21st Mar 2013 | Formula 1
Malaysian Grand Prix Tips: Kimi Raikkonen
The Lotus is the fastest car on the grid but the bookmakers erroneously make Kimi Raikkonen third favourite.
Having won the season opener in Melbourne I am surprised Kimi Raikkonen isn’t favourite to double up in Malaysia. Perhaps the market thinks he won because of strategy, making only two pit stops, when his rivals made three?
This is a dangerous conclusion to make. Our analysis of laps times suggests Kimi Raikkonen was quickest in the first and second stints and probably would have won on a three-stop strategy as well.
The Lotus is the quickest car on the grid and with only a week between races, I can’t see how the other teams can bridge the gap.
At the moment Sebastian Vettel is 21/10 (Boylesports) favourite for the Malaysian Grand Prix, a ludicrously short price considering the Red Bull looks slower than both the Ferrari and Lotus.
The bookmakers seem stuck in 2012. This is a new season and at 9/2 (William Hill), Kimi Raikkonen looks great value to continue in Malaysia where he left off in Australia.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 15:36 21st Mar, 2013 but subject to change