Good price on Vettel for China pole as rivals show their hand

The Chinese Grand Prix has been won from pole position in three of the past five years, and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel is 6/4 to put his Red Bull at the pointy end of the grid.

For a man who’s taken pole position in the two previous races this season, it’s a hard price to ignore.

Red Bull are notorious for holding their cards close to their chest, and his pace in Friday’s running may not be truly representative, so expect more to come from the German as the weekend progresses.

Mercedes have been quick in the opening two practice sessions however, and they produced the most dominant performance of the season here in 2012.

The car is well known to boast excellent straight-line speed, something rewarded highly around the 3.4-mile Chinese circuit.

Both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are 5/1 to take a first pole position of the season, but with the German edging his British team-mate in both of Friday’s practices, it’s Rosberg who punters should look at backing as he aims to replicate his 2012 success in Shanghai.

The Ferrari drivers are firmly in the mix too, with Felipe Massa in particular showing some excellent pace in the early on-track action.

The Brazilian has been more than a match for his illustrious team-mate Fernando Alonso lately, out-qualifying the Spaniard in each of the last four races, causing some to question if Alonso needs to up his game.

Both drivers of the scarlet cars are 8/1 for pole this weekend, and if either man is to plant their car at the front, we fancy it to be Massa, who has the bit clearly between his teeth. 

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