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The Bahrain Grand Prix is the second event of the new Formula 1 season, with Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari looking for back-to-back wins.
Lewis Hamilton dominated for much of the weekend at the opening GP in Melbourne, but a safety car allowed Vettel to under-cut his big rival and take the win.
Vettel and Ferrari took the honours in Bahrain last time around and they will be hoping to do the same again.
We're Next! #F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/8aBX1L8SVV
— Bahrain Int. Circuit (@BAH_Int_Circuit) March 25, 2018
Vettel is again looking forward to locking horns with Hamilton, and said: “I think even if we are very different persons, I think we share – all of us – a common passion and that makes us quite equal again.
“We love racing and we try to do our best, once we’re in the car and beat all the others. I think in that regard, I don’t see why we shouldn’t get on with each other.”
Ferrari took a number of on-lookers by surprise with their pace last weekend, including Hamilton and Mercedes.
“Their performance is better than it looked,” said Hamilton.
“Ferrari are going to be quick on the straights. They are going to be rapid at the next race, they are going to be good in Bahrain. They are always good on hot circuits – even though it is a night race it is tough on the tyres.”
RedBull are expected to challenge this season and Daniel Ricciardo, who showed good pace in Australia despite a number of issues, believes he can compete with Vettel and Hamilton for the world title.
“I don’t like the word expectations but I expect it from myself – what l believe l can do and from what I’ve learnt over the years, I expect l can deliver that,” he said.
“In this sport you need the tools as well. I hope to get to those tools. l don’t want to say l expect to receive those tools but if l get those tools l would expect it from myself to get the job done.
“From my experience, you don’t really get a good understanding until after four races.”
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX – ROUND 2
Location: Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain
Track size: 3.363 miles with 15 turns
Number of laps: 57
2017 winner: Sebastian Vettel
Lap record holder: Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:32.798 (2017)
Race winner odds from Betsafe:
Driver:
Lewis Hamilton (GBR – Mercedes) 11/13
Sebastian Vettel (GER – Ferrari) 10/3
Valtteri Bottas (FIN – Mercedes) 6/1
Max Verstappen (NED – Red Bull) 12/1
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS – Red Bull) 14/1
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN – Ferrari) 16/1
Romain Grosjean (FRA – Haas) 150/1
Kevin Magnussen (DEN – Haas) 150/1
Fernando Alonso (ESP – McLaren) 200/1
Nico Hulkenberg (GER – Renault) 250/1
Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP – Renault) 250/1
Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL – McLaren) 300/1
Sergio Perez (MEX – Force India) 500/1
Esteban Ocon (FRA – Force India) 500/1
Lance Stroll (CAN – Williams) 1500/1
Sergey Sirotkin (RUS – Williams) 2000/1
Marcus Ericsson (SWE – Sauber) 4000/1
Pierre Gasly (FRA – Toro Rosso) 4000/1
Brendon Hartley (NZL – Toro Rosso) 4000/1
Charles Leclerc – (MON – Sauber) 4000/1
Team:
Mercedes 4/9
Ferrari 9/4
Red Bull 11/2
Haas 100/1
McLaren 125/1
Renault 150/1
Force India 500/1
Williams 1000/1
Toro Rosso 2000/1
Sauber 2000/1
2018 Results
Australian Grand Prix – Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Drivers’ Championship:
1 Sebastian Vettel GER FERRARI 25
2 Lewis Hamilton GBR MERCEDES 18
3 Kimi Räikkönen FIN FERRARI 15
4 Daniel Ricciardo AUS RED BULL RACING TAG HEUER 12
5 Fernando Alonso ESP MCLAREN RENAULT 10
6 Max Verstappen NED RED BULL RACING TAG HEUER 8
7 Nico Hulkenberg GER RENAULT 6
8 Valtteri Bottas FIN MERCEDES 4
9 Stoffel Vandoorne BEL MCLAREN RENAULT 2
10 Carlos Sainz ESP RENAULT 1
Constructors’ Championship
1 FERRARI 40
2 MERCEDES 22
3 RED BULL RACING TAG HEUER 20
4 MCLAREN RENAULT 12
5 RENAULT 7
We have also spoken to Betsafe’s Ian Belchin, F1 odds compiler for the Betsson Group, to get his view on the Bahrain GP
After race one our customers are clearly thinking the same thing…….Kimi the Ice Man is back.
A lucky safety car and a bug in the Mercedes computer system helped Vettel leap frog into first place and win the race, but Kimi was showing very good pace all weekend and was second behind Hamilton before the safety car.
The Finn has been very popular all week with our customer base backing Kimi for the Drivers’ championship.
The Bahrain race rolls around and it looks like both Mercedes and Ferrari cars ahead of the pack again. The Ferrari was obviously faster on the straights in Australia, so can they develop the car further for this weekend to again win the race?
Our customer base have been also heavily favouring both Ferrari drivers for the race win this weekend.
Betsafe.com are currently offering Sebastian Vettel (GER – Ferrari) to win the race @7/2 and Kimi Raikkonen (FIN – Ferrari) to win the race @6/1.
My punt for this weekend’s race is for Sergio Perez (MEX – Force India) to finish in the points. There has been rumours of a new upgrade package being released and Sergio is the driver favoured to benefit from this.
Betsafe.com are currently offering Sergio Perez (MEX – Force India) to finish in the top ten @6/5.
