by Renee Israel
The third Formula 1 race of the 2012 season, the UBS Chinese Grand
Prix, will be held in Shanghai on Sunday, April 15.
The less than even money favourite for the year's best driver before the 2012
Formula 1 began was Sebastian Vettel. Vettel managed a second place in the
opening event in Australia but was not even among the points in Malaysia. The
net result is that he is in the sixth place before the UBS Chinese Grand Prix.
The good news for British F1 fans is that the British drivers of the McLaren
Mercedes team, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, are in the second and third
positions in the driver's ranking.
Shanghai is a happy hunting ground for McLaren. The constructor has won three
of the last four races of the Chinese Grand Prix.
McLaren's Paddy Lowe did not read anything significant into this piece of
statistic. Lowe admitted that certain teams have historically done well in
certain tracks but that is coincidental. He said, "I frankly don't understand
it. It may just be how the dice fall or whatever." Lowe pointed out that
Malaysia and China have similar tracks but McLaren has not fared well in
Malaysia.
Lewis Hamilton had got pole positions in both the races so far, but could not
go on to win any. To this Lowe responded by saying that a balance has to be
achieved between qualifying and race pace that has to do with tyre management.
Lowe also addressed some of the more controversial issues plaguing McLaren in
particular and all teams in general in the 2012 Formula 1. Some doubts have been
raised on the legality of the McLaren innovative DRS system. Lowe indicated that
obviously McLaren believes that what it has done is correct and is now waiting
for a ruling from the powers that be. The sooner the ruling comes the better it
is for all concerned. Lowe pointed out that there is no such thing as a spirit
of the rules. The rules today are prescribed in detail and all teams follow the
letter of the rules.
Bet365 Online Odds on Chinese Grand Prix
If British punters want to check out the odds on the Chinese Grand Prix, the
online betting site Bet365 is ideal. The British drivers have the shortest odds.
The odds for the top five drivers are as follows.
Hamilton 9/4
Button 11/4
Vettel 4/1
Alonso 7/11
Webber 14/1
