantage. The British drivers have lost momentum in the tight cornering circuits, but the Korea track has a good blend of characteristics which should help Button and in particular, Hamilton, get back into the title race. There should be plenty of overtaking, even though the track is tight, and it should be a thrilling race with time running on the drivers’ seasons.

Korean Grand Prix Betting Odds Outright Winner

Sebastian Vettel: 12/5 at SportingBet
Fernando Alonso: 7/2 at Betfred
Lewis Hamilton: 7/2 at Bet365
Mark Webber: 4/1 at Extrabet
Jenson Button: 12/1 at Bwin

The final track was only inspected a couple of weeks ago, such has the deadline been pushed. But the teams are there and have tested the news waters in the two practice sessions on Thursday. What makes this situation even more exciting, is that the teams have no data to call upon. There is no past history at this track, so teams can’t study performance and tweak their set ups based on history. It is a bit of an unknown, and it is just that which could keep the title dreams of Lewis Hamilton alive. There are just two races after Korean, in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, and already Hamilton is 28 points behind championship leader Mark Webber (Red Bull). Hamilton really needs the maximum 25 points on offer, and for the likes of Webber, Vettel and Fernando Alonso to have bad races.

Korean Grand Prix Pole Position Odds

Sebastian Vettel: 15/8 at Boylesports
Mark Webber: 10/3 at William Hill
Lewis Hamilton: 7/2 at Bet365
Fernando Alonso: 9/2 at Stan James
Jenson Button: 16/1 at SportingBet

After looking in control of the F1 Drivers Championship, Hamilton has seen his chances slip away through crashes. Whoever takes the chequered flag here, really could settle the question of which way the title will go. A win for Webber should give him enough of a cushion, while victory for either McLaren driver would see them claw their way back to within touching distance. Then there is of course, the resurgence of Alonso, who has put in a storming last quarter of the season to put himself in contention as well in his Ferrari. Hopefully from a fan’s point of view, the season will be decided at the last race of the season, but for now, from a F1 betting perspective, we’ll take a look over the chances of the top contenders at Korea.

Mark Webber Red Bull (220 points)
The Australian has benefited from some excellent driving this season, as well as seeing his opponents shoot themselves in the foot. He has the huge plus of team mate Sebastian Vettel being in the hunt as well, and Vettel will likely take points away from the main threats to Webber and his title ambitions. There are areas of the track which will suit the Red Bull more than the other teams, particularly towards the end of the track, where it slows down and becomes twisty. The teams in Korea will have to be working hard on the fly to produce for their drivers. Red Bull have a big advantage in terms of technological advances. This course should put drivers and cars all on an even keel. Wrested back some early control laid down from the McLaren and Ferrari drivers, by setting the fastest time in second practice. Can he take the pressure of leading from the front in the race and the championship?
Race Tip: Top 3 (4/6 at Blue Square)
F1 Championship: Winner because he has a decent cushion which should see him home

Fernando Alonso (206 points)
Alonso’s run of two straight victories was undone in Japan, where he could only manage third on the podium. Fourteen points behind Webber really isn’t as much as it sounds, but Webber has the upper hand at this late stage in the Championship. For this race, this is exactly what makes Alonso a great driver, and why he is a two times World Champion. He has the skill to turn the unknown into a victory. The Ferrari has been looking awesome over the past three races, and well in with a shout of winning this one. If his team mate, Felipe Massa can get in amongst the top fix and break up the Red Bulls and McLaren’s for example, it could help Alonso even more.
Race Tip: Top 6
F1 Championship: Strong, but realistically has to beat two Red Bulls, which isn’t going to be easy.

