Online Betting News from Sky Bet

Fernando a go go?

Sky Bet make Fernando Alonso 2/1 joint favourite with Michael Schumacher to take Felipe Massa's seat at the next Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23rd.

The sight of either the Ferrari legend, Schumacher, or Spanish favourite and rumoured Ferrari 2010 driver, Alonso, in the Ferrari would give the Maranello outfit a huge boost after a poor season so far.

Sky Bet spokesman, Scott Springgay, said: "Renault are banned from the next Grand Prix, which leaves Alonso, who is still eligible to compete, without a drive and it would seem to be a perfect solution for Ferrari to try and 'lease' him for one race in front of his own Spanish fans.

"Of course, Renault boss, Flavio Briatore, will have the final say on that and he may not be happy with that scenario but there are rumours that clauses exist in Alonso's contract that could get him the drive, even against his bosses' wishes."

Schumacher, who was immediately touted as a possible replacement for Massa, is a 2/1 chance to line up for Ferrari in Valencia, despite his manager's assertion that he is "200% sure he will not drive".

Other potential candidates will be BMW drivers, Robert Kubica (14/1) and Nick Heidfeld (20/1), who will soon be out of a job as BMW have announced their withdrawal from Formula 1 at the end of the season.

Another runner could be Jacques Villeneuve, who has been very noticeable around the F1 paddock during recent Grands Prix. However, he has been absent from the F1 racing scene for some time now and is available at 20/1 to replace Massa.

Ferrari test drivers, Luca Badoer 8/1 and Marc Gene 8/1, will both be hoping they are given their chance to step up to the plate and have the advantage of knowing the cars inside out.

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Hamilton slashed to retain F1 title

Lewis Hamilton is 25/1 to retain his F1 world title following his Hungary win but fellow Brit Jenson Button has drifted to 10/11.

Hamilton is 51 points behind his compatriot with seven races to go but with the McLaren seemingly back on song his title odds have collapsed from 80/1 to 25/1.

Button drifted to 10/11 from 8/13 with Sky Bet following the race. He finished seventh in his Brawn but remains 18.5 points clear of nearest challenger Mark Webber, who came third in Hungary.

Webber was cut to 5/2 from 5/1 with Sky Bet after gaining four points on the front-running Brit following his third-place finish.

Sebastian Vettel drops to third in the standings after being forced to retire and he is now an 11/4 chance for the title with Sky Bet.

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Button 10/11 For Home Victory

The F1 Circus heads to Silverstone for what is set to be the last visit to the famous circuit, and Circus is probably the best way to describe all the off-track arguments between the teams and the governing body which is now over-shadowing Jenson Button’s home Grand Prix. Button has been the strong favourite with Sky Bet coming into the race weekend, but Red Bull have already drawn first blood in Practice 1, with Sebastian Vettel fastest, and Mark Webber second, almost a second quicker than the Brawn pair of Button and Barrichello. Button remains a 10/11, with Vettel at 11/4 and Webber a 6/1 third favourite.

Sky Bet’s David Pilgrim said, “We’ve been pretty sweet on Button all week, but Red Bull look to have a stronger package than expected, so we are now more happy to lay Button in the Race Winner market. If I had one piece of advice for punters however, it would be to look up on Sunday, with Rain likely to play a big part in the race weekend”

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Button odds-on for Silverstone victory

Sky Bet have installed Jenson Button as odds-on favourite to win the British Grand Prix on June 21st. The Brawn GP driver heads the betting for Silverstone at 4/6 after clinching his sixth 2009 Grand Prix victory in Turkey on Sunday.

Sky Bet's Dave Pilgrim said: "It's the first time this season we have opened betting with an odds-on shot, but I doubt we'll find many arguing in light of Button's dominance this season. He's going to have an army of fans at Silverstone and the track suits the car, so we just can't see past him. For the each way value, punters may be looking for improved performances from Massa or Trulli."

Sky Bet have now produced a 'betting without Button' market for the Drivers' Championship and make Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel 11/8 favourite.

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Massa Slashed To 9/1 For Istanbul Grand Prix Hat-trick

After reigning supreme in Istanbul for the past three seasons by taking the chequered flag after starting on pole, Felipe Massa has been well supported with Sky Bet ahead of this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix. Sky Bet have cut the Ferrari man’s odds of landing a ‘race hat-trick’ at the Otodrom to 9/1 (from 20/1) after amassing a five-figure liability on Massa starting on pole, winning and recording the fastest lap.

Sky Bet’s Formula 1 compiler, Dave Pilgrim, said: "Massa has won each of the last three Turkish Grand Prix - winning every one from Pole Position as well, so it’s certainly conceivable that he could do so again with a dramatically improving Ferrari under him. We laid 20/1 initially about him completing the hat-trick of Pole, Race Win and Fastest Lap, but that’s into 9/1 now after laying several chunky bets."

Sky Bet have now produced a ‘betting without Button’ market for the Drivers’ Championship and make Button’s Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who currently leads Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel in the standings by 12 points, 11/8 favourite.

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Button's Championship odds: from 50/1 to 1/7 in under 3 months

Formula 1’s hottest property, Jenson Button, has now claimed five victories in the opening six races of the 2009 season. Immediately after the title show-down in 2008, Jenson Button was available at 50/1 in Sky Bet’s Drivers’ Championship betting but by the time the season started he was just 5/1 for the title and is now 1/7. 

This season, Formula 1 has seen one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the sport’s history and this is represented most clearly by how the Formula 1 betting odds have changed since last November.

