Paul di Resta’s poor form could continue at Japanese Grand Prix

Whilst champion-elect Sebastian Vettel continues to motor towards a fourth straight Formula One title, there is plenty of intrigue elsewhere ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The German will be crowned champion if he wins at Suzuka – something he is priced at 2/5 to do – and Fernando Alonso finishes the race lower than eighth, but the back of the grid also holds interest.

Having impressed earlier in the season, Force India’s Paul di Resta is now in terrible form which has seen him fail to score any points in his last six races, not finishing the most recent five and emerging from three unclassified.

The Scot is 5/2 to not be classified in Japan, where he has failed to win a point on both of his previous visits.

Whilst the circuit may not hold much hope for one of the out of form Brits on the grid then, it could be to the liking of another.

The 2009 world champion Jenson Button finished outside of the top six in his most recent three races, but he’s often found form at Suzuka.

A winner of the race in 2011, Button was a fourth-placed finisher in the years either side of that win and can be found at 9/4 for his fifth top six spot of the season in Japan over the weekend.

Like the rest of the field he’ll be hoping to the avoid the chaotic scenes witnessed at the beginning of last year’s race, when the safety car was required on the first lap and both Alonso and Nico Rosberg were forced to retire without completing a circuit.

It is 4/6 that the safety car will be seen at any time of this year’s race, whilst Alonso is 33/1 to be the first driver forced to retire, with Rosberg 25/1.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date and time of publication