Sebastian Vettel Red Bull (206 points)
Has had a pretty consistent season, and is a brave driver. He really could push things on here, and going into the race on the back a great win in Japan, the German should be fully confident. Over the final three races of the season, you just have to believe in the overall performances that Red Bull have put in over the season, to get them to the line. There should be a little more at the Korea circuit for the Red Bull than the Ferrari, and Vettel makes a great tip for your F1 betting, both in taking the race here, and in sneaking the F1 Drivers Championship away from his team-mate. In good form, brave and aggressive when needs to be. Has the tools to go all of the way.
Race Tip: Top 3 (4/7 at Bet365)
F1 Driver’s Championship Tip: Very close runner with Webber

Lewis Hamilton McLaren (192 points)
This is his best chance to get back in real contention for the F1 Drivers Championship. This race really should suit Hamilton, and the signs from testing were good, in that the drivers was extremely happy with the car. Will be running a bit blind with modifications, but nonetheless, there is not a braver driver out of the guys in the running to lift the title. If he avoids contact, he can really take advantage of this track, as his little extra bit of aggression should be repaid by the track. Hamilton has been saying all the right things in the build up to the race, that he is confident, happy and excited by the challenge in front of him. However, if he doesn’t finish ahead of Webber on Sunday, then it really will be over for him this year. Treads a thin line between bravery and recklessness, and that is a big positive when it pays off. Fastest in first practice, and that’s a very good sign for the British driver.
Race Tip: Top 3 (8/11 at Paddy Power)
F1 Drivers Championship Tip: Outside of top 3

Jenson Button McLaren (189 points)
Button’s just a few points back of team mate Hamilton, but you really have to fancy Hamilton to make an impact at the top of leader board. When Button is going well he is very steady, consistent and drives a good line. It’s what won him the championship last year, and has gotten him close again this year. If the other drivers mess up on the new track, then Button will likely last the distance as he’s a little more on the stable side than Hamilton, then he could threaten the podium, that’s because he should get more out of the car in the Korean Grand Prix than in the previous few races.
Race Tip: Top 6
F1 Drivers Championship Tip: Top 5

Would look towards the McLaren’s putting up a genuine challenge here in Korea. One problem with the track, is that it is a new surface and it is going to take a while to put down grip. Once the rubber from the tires goes down, then it should be game on a little bit more. McLaren’s should take advantage of the late breaking at the end of straights, and the straight line speed, and the middle portion of the track offer enough to keep up the pace. They end of the track will be their biggest problem, and where the Red Bull and Ferrari teams may be able to claw things back. Lewis Hamilton really has to put everything on the line now, and go for it. That alone makes him well worth taking in the F1 betting for the Korean Grand Prix. His technique may well mean that he crashes out, but if he’s on the track, he should be near the front. Otherwise, then you have to back the Red Bull cars in situations like this. The pressure is all on Webber and that should hand just a little bit of an advantage to his team mate Vettel, and he would be the top tip for the race winner.

Formula One Drivers Championship Betting Outright Odds

Mark Webber: 6/5 at Totesport
Sebastian Vettel: 5/2 at BetFred
Fernando Alonso: 3/1 at William Hill
Lewis Hamilton: 22/1 at Extrabet
Jenson Button: 66/1 at Extrabet

December 19th will see the announcement of the 2010 Sports Personality of the year. Last year Man Utd winger Ryan Giggs picked up the coveted award, to the surprise of many, including Jenson Button who had just won the F1 World Drivers Championship for the first time. That result really threw a lot of punters, who were certain favourite Button deserved it, certainly achieving more than what Giggs did over the year. Anyway, Giggs will go into the history books and it really is time to start narrowing down your list of competitors for this year’s Awards. Now is the time to get some early bets down, as some of the personalities on this list are still in action and have a big chance to stake their claim, such as Lewis Hamilton with four races left in the F1 season, and darts legend Phil Taylor stepping up to the oche on the Emerald Isle this week. Here we cast an eye of the best market prices for the 2010 Sports Personality of the Year and assess their chances of landing the title.