Sky Bet Odds: 2009/10 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship Odds

   End of 08 Season      22/03/09       21/04/09   01/06/09
Button              50/1            5/1         13/8        1/7

Barrichello        80/1            12/1        9/1         10/1

Vettel                20/1            16/1        9/4         8/1

Glock                150/1           80/1        25/1        125/1

Webber             50/1            66/1        10/1        50/1

Trulli                 100/1           80/1        20/1        100/1

Raikkonen        12/5            7/2         28/1        33/1

Hamilton           11/5            9/2         7/1         33/1

Massa               10/3            5/1         33/1        33/1

Alonso              11/2            9/2         11/1        80/1
 
Kubica              5/1             6/1         40/1        500/1

A little over two months ago, Brawn GP was still Honda, and up for sale, yet the team have won five of the first six races of the new season. Jenson Button was 50/1 with Sky Bet in the Drivers’ Championship betting before last season’s show-down in Brazil until pre-season testing in early March when his Drivers’ Championship odds went into freefall, plummeting to 5/1 by the time of the Australian GP- the biggest Formula 1 betting gamble ever known by Sky Bet.

Sky Bet’s Formula 1 betting guru, Dave Pilgrim, said: “The drastic rule changes have shuffled the order more than we ever thought possible – to see Jenson Button begin the season at 5/1 for the Drivers’ Championship betting, having opened at 50/1 immediately following the title show-down in 2008, is probably the most stark change, and its been a great start to the season for entertainment value.”

Those who indulged in a spot of motor sport betting back in October 2008 may recall Jenson Button being offered odds of 400/1 to get pole position in the Chinese Grand Prix – he wasn’t far off an odds-on shot come the 2009 Chinese GP, showing just how much time have changed.

Jenson Button is available at odds of 11/10 with Sky Bet to win his sixth Grand Prix in Turkey this weekend.

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Hamilton cut for Monaco Victory

World champion Lewis Hamilton has been cut to 6/1 (from 10/1) to get his first win of the season in Monaco this weekend after posting top-three lap times in both of today's practice sessions.

Hamilton's time of one minute 15.445 seconds in the second session was beaten only by Williams driver, Nico Rosberg, and Sky Bet make the Brit 6/1 to be fastest in the third and final practice session on Saturday.

Sky Bet have eased Jenson Button's odds of winning his fifth grand prix this season in Monte Carlo to 7/4 (from 5/2). The Brawn GP driver had the front end of his car removed and inspected after making contact with a wall in the second session.

Brawn GP team mate, Rubens Barrichello, has been cut to 9/2 (from 7/1) thanks to a consistent showing. He was quickest in the first session and third in the second session

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Ferrari 11/2 Not To Line Up In 2010

Sky Bet have lengthened their odds on Ferrari going through with their threat to quit Formula 1 from 7/2 to 11/2 after Renault joined the Maranello outfit in expressing their reservations about the controversial budget capping measures.

Dave Pilgrim, Sky Bet’s Formula 1 compiler, said: “It’s hard to imagine the sport is bigger than the teams who have historically made it happen, and the FIA will surely be forced to back-track or risk losing an inherent part of Formula 1. We opened the book this morning at 1/6 that Ferrari would race in 2010, but news that Renault are also considering pulling out will definitely help swing the balance of power back in Ferrari’s direction, so we have gone 1/10 Ferrari race next season, and 11/2 that they don’t.”

The reigning constructors’ champions have made a disappointing start to the season with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa having collected just three points each. Sky Bet are offering odds on which of the Ferrari drivers will be first on the podium and offer 5/6 on each of the pair.

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Button 7/4 To Win In Barcelona

After setting the pace in first practice, Jenson Button is Sky Bet's 7/4 favourite to win the first European Grand Prix of the season in Barcelona this weekend. He is also the 11/4 favourite to be in pole position for the third time this season.

Nico Rosberg went fastest in second practice and has been cut to 33/1 (from 50/1) to win. The Williams driver has topped eight of 14 practice sessions so far but has only won 3.5 points.

Sebastian Vettel, who span off course in the first session, has been eased to 4/1 (from 7/2) to get his second Grand Prix victory in Spain.

Sky Bet's Helen Jacob said: "Button and Brawn once again dominate the betting for the Spanish Grand Prix and we will be hoping that a change in continent and weather will favour the other teams and stop Button's gap at the head of the standings from widening further, as we have huge liabilities on the Brit."

Lewis Hamilton made a spirited fight back a fortnight ago taking fourth place in Bahrain. However, the McLarens have a poor record at the Circuit de Catalunya, winning just one race in the last eight years and Sky Bet make Hamilton 11/1 to win and 9/4 to finish on the podium.

Ferrari need a good result to get their season started and they have traditionally done very well in Barcelona, with Kimi Raikkonen dominating the event last year. This is unlikely to happen this year and the 'Flying Finn' is 14/1 for victory

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Button 7/4 to win in Barcelona

Jenson Button is Sky Bet's 7/4 favourite to win the first European Grand Prix of the season in Barcelona this weekend. He is also the 11/4 favourite to be in pole position for the third time this season.

Sebastian Vettel is 7/2 second favourite to get his second Grand Prix victory in Spain.

Sky Bet's Helen Jacob said: "Button and Brawn once again dominate the betting for the Spanish Grand Prix and we will be hoping that a change in continent and weather will favour the other teams and stop Button's gap at the head of the standings from widening further, as we have huge liabilities on the Brit."

Lewis Hamilton made a spirited fight back a fortnight ago taking fourth place in Bahrain. However the McLarens have a poor record at the Circuit de Catalunya, winning just one race in the last eight years and Sky Bet make Hamilton 8/1 to win and 2/1 to finish on the podium.

Ferrari need a good result to get their season started and they have traditionally done very well in Barcelona, with Kimi Raikkonen dominating the event last year. This is unlikely to happen this year and the 'Flying Finn' is 16/1 for victory.

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