Button and Sutil big prices for podiums at Malaysian Grand Prix

Looking back over the last five instalments of the Malaysian Grand Prix, a common theme has been that an unexpected driver has tended to fill one of the podium positions.

In 2008, Robert Kubica took second in the Renault, in 2009 Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock were in the first three, Nico Rosberg was third for Mercedes in 2010, it was Heidfeld again in third for Renault in 2011 and last year Sergio Perez was second for Sauber, which represented his first podium finish in F1.

This achievement is still something that eludes Adrian Sutil after 91 Formula One starts, but he looks the most likely of those at bigger prices for the Malaysian Grand Prix to continue the stream of unlikely podium finishers.

Sutil can be backed at 16/1 to finish in the first three in Kuala Lumpur and his performance in the opening race of the season in Australia offers further reason for confidence.

The German eventually finished seventh in Melbourne, but did lead mid-race and was maintaining a solid pace to prevent the faster cars of Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa moving past.

His eventual undoing was the need to race on the super-soft tyres in the final laps, which wore out quickly and caused him to slip through the field.

The fact that the Malaysia Grand Prix has an afternoon start local time is potentially good news for Sutil, as it virtually guarantees rain.

This will probably mean safety car periods, possible red flag involvement and added pressure on pit stop timings and tyre choices.

A stop-start nature should also allow some of the smaller teams a greater chance of victory.

Jenson Button is another worth considering for a top-three finish at 7/2 given that he is arguably the best driver in the sport in wet conditions.

Button has also finished on the podium at the Malaysia Grand Prix in two of the last four seasons.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.