Belgium GP next up as Hamilton and Rosberg battle again

Of the current Formula 1 drivers, four have won at the prestigious Belgian Grand Prix. Reigning Spa-Francorchamps champion Sebastian Vettel, four-time winner Kimi Raikkonen and British duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have all finished top of the podium here.

It is the latter, though, who goes in to this race as the odds-on favourite at 8/11. Hamilton, who started on pole in Belgium last year (also 8/11 to be fastest qualifier), has finished on the podium in each of the last four races this season, including astonishingly catching up to end third in the last two. He is 1/6 to do so again.

Despite the Englishman being second in the Drivers’ Championship standings, he has narrowed the gap, after his back-of-the-grid comeback in his favourite Hungary track, to just 11 points, having held off his teammate Nico Rosberg. Hamilton is odds-on favourite to win his second title.

Vettel (5/2 for victory in Belgium) has continued his woeful season, of only two third-place finishes, and is being overshadowed by new teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who won the last race in Hungary. The Australian is a fantastic 14/1 shot for victory again, and 15/8 to be on the podium.

The chances for other former winners of this circuit Button and Raikkonen, though, are far slimmer, with the duo only amassing a total of 87 points between them this season so far. They are 12/1 and 14/1 respectively to finish on the podium.

This race will represent another intense battle between Hamilton and Rosberg, though, after the former was ordered to let the German overtake him at the last GP.F Hamilton ultimately, and arguably quite rightly refused, but it may have cost Rosberg from coming first and extending his lead.

Mercedes’ co-team boss Toto Wolff believes that the rivalry can only be good for both drivers and the team, but did admit tensions were there. “Until now it has functioned really well,” he said.

“Could it come to a point where we say it is difficult to manage? It could be, but I don’t see it – not with the two of them.