Rosberg on pole in Bahrain, but winners lurk behind

Nico Rosberg’s surprise pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix has given the opportunity for some good value to be found in the Race Winner market.

The German is 7/1 to peddle his Mercedes to victory, a price reflecting the Silver Arrows’s relative lack of race pace to their rivals.

Sebastian Vettel lines up second on the grid, and he’s our pre-race favourite at 5/2 to land a second victory of the season.

The German and the Red Bull team don’t have the best record in Sakhir, but there’s plenty to suggest the three-time champ is worth backing.

He won here last year in commanding style, and was dominating the 2010 event before a car failure handed victory to Fernando Alonso. The reigning champion emphasised his prowess in Bahrain with pole position in both races.

Alonso starts third and is at 15/8 to follow up his victory in China. The Spaniard has been up at the sharp end of every practice session in Bahrain and might just have the edge on Vettel in terms of strategy and tyre wear in the race.

With rain and safety cars not much of a factor in the middle-east, a podium finish for Vettel and Alonso looks likely, and could be worth backing each-way.

Kimi Raikkonen at 7/1 could also take many people’s fancy.

The Finn couldn’t replicate his Friday pace in qualifying, but Raikkonen is one of the smartest on the grid, and coupled with his Lotus’easy-going nature on its tyres, the 2007 world champion should feature ever stronger as the race goes on.

Raikkonen understands the long-game better than most, and though starting from seventh, has won three times in his career from seventh or lower.

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