Indian Grand Prix: Vettel on course for Grand Slam

Better get used to this view...

With Sebastian Vettel looking unbeatable in India, James Frankland takes us through the markets for the Indian Grand Prix.

Just as in tennis, Formula One has its own Grand Slam. For the Australian, French and US Opens, plus our very own Wimbledon, read pole position, victory, fastest race lap, and leading every lap of the race.

Another parallel with tennis is that the Formula One Grand Slam is incredidly hard to pull off. How many do you suppose 91-times Grand Prix winner Michael Schumacher has? 15? 20? 30? The answer, surprisingly given his extended period of dominance in the early 2000s, is just five.

Sebastian Vettel is a man with an eye on his place in F1 history. He already holds the records for youngest driver to take pole and win the same race (Monza 2008), to take pole and set fastest lap on his way to victory in the 2009 British Grand Prix, and, last year at the Indian Grand Prix, Vettel took his first Grand Slam. His second came a month ago in Japan and, such is his dominance on the Buddh International Circuit, that we could well see his third this weekend.

When I've discussed the market for pole, fastest lap and winner previously, the odds have normally been in the region of 4.03/1 to 5.04/1. The best you can get on Vettel to record a dominant win this weekend is 2.84n/a, markedly better than 1.43n/a in the Race Winner market. Such is the expectation that Vettel will streak off into the distance that the second-placed driver, Mark Webber in the sister Red Bull, is available at 12.0n/a. The last time I recall odds this high for a front-row starter was Pastor Maldonado in Barcelona. You can also back Webber to follow Vettel home at 2.2n/a in the Forecast market.

With the expectation that Red Bull will be in a race of their own, the podium finish market is a little more interesting. Lewis Hamilton starts third but seems to have gone off the boil slightly since his move to Mercedes was announced, so I expect either Jenson Button 2.66n/a or Fernando Alonso 2.68n/a to lift the final trophy. You can expect an all-out attack from Alonso but I'm not sure the Ferrari has the pace to live with the McLarens - they were resorting to Alonso slipstreaming Massa in qualifying to gain extra speed on the 1.2km back straight - so I'd look at Jenson.

Sauber are on a charge for fifth place in the Constructor's title and are well-placed to outscore Mercedes here, with Sergio Perez starting eighth. There's rumours of a one-stopper being possible in the race tomorrow, which will play right into Perez' hands, so back him at 2.6n/a to make up at least two places and get into the top six.

Recommended Bets
Sebastian Vettel to win and set fastest lap @ 2.84n/a
Jenson Button to finish on the podium @ 2.66n/a
Sergio Perez to finish in the top six @ 2.6n/a