Graeme McDowell: 2/1 at 888Sport
The Northern Ireland golf star and really ran head first into the sporting headlines this year. McDowell won the US Open and Pebble Beach, coming from nowhere in the betting to take one of the most sought after titles in golf. He put in a solid 74 in the final round, which was enough to take the title by one stroke after American Dustin Johnson had looked in pole position at the start of the final round. Johnson fell apart while McDowell held himself together to become the first European for around 40 years to win the US Open. What will strengthen his case, is the performance which he put in at the Ryder Cup over the weekend. He played well with fellow countryman Rory McIlroy, but it was his composure in the singles which gave him all the glory. McDowell was in the last match against Hunter Mahan, and it was his coolness under pressure, although he admitted to feeling a lot of nerve, which got Europe home. Europe were in a commanding position, until a late surge by the USA turned things on its head, and suddenly everything rested on McDowell’s match. The Irishman holed out for a 3 and 1 win with a great birdie,  was subsequently mobbed and Europe cheered. He will be forever remembered as the man who won the Ryder Cup for Europe in 2010.
Tip: Rightly a contender as it is exactly these unique moments of glory which should secure the title.

Tony McCoy: 9/4 at SportingBet
The champion jockey finally got his hands on the prize he wanted this year. For so long Grand National had eluded him, even though his career had been littered with almost every other prize going. His will be one of the sentimental votes, because he is at the top of his sport and has been for so many years. The National was the crowning glory and perhaps that will tip the balance in his favour here, that he managed to complete National. Has the Sports Personality of the Year judges been waiting for his big moment to award the title to him? McCoy has been the Champion Jockey for past 15 consecutive years, and has racked up almost two hundred winners again this season, something he hasn’t done for around five years.
Tip: Should be one of the favourites, because there is the feeling that he has rounded off a glittering career this year by landing the Grand National.

Jessica Ennis: 9/1 at SkyBet
In the last two years, Ennis has really grown as an athlete. Although she is not at the Commonwealth Games at the moment as she took the rest of the year off after the European Championships, she has had an incredibly successful year. After winning the 2009 World Championship in the Heptathlon, she has backed that up with a 2010 World Indoor Pentathlon title, and the biggest crown of her career so far, the 2010 European Championships, where she won four of the seven events. The 24 year old has become one of the leading names in British Athletics and would be fully deserving of the title. Has set twelve personal bests, including a British record for the 60 metre hurdles, and a British and Commonwealth Record for the Pentathlon.
Tip: Came third at the awards last year. With the 2012 Olympics on the way, it could be the right time for Ennis to win this. Would expect a top three place at the awards at the very least. While a successful season, once she gets an Olympic title under her belt she should be a stronger favourite.

Phil Taylor: 16/1 at Victor Chandler
The legend of darts just keeps going and going, and just seems to get better and better as he goes along. 2010 World Championship? Check. 2010 World Matchplay? Check. 2010 Premier League? Check. 2010 European Championship? Check. 2010 UK Open? Check. 2010 US Open? Check. Oh, not to mention a couple of nine darts finishes during the same match, in another highly successful season. Posting some of the best three dart averages of his year, he deserves to be recognised as one of those special, elite sportsmen. Let’s not forget that Taylor is a thirteen times World Champion, and how many other sportsmen around the world can post such a long an illustrious career? It would be a shame if he never picked up this honour, as he needs to be recognised. Has the chance to grab more headlines with the World Grand Prix going on at this very moment.
Tip: Should be a winner, but unlikely to beat McDowell or McCoy.

Lewis Hamilton: 20/1 at SportingBet
What makes betting on Lewis Hamilton as the Sports Personality of the Year, is that he still has time to steal the F1 Drivers Championship. He has led the way in a battling season for the McLaren driver, even though his car is not as good as his main rivals. However, he has thrown away his lead after suffering two crashes in the last two F1 Grands Prix, and so that could put him out of the running here. If he rattles off a couple of wins to put him back at the top of the leader board, and if he can still the title away, then it will be a remarkable achievement. There are two ways to look at this. Hamilton never won in the year he won the Drivers Championship. But Hamilton has come runner up twice before in the awards, and with Button being pushed out last year against the odds, if Hamilton does win the F1 title this year, perhaps the law of averages will be on his side.
Tip: No chance unless he wins the F1 title.

