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F1 2017: Mid-Season Review

British Grand Prix 2017 Betting Preview

With the teams hard at work during the mid-season break, we thought it would be prudent to take a look back on the 2017 Formula 1 season so far.

The 2017 Formula 1 season has been an absolute revelation with nothing separating Ferrari and Mercedes on track. The two teams have been involved in some epic duels thus far and things are set to heat up further when racing gets underway again at the end of August.

Current Drivers’ and Constructors Standings
Top spot on the Drivers’ Championship is currently occupied by Ferrari’s main man, Sebastian Vettel. The German has been in sensational form this term winning four of the 11 races that have been held. He’s managed to get himself on the podium on four further occasions with his only non-podium finishes coming at the British Grand Prix, in Azezerbijhan and in Canada. He currently sits 14 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton on the Drivers’ standings and 33 points ahead of Valtteri Bottas.

Driver’s Championship Standings (Top 10)
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 202 | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 188 | Valterri Bottas (Mercedes) 169 | Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 117 | Kimi Raikonnen (Ferrari) 116 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull)  67 | Sergio Perez (Force India) 56 | Esteban Ocon (Force India) 45 | Carlos Sainz 45 (Toro Rosso) | Nico Hulkenberg 26 (Renault)

While Vettel has been dominating the Drivers’ Championship, it has translated to a lead in the Constructors’ standings for Ferrari as they trail Mercedes by 39 points. The main reason for the Silver Arrows dominating the Constructors’ Championship is that both of their drivers have contributed while Ferrari need Kimi Raikkonen to produce more top three finishes.

In total, Mercedes have won six of the 11 Grand Prix held, with Hamilton topping the pops on four occasions and Bottas winning twice. Red Bull are the only other team to win a race, with Daniel Ricciardo claiming the honours out in Azerbaijan.

Constructors’ Standings
Mercedes 357 | Ferrari 318 | Red Bull 184 | Force India 104 | Williams 41 | Toro Rosso 49 | Haas 39 | Renault 26 | Honda 11 | Sauber 5  

Quotes of the Season Thus Far 
There have been some absolute gems of quotes this season from Daniel Ricciardo joking with TV presenters about a pre-race night out in Monaco, to Vettel accusing Max Verstappen of wanting to get involved in a game of bumper cars. Here are some of the seasons best one liners thus far:

Verstappen is Still a Kid at Heart

“I think he wants to play bumper cars,” – Sebastian Vettel on Verstappen’s dodgy driving out at Silverstone.

Two from the Shoe

“There’s something I have to do,”– Daniel Ricciardo stated as he handed legendary actor Patrick Stewart his race boot filled with champagne. Sir Stewart was a great sport and downed the champagne in two seconds flat, to give us one of the most iconic podium moments ever.

Button Messes with Alonso’s Cockpit

“Okay, I’m going to pee in your seat”.- Jenson Button. The best quote of the season so far had to be Jenson Button’s one-liner to former teammate Fernando Alonso. The retired Brit made a short-term return to fill in for staunch friend Alonso who was trying his hand at Nascar. The duo was patched through on a call just before the start out in Monaco and after exchanging a bit of banter, Button quipped the aforementioned quote – what a world class bit of verbal jousting from the lanky Brit.

Title Race Heats Up

“Driving alongside and deliberately driving into a driver and getting away scot free pretty much – he still came away with fourth – I think that’s a disgrace, “If he wants to prove that he’s a man, I think he should do it out of the car face to face. – Lewis Hamilton. The Brit was absolutely livid with Vettel after the German crashed into him in Azerbaijan. Vettel defended his actions saying that the Brit had deliberately brake-tested him.

Looking Forward
Banter aside, this season has really breathed some life back into F1. We finally have a Drivers’ Championship race between drivers from two different teams, and the Constructors Championship is well and truly alive. Things have also got heated between title rivals Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, and the gloves will surely come off at some time this season as pressure builds on the two most successful drivers currently on track.

Remaining Races

  • Belgian Grand Prix (27 August)
  • Italian Grand Prix (3 September)
  • Singapore Grand Prix (17 September)
  • Malaysian Grand Prix (1 October)
  • Japanese Grand Prix (8 October)
  • USA Grand Prix (22 October)
  • Mexican Grand Prix (29 October)
  • Brazilian Grand Prix (12 November)
  • Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (29 November)

Betting Angles
You can still get Sebastian Vettel at 5/4 to win the Drivers’ Championship, and I think that’s some decent value there. The German has been brilliant this term and Ferrari seem to have the better of Mercedes when it comes to race speed at most tracks. And while Hamilton will fancy his chances in the Americas, Vettel should have the better of the Mercedes man in Asia. 

This is bordering on the speculative but with Ferrari available at 9/4 to claim the Constructors’ Championship, I can’t help but have a punt. If Kimi Raikkonen can start contributing a bit more – the Finn actually looked a lot better during the final few races before the break – then the Prancing Stag may just take recover that coveted Constructors’ trophy. 

Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net


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