Lewis Hamilton sits 34 points ahead of championship rival Sebastian Vettel heading into this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. There are a maximum of 125 points available in the five remaining races this year so there is still a little pressure on. With the advantage in conditions likely to shift over the Ferrari’s following Japan and USA then there is some work still do to for Hamilton to hold on to the title.
Things have definitely been going Hamilton’s way though as he has gained 31 points on Vettel in just the last two races. Part of that was down to engine problems for Vettel in Malaysia after Vettel had crashed into his teammate Kimi Raikkonen from the front of the grid in Singapore. However, the Ferrari’s had been quicker the Mercedes in both of those races and a shift can’t be written off yet. There has to be a little more drama to come.
Hamilton is trading as the 7/4 outright favourite at William Hill to take the win at Suzuka on the weekend, with Vettel at 5/2. At least some good news for Vettel is that he will avoid a grid penalty after crashing with Lance Stroll in the slowing down lap in Malaysia. There were fears that he would have to have changed gearboxes which would have incurred grid penalty this weekend, but the gearbox is available so he gets a let off.
Japanese Grand Prix Winner Odds
Lewis Hamilton 6.4, Sebastian Vettel 7/4, Max Verstappen 9/2, Daniel Ricciardo 7/1,Kimi Räikkönen 14/1, Kimi Raikkonen 14/1, Valtteri Bottas 16/1, 500/1 bar
Max Verstappen took the win, the second of his career as he claimed victory last weekend. That was the highlight of the 20-year old’s season which has been blighted with reliability issues with his Red Bull. He is a 5/1 punt at William Hill to follow up with another win in this one. Both Hamilton and Vettel though have a strong record in Japan and will be expected to produce a tight battle between them.
Hamilton has won the race three times before in his career and landed it back to back in 2014 and 15 before his team mate last season Nico Rosberg got the win. It means that Mercedes are on a three race winning streak at the course. But Vettel has claimed the title four times and each of those wins happened at Suzuka but all of them were when he was racing with Red Bull. Hamilton is 10/11 to claim pole in this, but with the speed that Ferrari have produced recently, Vettel at 9/4 with William Hill has to offer a bit of value.
The weather, of course, is always a factor at Suzuka as it is unpredictable and can lead to some unexpected grid positioning. For Hamilton, as long as Vettel doesn’t outscore him by six points, then Hamilton will be mathematically in control of the championship to the point where he wouldn’t need another win to round out the season with. Will he get there? The fightback for Vettel has to start this weekend and there won’t be much breathing room for the British driver.