Colin Montgomerie: 25/1 at BetFred
Will he get recognised for all the work he done in recapturing the Ryder Cup for Europe as their captain? No. It’s just going to happen really, certainly not with Graeme McDowell being the clear favourite with the bookies at the moment.

Mo Farrah: 33/1 at SportingBet
The athlete is being touted around as a possible candidate for a top three finish at the awards. Why? He was a double gold winner at the European Championships this year, with the long distance runner winning the 5k and the 10k. He also broke the British 10k road record this year as well. The only thing which may stop him winning is his withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games.

Graeme Swann: 50/1 at Boylesports
Cricketer of the Year and one of the reasons why England has done so well this year. His spin bowling has really elevated England up the world standings, but while England have enjoyed a successful year, it hasn’t been an Ashes year, so Swann probably won’t get the highest recognition that he could.

Lee Westwood: 50/1 at Ladbrokes
Europe’s top golfer. Crucial part of the Ryder Cup winning team and came close in the Masters this year. However, he has still to land a Major in golf, and until he does that, he won’t be winning.

Sports Personality of the Year Stats
Interestingly, the sport which has produced the highest amount of winners is….athletics, by a clear country mile. They have seventeen Sports Personality of the Year titles, and the second most successful sport is….Formula One, with six. That’s how favoured Athletics can be, although 2004 was the last time than an Athlete won the award and that was Kelly Holmes. There have only been two golfers awarded the honour, and just four cricketers. Tony McCoy will really be battling against history, as the best jockeys have done is pick up two third place finishes at the awards. Phil Taylor would become the first darts player to pick up any honour at the end of year awards. There’s no real stand out footballer this year, and so the event is quite wide open.

Sports Personality of the Year Betting Tip
Graeme McDowell just really stands out, and the Ryder Cup will be fresh in the memories of sports people. He is a very solid bet, but look out for Tony McCoy coming up on the blindside. He makes for a worthy winner. Phil Taylor may slip into the top three, but unlikely to win, and Jessica Ennis makes the best outside bet of the lot.

Red Bull driver Mark Webber heads to the Japanese Grand Prix, with the feeling that he has shaken off one of his main challengers in Lewis Hamilton, but adopted another in the surging Fernando Alonso. Spaniard and two times Champion Fernando Alonso has now won the last two races with wins in Italy and Singapore is on a big charge now after Ferrari have stepped up their game to get an edge over the Red Bulls and the McLaren pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. The Japanese Grand Prix is the fourth race from the end of the season and the title chase this year is wide open. There is another exciting finish to the season ahead, a far cry from the boring days of Michael Schumacher dominating everything. There has been no real ascendancy from any team, nor any driver this year. The McLarens got off to a good, battling start, while the Red Bulls were the cars which had all of the speed and technology which brought them Pole Position after Pole Position, and the Ferrari’s were expected to be the outright strongest, but failed to deliver. Now, however, the Ferrari’s have made clear advances and upgrades, and Alonso now sits just 11 points behind F1 Drivers World Championship leader Mark Webber.

Japanese Grand Prix Winner Betting Odds

Sebastian Vettel: 2/1 at Bwin
Fernando Alonso: 10/3 at Blue Square
Mark Webber: 4/1 at Victor Chandler
Lewis Hamilton: 6/1 at SportingBet
Jenson Button: 16/1 at SportingBet
Felipe Massa: 25/1 at SportingBet

