We’ve had a 3-week break since the Bahrain GP and teams have had ample opportunities to develop their cars. The big story this season after four races has to be the struggles of McLaren who are sixth place in the Constructors Championship with 23 points.
The MP4-28 has been well off the pace this season and over 1.5% slower than the fastest car this season. Last season in Spain the McLaren cars struggled to qualify. Lewis Hamilton finished in 8th place (+78.1 Secs) and Jenson Button finished in 9th (+85.2 Secs).
Button and Sergio Perez have upgraded cars this weekend, but every other team has also had upgrades performed. It’s unlikely that McLaren will be in contention this weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya and I’d avoid betting Button or Perez to win.
The Spanish Grand Prix is known to be a tough track to pass on, but that may change this year. There is a 2nd DRS Zone added to the track this year and some drivers think there may be passing opportunities elsewhere based on tyre strategy during the race.
Latest 2014 Spanish GP Betting Odds
(Top 12 Drivers) – Odds From Bet365
- Sebastian Vettel (3.00)
- Fernando Alonso (3.75)
- Kimi Raikkonen (5.50)
- Mark Webber (10.00)
- Lewis Hamilton (13.00)
- Felipe Massa (21.00)
- Romain Grosjean (23.00)
- Jenson Button (23.00)
- Nico Rosberg (23.00)
- Sergio Perez (51.00)
- Paul di Resta (67.00)
- Adrian Sutil (67.00)
Will Sebastian Vettel Win His Third Race in 2014?
Sebastian Vettel has been great to start the season for Red Bull and he’s 1st in the Drivers Championship with 77 points. Vettel is looking for his 3rd win of the season in Spain. He finished 3rd in Australia, 1st in Malaysia, 4th in China and 1st in Bahrain this season.
Vettel has won in Spain once in his career (2011), but last year Red Bull struggled in the Spanish Grand Prix. Vettel started 7th on the grid and finished the race in 6th place. Vettel is in great form and is the favourite to win the race this weekend.
Mark Webber is an interesting driver this weekend in Spain. Webber won the race in 2010 and he has qualified on the pole twice in his career. The Australian likes racing in Spain and if he can qualify on the pole position he’ll have a great shot to win the race.
Webber has been on the podium just once to start the season (2nd Place in Malaysia), but Spain is the perfect track for Webber to earn his first victory of the season. Red Bull is paying 2.25 to win the Spanish GP and is sure to be a popular bet this week.
Can Lotus Compete for First Place in the 2014 Spanish GP?
Kimi Raikkonen is 2nd in the Drivers Championship with 67 points while team mate Romain Grosjean is in 7th place (26 points). In Spain last season Raikkonen finished the race on the podium in 3rd place while Grosjean finished the race in 4th place.
Both Lotus drivers looked great in Bahrain three weeks ago and we know that they like this race. If both drivers can have a good qualifying session and start of the top of the grid on Sunday they’ll be in contention to win. Lotus to win is paying 4.50 right now.
2014 Spanish GP Betting Tips
Fernando Alonso is 4th in the Drivers Championship (47 points) and needs to start finding more consistency. Alonso has been on the podium twice this season including a win in China. He also likes this race, as he has led after the 1st lap in the last two years.
Alonso didn’t go on to win either of those races though. Last year he finished in 2nd place behind Pastor Maldonado. Alonso has generally qualified well in Spain and if he qualifies well his odds will shorten, so I’d advise betting on Alonso now at 3.75 odds.
