2012 Australian Grand Prix Betting Info
The new F1 betting season roars into action this weekend, with the season opener, the Australian Grand Prix. So we have new drivers, new rules, new cars and the excitement over in Melbourne is primarily about seeing who is fastest out of the blocks. The testing has been done and the practice weekends have been analysed and assessed, and really the punters don’t know just what they are going to get for their money until the season starts properly. Testing is naturally important, but a world away from the long enduring races, where tyre wear and full loads make a big difference. Sebastian Vettel, who has won the Drivers Championship for the last two season, will be favourite for pretty much everything again though, as we take a look at F1 betting.
2012 Australian Grand Prix Betting Defending Champion
Germany’s Sebastian Vettel was so dominant here last season, it is hard to see how anyone is going to stop him. He has dominated this race for the past two years and he will probably still be the one to catch. The Red Bull driver may have a different challenge on his hands this season, as there are no blown diffusers which increase downforce, and this could be a bit of a disadvantage to Red Bull. However, Vettel himself has shown the temperament, control and aggression when needed to take the chequered flag time and time again. His performances here have been majestic and definitely makes the strong option and pretty good value at that trading at 8/5 with Bet Victor to win the season opener.
2012 Australian Grand Prix Betting Favourite
The defending champion is naturally the favourite here. He looks very much at home on this track last year, coming home ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Strong chance that he will get out in front and stay there. He is the expert at grabbing those pole positions and that will immediately put him at a huge advantage for the race. So extra reason to back him there. Vettel is Evens favourite at Ladbrokes to take Pole Position.
Other Contenders
What are we likely to see this season? Well the general consensus from the Red Bull camp, is that they may have to work harder this season for their drivers to attain such success. Vettel is the main man, but Mark Webber is generally there or thereabouts because of the car, and while he has the experience, he doesn’t quite have the finishing power that Vettel has. No-one could live with Vettel last season, not even his team mate Webber in a superb car. Webber is back at 7/1 with SportingBet to win Melbourne this weekend.
Lewis Hamilton is seen as being the biggest threat to Vettel, not only in Australian Grand Prix betting, but also in the Drivers Championship Betting. Hamilton is 19/4 second favourite at SportingBet to win on the weekend, but McLaren have summed up the prospects of the new season perfectly. They have admitted that they will be strong, but not dominant. Not dominant, that is the early indications for the season, no totally dominant team taking all the control. Hamilton has been rumoured to be going to Red Bull next season when his contract with McLaren expires. He needs to show much better temperament over the season than he did last year. Always a threat though, will depend on how the new MP4-27 runs.
Jenson Button, who outperformed Hamilton last season will no doubt be in the mix as well, as he is such a steady performer, but is back in the pecking order. Makes a good bet though, because if Hamilton’s aggression gets the better of him again, Button is there. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso doesn’t his chances of being able to produce anything early in the season. He isn’t totally happy with where Ferrari are at with their F2012 model, which has been off the pace in pre-season testing. The car is rumoured to be hard to drive, and Alonso is expecting a long and difficult start to the season until they can tweak the car’s performance. That is why he is even further back in 2012 Australian Grand Prix betting.
Latest 2012 Australian Grand Prix Betting Prices
Sebastian Vettel: 8/5 at Bet Victor
Lewis Hamilton: 5/1 at Totesport
Jensen Button: 7/1 at BetFred
Mark Webber: 15/2 at Bet365
Fernando Alonso: 12/1 at SportingBet
Pole Position: Vettel Evens, Hamilton 4/1, Webber 5/1, Button 7/1 at Ladbrokes
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