Webber hasn’t won for three races, and came in third in Singapore, so the pressure is on him, especially with Alonso now breathing down his neck. For your Formula One betting, you have to go with momentum, and Fernando Alonso will make for the best bet here, especially with a flawless drive to cross the finish line first in Singapore. What perhaps is most ominous for Webber and any other challenger for the title, is that Alonso’s Ferrari has won on two different types of circuit in the last two outings, putting the ball firmly in their court. It could go down to the wire now, as there is no room for error from anyone. Webber needs to keep getting himself on the podium if he is realistically going to win from out front. The thing which will be in his favour is that the remaining races are at circuits where the Red Bulls shouldn’t have any problem in getting their power down. They have had a clear advantage over everyone in cornering speed this year, but Ferrari suddenly have turned the tables. It is not exactly a straight shoot out between Alonso and Webber, but those two really are starting from the front of the grid for the title race. When you start looking a little deeper at the points and stats for the Fomula One season, there is still a chance for the other drivers behind those two, although the chasing pack really need those two to make mistakes to boost their chances.

Japan Pole Position Outright Odds

Sebastian Vettel: 6/4 at Paddy Power
Mark Webber: 3/1 at SportingBet
Fernando Alonso: 4/1 at ExtraBet
Lewis Hamilton: 8/1 at ExtraBet
Jenson Button: 20/1 at SportingBet
Felipe Massa: 20/1 at Bet365

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton has seen his chances slip away, after he has crashed out of the last two races, pretty much handing the lead over to Webber. Hamilton is naturally aggressive and this has cost him dearly and has fallen behind. The thing is, there are plenty of points still up for grabs, and another win for Hamilton to get himself back on track would really open things up. However, the McLarens have been promising that their upgrades would get them closer to Ferrari and Red Bull, but they just don’t seem to materialise and they are entering a tough part of the season for them, where they will struggle to find enough speed to be competitive. It really needs some stunning driving from Hamilton and Button if either of them are going to challenge. The points system in Formula One, as it is, maybe paints a bleaker picture than the real situation though. Because even though Hamilton is 20 points behind leader Webber now, the twenty five points up for grabs for finishing first, could change things (plus assuming that Webber finishes outside of the podium). So there is hope for Hamilton, and Button, who is 25 points off the lead, but it is fading fast. Unless a McLaren finishes first in Japan, they could be left with just too much to do at the end of the season. Button in particularly confident, although he would need to pull out his first ever career win Japan to get him firmly back in the hunt. Similarly, Hamilton has insisted that he is not going to pull back, he is not going to change his style because of the two setbacks which has seen him lost the lead which he had worked so hard against the odds to gain.

Formula One Drivers Championship Betting Odds

Mark Webber: 2/1 at Boylesports (202 pts)
Fernando Alonso: 9/4 at BetFred (191 pts)
Sebastian Vettel: 19/5 at SportingBet (181 pts)
Lewis Hamilton: 9/1 at ExtraBet (182 pts)
Jenson Button: 22/1 at Bet365 (177 pts)

The Formula One season is coming down to four races. The Japan circuit is very demanding, and Lewis Hamilton will have a lot to feel good about, as he drove incredibly well there last year to grab a third place in a car which really stood no chance. He finished in front of Button then. Precision is utmost for the Japan drive, especially because time can be lost through the corners if you get it wrong, and there is not much room for error. That is why Hamilton has done well there, because he can really push the limits of what needs to be done. The Suzuka circuit is regarded as being one of the best on the tour, simply because it is a very fast track and corners can be taken at high speed when you get the right line. Neither Hamilton and Alonso have won here, while Webber’s team mate Sebastian Vettel raced home first last year, making you lean towards the Red Bull’s again being strong in the betting. It is hard to see the McLaren’s getting back into the title race, and the Red Bull drivers should be able to really press for Pole Position and the race itself. They will go very well on this track and therefore make the most sensible direction for betting.

