All the momentum with Vettel as he closes on title retention

Sebastian Vettel’s return to form could not have come at a better time; the German’s hat-trick of wins has propelled him to the top of the World Championship standings in his bid to retain the crown.

A dismal Italian Grand Prix, where he finished 22nd, was the perfect wake-up call for the defending 2011 champ, who hasn’t been able to stop winning since. He’s a 1/1 clear favourite to pick up his fourth victory on the spin in India.

With just three races remaining following the completion of the Indian leg of the F1 circuit, if Vettel can pick up the win, he’ll have one hand on the title.

He sits six points clear of Fernando Alonso following his Korean success, after the Spaniard was only able to finish in third place; his sixth successive race without a win – hardly the form of a world champ.

On top of his current form, Vettel’s performance in the inaugural Indian GP last season does little to encourage bets for any other driver. He completed the hat-trick of pole position, fastest lap and GP winner in a race he utterly dominated last season. Ladbrokes have priced him up as short as 9/2 to repeat the feat again here and you wouldn’t put it past him.

Alonso finished third at Uttar Pradash last term, as he has done in his last three completed races this time around. He’s 5/6 to podium again here, yet this is not good enough for him now he has let his grasp on the title slip.

Lewis Hamilton’s title chances have evaporated since he took a bite on the big, fat cheque Mercedes cast out when trying to catch a top driver to pilot their rubbish car. Judging from his most recent performances, he’s started counting his money already.

A retirement in Singapore followed by a fifth in Japan and a 10th in Korea suggests that he has his sights set on next season, which makes his 6/1 for glory in India an unwarrantedly short price and one to avoid like a yellow snow-cone.

McLaren teammate Jenson Button is a far better shout at 8s; he’s hit a decent patch of form with a first, second and fourth in his three previous completed races and finished second here last time.

His 13/8 to podium also has a lot of potential for profit as, aside from Vettel, he looks to be the only driver at the forefront of the betting capable of claiming a chequered flag so you’d expect him to be up there should he steer clear of car issues.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date