Hamilton strikes back to defeat Vettel in Spanish GP thriller
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After a quiet race by his standards in Russia, Lewis Hamilton roared back into life with a superb victory in Spain.
The Brit is now 8/13 favourite to win this season’s crown, after edging a thrilling duel with Sebastian Vettel in Barcelona.
The German retains the championship leader, but is now 6/4 outsider to claim his first title since 2013.
After Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas claimed his first win last time out in Russia, it seemed for a while as though the Finn could become a title contender.
But having been dominated by his three-time champion team-mate all weekend in Spain, Bottas – who retired from the race with power failure – is now out at 16/1.
It looks much worse for Vettel’s Ferrari comrade Kimi Raikkonen though.
The Finn was bundled out of the Grand Prix by his compatriot Bottas at the first corner, and is now 100/1 to win a second world title this season.
Hamilton and Vettel have now claimed the top two positions in four of this season’s opening five races, and are dominating the championship.
The German leads the title race by just six points, and Hamilton can re-take top spot should he win or outscore Vettel by seven next time out.
Mercedes are favourites in the constructor’s battle at 2/5, but Ferrari are just eight points behind, and are a 7/4 shot.
And next up is Monaco, the most historic event of them all.
Hamilton heads to the principality as a two-time winner around the famous street circuit, while Vettel has only won this event once, in 2011, and that owed itself to a slice of fortune.
Of equal concern to Vettel’s Monaco chances is Ferrari’s record on the French riviera.
The Prancing Horse haven’t claimed the jewel in Formula One’s crown since 2001, and can boast just three wins in Monte-Carlo in the last 36 years.
Mercedes meanwhile, have won each of the last four events.
So it’s little surprise Hamilton is favourite to win in a fortnight’s time at Evens, with Vettel 15/8.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
