All eyes will be on McLaren this weekend as the Formula One season resumes in China following a short break.
McLaren boys favourites to win in Shanghai
All eyes will be on McLaren this weekend as the Formula One season resumes in China following a short break.
The headlines from the opening races of the year were that Martin Whitmarsh's team had developed a car that could dethrone reigning champion Sebastian Vettel, but it was Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso who was the most impressive.
Despite his public reservations about how competitive his car would be, Alonso currently tops the Drivers' Championship and leads Lewis Hamilton by five points at this early stage.
However, online betting company
Sky Bet sees the former World Champion as an outside chance to secure another title and he is 10/1 to stand atop the podium after the final race of the season.
Ahead of the race in Shanghai, Hamilton has suffered a setback after being handed a five grid-slot demotion after making a gearbox change.
The 2008 World Champion will start no higher than sixth on the grid following the mandatory penalty, and consequently is 5/4 to qualify fastest.
Propelled
However, his punishment has propelled his teammate Jenson Button to the head of the Chinese GP betting, as 7/4 favourite, with Hamilton available at 7/2.
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel is 4/1 to gain his first victory of the season, with teammate Mark Webber 10/1 to win and championship leader Alonso now 11/1 to secure another win.
McLaren have won this race for the last two years and with rain forecast for the weekend,
Sky Bet's F1 trader Chris Spicer believes Button can earn his second victory of the season.
He said: "The rain is going to make this an exciting and unpredictable race weekend.
"Hamilton's chances have been diminished by a grid penalty so it looks set to be a great opportunity for wet weather specialist Jenson Button."
