Formula One 2008 – Where’s
the smart money
Formula One champion Kimi Räikkönen has
made an impressive start to the new season, and already
holds a healthy lead over his rivals in the race to
finish on top in 2008. This early superiority is reflected
by the bookmakers, with Blue Square Sports
Betting already having him at 1/2* to reclaim
his title. Yet so early in the season, these odds
are perhaps slightly misleading. Though Räikkönen
has begun well, winning two of the five races at the
time of writing, it is still too early to write off
the competition.
After the storming start he made to his debut season,
Brit Lewis Hamilton has been slightly more restrained
this time round, having only won the Australian Grand
Prix so far. Odds of 7/2*, however, will still be
attractive to sports betting fans everywhere, with
fourteen races still to come. Having shown what he
is capable of last season and come through a turbulent
last few months seemingly intact, Hamilton is certainly
capable of more than he is currently producing, and
should he hit top form in the next few races, Räikkönen’s
lead is by no means insurmountable. Driving a great
car, with a great team behind him and with the opportunity
to perform well in front of his own fans at Silverstone
in July, one suspects that there is plenty to come
from Hamilton in what should be an exciting season.
Ferrari are now the team to beat, however. Felipe
Massa has enjoyed a good start to the year and lies
level on points with Hamilton in the rankings. Finishing
first in Bahrain and Turkey, it would be foolish to
write him off at 9/2*, though being second driver
behind Räikkönen surely means his chances
are slim. Fernando Alonso, back at Renault, has not
had the best of starts, but if he can string together
a few good races then there is no reason why he can
not make himself felt as the season goes on. Clearly
those betting cautiously will have their money on
the world champion, but with the season in its infancy
and the odds so attractive, it’s worth a punt
on Hamilton yet.
*All odds taken from Blue Square Betting
unless otherwise stated. Odds subject to change.
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