Has Lewis Hamilton blown his chances of winning the Formula One Drivers Championship? After crashing out of the Italian Grand Prix on the very first lap, Britain’s former Champion has now been knocked off top spot in the race for the coveted driver’s title. The Formula One circus is in Singapore now, with just five races left in the season, and things are getting a little bit tight at the top of the Championship. Really, Hamilton just needs to hold himself together, and being one of the more aggressive drivers on the circuit, has to ensure that he at least gets across the finish line in these last races. It is to his, and team mate Jenson Button’s credit that they are where they are, because all season they seem to have been fighting to catch up to the Red Bulls, and now Ferrari as well seem to be getting their act together and are causing the British McLaren duo a few headaches. The big factor in everything now, is that the teams will be pinching points off each other, and while that makes for some tough Formula One betting calls, there are just enough pointers to see who should come out on top. Hamilton has now earmarked Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso as the main threat for the title, even though the Spaniard is in third, while Red Bull’s Mark Webber leads the title chase.

Current Standings and Outright Drivers Championship Odds
1- Mark Webber, Red Bull, 187pts (15/8 at Stan James)
2- Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 182pts (16/5 at Bwin)
3- Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 166pts (9/2 at Totesport)
4- Jenson Button, McLaren, 165pts (17/1 at SportingBet)
5- Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 163pts (4/1 at SkyBet)

Even though Alonso is 21 points back of second placed Hamilton, he will arguably be carrying the form after winning at Monza a fortnight ago, and there will be less pressure on him than the two guys in front of him. Alonso has done really well to claw his way back into the title race after languishing unexpectedly down the field over most of the first half of the season. This is just another sign that Ferrari are really ramping up their game when it matters, the fact that top five are all separated by one victory points haul, should mean that we are in for a classic run into the title. After winning in Italy, Alonso will be worth backing again, as form and consistency do play a huge factor in Formula One betting, and he will be starting as favourite at the bookmakers so it will be well taking a good punt on him. He is really rising into the ascendancy at the moment, outscoring his main rivals over the previous four races.

Now having a competitive package for the remaining five circuits is all important, as getting up onto the podium in these last five encounters should put any driver close. McLaren have probably been the most consistent team over the season, even though they have ceded ground in speed to the Red Bulls and now the Ferrari’s. Both Button (who finished second at Monza) and Hamilton really have battled well, and thanks to a good, reliable car, remain in contention for the title. The early season was all about catching up with the speed of the Red Bulls, but now there clearly is a shift in power with the Ferrari coming to the fore, and Alonso won’t have the added distraction of racing his own team-mate, Felipe Massa who is down in sixth in the championship, where Button and Hamilton really have a lot to go at each other with, as well as the two Red Bull drivers. It really is anyone’s game heading to the Singapore Grand Prix, so will Ferrari continue to push, or will there be a big riposte from Red Bull or McLaren?

Singapore Pole Position Odds
Sebastian Vettel: 7/4 at 888Sport
Mark Webber: 3/1 at Victor Chandler
Fernando Alonso: 5/1 at SkyBet
Lewis Hamilton: 13/2 at Bet365
Jenson Button: 20/1 at ExtraBet

McLaren could have found the answer, as they have been concentrating vehemently over the last fortnight in upgrades which should see them get more speed. Apparently these are significant improvement, and at Singapore, they will need all the help they can get, because it is just the type of track which has really been the undoing of their season. McLaren are now insisting that they will be up to speed, and that gaps between themselves and the Ferrari have been closed. The Red Bulls will be major players at Singapore, because it is a high down force track, an area in which they have shown so much excellence all season, and one which Ferrari has really caught up on. Any changes which have been made by the McLarens really will have to work if they want to keep Hamilton and Button in the race, as they have struggled at these types of tracks this season, notably in Hungary. The trouble now for McLaren, is that during the run in to the end of the season, the tracks that awaiting them, the Red Bulls and the Ferrari’s will be keen to strut their stuff on, and to be honest, it will be the crucial factor in betting on the outright winner of the Formula One Drivers championship this year. The tracks are not suited to McLaren so much, not unless the new configurations change things dramatically.

