Home win can reignite Fernando Alonso’s championship challenge

The Formula One circus heads to Barcelona after the opening four long-haul races.

Those opening quartet of events have given us a glimpse into what lies ahead, and it is quite apparent that Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton seem set to contest this year’s championship.

Vettel is the 2/1 favourite for a third victory of the year, and the German will be in fine fettle after his dominant performance in Bahrain last time out.

His two wins have come when Alonso has hit trouble however, and it remains to be seen who will win out in a clean fight.

Red Bull struggled around the Spanish circuit last season and at 2/1 for Vettel it could be worth investing in another driver to claim the chequered flag.

Darling of the crowd Alonso is at 11/4 to win for the second time in Barcelona, after his success for Renault in 2006.

The Spaniard has been a contender for victory at every race this season, but strategic errors from his Ferrari team have cost him dearly, leaving the two-time champion 30 points off Vettel.

With that deficit to make up, a home crowd to please, and a Ferrari proving to be as quick as any car this season, there is every reason for Alonso to challenge strongly all weekend on his home turf.

Kimi Raikkonen lies second in the championship after a win and two second places in the opening four rounds.

The Finn is 9/2 to win in for a third time in Barcelona, a track where his Lotus car excelled in last year’s race en route to a third placed finish.

Lewis Hamilton is 14/1 but could be in tough for time in Spain.

The Barcelona circuit is notoriously fierce on tyre wear, something the Mercedes team have struggled with more than most, as seen by Nico Rosberg’s slide from pole to ninth in Bahrain.

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