The 2013 Formula One Championship promises to be one of the most competitive in years. Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes was the main talking point in the off-season and all eyes will be on the Brit in Melbourne this weekend. The former McLaren driver hasn’t won down under since 2008 and it’s his old teammate that has a superb record here.
Jenson Button remained with Martin Whitmarsh at McLaren and thrives at this track. He’s won here on three of his last four visits to Melbourne and he won the season opener 12 months ago. McLaren have won 12 times here as a team and the addition of Sergio Perez should make them even more competitive.
Fernando Alonso was unable to deliver the win that the passionate Italian fans so desired at Monza, but his third place finish was enough to maintain his lead atop the drivers’ championship. Following Lewis Hamilton’s pole to flag triumph in Italy he cut the Spaniard's lead to 37 points head to Singapore, but Alonso has a superb record at the Marina Bay circuit.
Even though Sebastian Vettel won here last season, Alonso has taken the chequered flag twice in the past four renewals. In the years he didn’t win he came fourth (2011) and sixth (2009).
The European Grand Prix finally put an end to the incredible run of seven different winners from the opening seven races of the year as Fernando Alonso took the chequered flag in Valencia. It’s Britain’s turn next as the racing returns to Silverstone and Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will be desperate to chase down Alonso’s lead at the top.
As it stands Alonso has a 20 point lead in the Drivers’ Championship as neither Sebastian Vettel or Hamilton were able to complete the previous race. The concern for the chasing pack is that Alonso enjoys the Silverstone circuit and won here in 2011 to add to his first title in 2006. Ferrari have won the most races here, with 15 compared with McLaren’s 14.
Hamilton won here in 2008 and is only 23 points behind his former McLaren teammate, but his biggest threat remains the pit crew who have been plagued by problems all year.
Michael Schumacher might also be worth keeping an eye on for the race index after the German recorded his first podium finish since his return at Valencia. The former world number one has won the British GP on three occasions – the last coming in 2004.
Sebastian Vettel is standout favourite on Sporting Index’s drivers championship market and punters can buy his spread at 40 for him to land a third successive F1 title. The young German destroyed the field last season, but he’s still five behind Michael Schumacher’s haul of seven titles.
The 2011 champion opened up last season by winning the Australian Grand Prix and beating Lewis Hamilton into second place. Vettel completed 2011 with 15 pole starts, 11 victories and 17 podiums from his 19 races; he also gained a total of 392 points in the process.
Jenson Button finished fourth at Melbourne last season, but he has enjoyed plenty of recent success at Albert Park. The McLaren driver won the opening Grand Prix in 2010 and 2009. Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 Australian Grand Prix to underline the success that Martin Whitmarsh’s team have had at the track.
Lewis Hamilton hailed his performance in Germany as one of the best of his career and he’ll no doubt arrive in Hungary full of confidence after securing his 16th F1 career triumph. With that win in Germany he moves level with triple champion Jack Brabham and double champion Graham Hill and Emerson Fittipaldi.
His victory at the Nurburgring cut the gap between him and Vettel to 82 points as we approach the halfway stage of the season.
Anyone looking at Hamilton’s Race Index this weekend will be pleased he enjoys racing at the Hungaroring and the McLaren driver has won here twice in the past four years – in 2007 and 2009. Another interesting factor is that McLaren are the most successful team at the track and have won on nine occasions.
