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F1 2017: Brazilian Grand Prix Preview

Formula 1 Car Drives on Track

The penultimate race of the 2017 F1 season will see the drivers take on the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on Sunday the 12th of November.

The F1 season is fast approaching its end, with only two more races to go before the proverbial chequered flag comes down on the 2017 season. Both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships have been sealed with Lewis Hamilton’s ninth-place finish out in Mexico seeing the ‘Brit claim his fourth World Championship.

While both of the titles already have a temporary home in the Mercedes compound in Milton Keynes, it doesn’t mean that there’s no more value on offer. The opposite is true in fact, as Max Verstappen’s victory last week illustrates with the young Dutchman being priced up in the low teens for the win.

Previous Race
It wasn’t the all-conquering display Hamilton would have liked to have produced when securing his fourth World Championship but the ‘Brit will still be happy to have drawn level with Sebastian Vettel on Drivers’ title wins. The Mercedes main man, whose race was hampered by an early crash with Vettel, could only muster up a ninth-place finish, North of the American border.

His teammate, Valtteri Bottas, enjoyed a more fruitful weekend bringing his car home in second place behind race winner, Max Verstappen. The latter put in a marvellous shift at the Autodromo Hermanus Rodriguez and was thoroughly deserving of his first-place finish.

There were actually two ‘Finns on the podium in Mexico with Kimi Raikkonen bringing his car across the line in third. The veteran Ferrari man was the main benefactor of Hamiton and Vettel’s early collision. Speaking of Vettel, the German ace brought his car across the line in fourth, which wasn’t a big enough points haul to ensure the race for the title was extended.

The Top 6 was rounded out by Frenchman Esteban Ocon (5th), who put in another solid shift behind the wheel of his Force India, and Canadian Lance Stroll (6th). Further down the Top 10 pecking order were the cars of Sergio Perez (7th), Kevin Magnussen (8th), and Fernando Alonso (10th).

Brazilian Grand Prix | Sunday 12 November | Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace |

To Win Race
Lewis Hamilton 9/10 | Sebastian Vettel 7/2 | Max Verstappen 4/1 | Daniel Ricciardo 7/1 | Valterri Bottas 10/1 | Kimi Raikonnen 20/1

Track
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace hosted its first Grand Prix way back in 1976 and instantly became a favourite amongst drivers and spectators alike. While this is mainly due to the sun-kissed beaches and amazing weather that Sao Paulo is blessed with, the local fans also play a key role in Grand Prix being so popular.

The natives are passionate about their racing, mainly due to the legacy of Ayton Senna. The Sao Paulo native was one of the finest drivers to ever take to the track and is still an inspiration to the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

The total race distance measures 305.909 kilometres and is made up of 71 laps, with each lap spanning a distance of 4.309 kilometres and containing 15 corners. There are some extremely long straights which will favour the upper echelons of the field. We’re likely to see a lot of overtaking on these straights especially with the two DRS zones situated on the longest straights: between corners three and four, and the start/finish straight.

In terms of weather for this weekend, we are in for a few thunderstorms during the practice sessions on Friday as well as Saturday’s Qualifying sessions, but there should be clear skies come race day.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his first ever victory out in Brazil last year, with Nico Rosberg finishing second and Max Verstappen claiming the final podium berth.

Value Bet

Podium Finish – Kimi Raikkonen – Yes – 11/4
The ‘Iceman’ certainly loves a Brazilian Grand Prix. The Finn has won here in 2007 and has fallen agonisingly short of the podium in his last three drives in Brazil. He’ll also be full of confidence after his podium finish in Mexico. I’m expecting the veteran Ferrari man to bag a podium finish this weekend.

Fastest Qualifier – Lewis Hamilton 66/100
The Brit has claimed 11 pole positions of the 18 on offer this year. He was outdone in Mexico by Sebastian Vettel but the Circuit Jose Carlos Pace is a track that Mercedes have dominated on in recent years. My money is on Hamilton having made it 12 from 19 poles come the close of Saturday’s final qualifying session.

To Win Outright – Sebastian Vettel 7/2
This is a way more speculative bet than the Hamilton pole tip but I just feel that Vettel is due a win. He’s had a horrid run of luck with the last two races in which he’s qualified on pole ending in the Ferrari man experiencing a crash.

He’s got a solid record out in Brazil and is the only Brazilian Grand Prix multiple winner on the circuit. I’m going to have a moderate strike on the Vettel win here. 


Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net

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