This is why Singapore really represents one of the most exciting points of the season. There is so much up for grabs now and now margin for error. With Alonso finding his feet, and the Red Bulls coming back into play because of the type of tracks ahead, winning the championship for Hamilton or Button may take a momentous uphill swing. Looking at the top of the leader boards, they really seem to be the ones losing momentum. Will there be changes for the better for McLaren on the streets of Singapore? Overtaking will be difficult and so qualification once more is more crucial than ever, and looking for a betting tip, then there really is only one man who has a certain affinity with Singapore, and that is Alonso. A third consecutive top three finish for him would really blow things open

Singapore Grand Prix Outright Odds
Sebastian Vettel: 5/2 at Bwin
Mark Webber: 7/2 at Blue Square
Fernando Alonso: 9/2 at Boylesports
Lewis Hamilton: 4/1 at Totesport
Jenson Button: 12/1 at Bet365
Felipe Massa: 25/1 at SportingBet

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is strong in Formula One betting for the Italian Grand Prix, as he will go from Pole Position in Sunday’s Italian Grand prix, after just edging out McLaren’s Jenson Button. There was disappointing news for World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton though, as he admitted that a mistake in the decision of how to set up his car put him at a disadvantage. Hamilton, who leads the drivers championship by just three points, can ill afford errors this late in the season with just five Grands Prix to go. What may just give Hamilton some hope of turning things around, is the fact that his closest challenger for the top honours this season, Red Bull’s Mark Webber, is only one place ahead of him on the grid. Alonso though will look to thrill Italian racing fans at the home of Ferrari, after being pushed out of serious contention for the drivers title. Alonso went into the season as firm favourite to win the drivers’ championship after Ferrari showed signs of being unbeatable during winter testing. The season hasn’t panned out like that though for the Italian team, largely because of the reliability and endurance of the two McLarens. Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have battled so very well against the odds this season, as they have been at a disadvantage with speeds, especially through cornering, that, combined with the speed of the Red Bulls thanks to their advanced technologies, really has produced an open season.

Drivers’ Championship Standings
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 182
Mark Webber (Red Bull) 179
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 151
Jenson Button (McLaren) 147
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 141

Alonso has won just once before at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, back in 2007, and this could be one of the brightest highlight of his season if he can take advantage of his start from the front of the grid. For your Formula One betting, Ferrari do have an incredibly strong record at Monza, winning 18 times there, with McLaren in second place in the history books, winning nine times there. As for Jenson Button, he has fallen back in the race for the title, and now sits 35 points behind Hamilton. The strongest bet at the 2010 Italian Grand Prix, really is to get behind Fernando Alonso (who is 41 points behind Hamilton in the drivers’  championship) as he goes from first. It was actually a bit of surprise that he hung on as Button looked primed to sneak it from him. That means Button is also worth a punt here, as he got the set up of his car just right, and scored quite a big advantage over the rest of the field in his qualification. But the best battle should be between Webber and Hamilton (from fourth and fifth respectively), who have the most to gun for at Monza. There is a lot of work to do between them to get to the front, but the big advantage could be in the hands of Lewis Hamilton, as he has a team mate in front of him. Button really could be the key in all of this. Will he slow down the Red Bull of Webber behind him to let Hamilton in with a chance? Of course, team orders are not permitted, but inadvertently, they could come into play, especially if he gets a blinder off the start and gets his nose in front of Alonso.

Italian Grand Prix Outright Odds
Fernando Alonso: 4/5 at William Hill
Jenson Button: 7/2 at Totesport
Lewis Hamilton: 15/2 at Stan James
Felipe Massa: 14/1 at SportingBet
Mark Webber: 22/1 at ExtraBet
Sebastian Vettel: 20/1 at Bet365

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Drivers Championship Outright Odds
Mark Webber: 15/8 at Stan James
Lewis Hamilton: 19/10 at SportingBet
Sebastian Vettel: 11/2 at ExtraBet
Fernando Alonso: 6/1 at Bet365
Jenson Button: 20/1 at SkyBet

Italian Grand Prix Starting Grid: Alonso, Button, Massa, Webber, Hamilton