Now that we are just past the mid way point of the 2010 Formula One season, we should be seeing just who is going to start to pull away from the field and assert themselves as Championship favourites. Well, at least in theory we should anyway. If anything, a resurgence from Ferrari, a drop off in speed for McLaren and a Williams team coming out from nowhere has just mixed stuff up worse than usual. As much as I love all this new found competitiveness in F1 as a fan, as a bettor it is just a pain in the backside. Plus, it makes me look rather foolish here from time to time as well... You can, as per usual, read all about who is on the up and who is spiralling to the back of the grid over at www.TheBlackStuff.co.uk.
No report card today as I missed my scheduled article for the British Grand Prix due to this stupid thing known as a 'day job'. Sorry about that. There also isn't any progress reports on the early picks as there weren't any, mainly due to a very wet Friday practice which made judging pace even harder than usual.
Anyway, moving swiftly on, lets head to the picks for the 2010 German Grand Prix!
Race Winner – Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing @ 13/1
Common sense says to back either Sebastian Vettel (17/20) or Fernando Alonso (8/5) for the race win in Germany, as they both wound up on the front row of the grid and just 0.002s apart on qualifying lap times. However, Mark Webber has been in simply blistering form as of late and is only starting from 4th on the grid because he blew his qualifying lap. Webber is a man on a mission at the moment, and getting 13/1 on him just because of a single blown lap in qualifying is outrageous. For a small bet this could turn into a real earner, or for more stability go each way.
Head to Head – Jenson Button vs Lewis Hamilton – Button @ 51/50
At slightly better than evens, this is well worth it. Early in Friday practice Hamilton smashed up his car, costing him a ton of valuable running time. Button, meanwhile, was able to do all of his practice laps and eventually out qualified his team mate. With more data and more laps around Hockenheim than Hamilton, Button looks good here.
Best Classified Car – Virgin Racing or HRT – Virgin Racing @ 17/20
Virgin have improved their reliability hugely since the start of the season, and have amassed 6 finishes out of a possible 8 between their two cars in the last 4 races. HRT, on the other hand, continue to be the butt of every joke on the F1 grid. Assuming that at least one Virgin Racing car gets to the end, this is a very safe bet.
Both Team Drivers in Top 3 – Any Other Result @ 5/2
This bet basically says that drivers from 3 different teams will finish in the top 3. With Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and McLaren all vying for the top, it wouldn't surprise me for all 3 teams to be represented on the podium.
Will Mark Webber Finish in the Top 3 – Yes @ 13/10
Okay, even if you don't agree that Webber could steal a race win you can't deny this bet is gold. Webber is fresh off the back of a great showing at Silverstone and has it in him to really tear up the track. Plus, even if he can't crack Vettel and Alonso, he should be able to take Felipe Massa, who starts 3rd on the grid, with ease.
Top 6 Finish – Rubens Barrichello @ 7/4 and Nico Hulkenberg @ 5/1
The Williams pair may need a bit of luck to get into the top 6, but with Barichello starting 8th and Hulkenberg 10th they really wouldn't need all that much. Plus, with the ultra aggressive Alonso on the front row of the grid desperate for a win, anything could happen... You can also get Both Williams Driver To Score Points @17/10 along with this bet.
How Many German Drivers To Score Points – 4 @ 27/10
With Vettel, Rosberg, Hulkenberg and Schumacher all in the top 11, I'd say 4 is a fair bet. The other German driver, Adrian Sutil, is unlikely to make it up from 19th on the grid to score. Oh, and I guess Timo Glock is German too, but when you talk about drivers scoring points he is irrelevant.
Who Will Lead After The First Lap – Driver Who Started 2nd @ 3/1
Even though this is Sebastian Vettel's home race, Fernando Alonso is so desperate to overturn the recent bad luck he has suffered he will find a way past Vettel.
Right, that is that. Post race you can of course check up on all the F1 happenings via www.TheBlackStuff.co.uk and we'll be back for the next race in Hungary in a week. See you then!
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