Malaysian Grand Prix 2013

The 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix is the second race of the new season and if recent history is anything to go by then it could well be a duel between Ferrari and Red Bull. The F1 circus will be arriving for the race at the Sepang International Circuit for the race on March 24th. It was only in 2011 that the race changed its name to the Malaysian Grand Prix and this will be the 33rd edition of the race. The race itself will be run over 56 laps of the circuit, which blends long straights with tight curves. Ferrari has been the most successful constructor at the event, with six wins through history there and it was Ferrari who were celebrating a triumph last season as Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished top of the podium. The teams will already have had a feel for their new cars and setups from the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix in the week preceding the 2013 Malaysia Grand Prix. Hints for success will be taken from the first season outing, but history points to some strong trends as well.

Fernando Alonso has won three times before at the <a href=”http://www.oddsbetting.co.uk/odds-on/malaysian-grand-prix”>Malaysian Grand Prix</a>, including last season after coming all the way from ninth on the starting grid in a dramatic race. So Fernando Alonso may take some preference in the 2013 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix betting because of his strong performances at the race before. Certain drivers are very comfortable at particular tracks and the cars themselves are better suited to some tracks than others. Ferrari, as mentioned have done well here before and although their car was considerably slower than other title rivals at the start of the 2012 season, the class and prowess of Alonso did the business and made the most of situations, particularly with McLaren being the orchestrators of their own downfall. Alonso should be faster out of the blocks this season, making the Spaniard a solid shot for a top three finish at the least.

But leading the market as outright favourite to win the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix is Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull. The German driver has shown strong dominance at the race before, winning in back to back seasons in 2010 and 2011. The Red Bull team have been very solid at the track in recent times, and have take two of the last three Pole Positions there. It is hard to look past early markets for Pole Position at F1 races and not get behind Sebastian Vettel. He seems to find extra time where others cannot. Let’s not forget that this is Vettel who took 15 Pole Positions (an F1 record) in the 2011 season, and went on to deliver nine wins that season from the front of the grid. Vettel was immense over the latter half of the 2012 season and Red Bull have gone big for the start of 2013 with an innovative new car. Hard to dismiss him from Pole and Race winner thoughts in Malaysia <a href=”http://www.oddsbetting.co.uk/motor-racing”>Grand Prix betting</a>.

So recent history points to good races for Red Bull and Ferrari, but what influence McLaren driver Jenson Button will have will attract a lot of wagers. McLaren decided to upgrade last seasons car, as opposed to Lotus, Ferrari and Red Bull who went with new ones. McLaren were an unknown quantity through pre-season testing, getting to know their car. But Button has been a strong early season starter in past seasons and took a win in Malaysia back in 2009, simply by driving a controlled race. That was in his Brawn Mercedes though, and Button did take second place on the starting grid at last season’s Malaysian Grand Prix in his McLaren, completing a front row one-two with Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton has since moved on to Mercedes, leaving Button the primary driver for McLaren, which will boost his title chances. Solid enough reasoning to wager a podium finish for the British driver.

Kimi Raikkonen is also a prior winner of the Malaysian Grand Prix, taking the chequered flag back in 2008 for Ferrari and back in 2003 for McLaren. He looks primed for a very solid season again in the impressive Lotus and will be worth watching for. Could be a strong title challenger for the 2013 Drivers Championship alongside Vettel and Alonso. New McLaren driver Sergio Perez may be worth a long shot, or at least a top four finish. The Mexican driver surprised everyone in his Sauber in Malaysia last season, coming from 10th to take second spot in the race. With a good showing in pre-season testing in Barcelona, he could be the surprise package.