Sebastian Vettel is fancied to again cut down Button’s lead

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chickendinner loves a British success story as much as anyone but we weren’t looking forward to the prospect of Jenson Button winning nearly every race with Schumacher style dominance. Sadly for the Brit, his worst result of the season was saved for Silverstone (sixth) and while he is still 25 points ahead of winner Sebastian Vettel, the German is a strong favourite to win on home soil this weekend. Here are five stats about the first German Grand Prix to be held at the Nurburgring (the European and, slightly more dubiously, the Luxembourg Grands Prix have been held there since though) since 1985:

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1. Four of the last seven German Grands Prix have been one by German drivers, as have five of the last eight races at the Nurburgring.

2. On the last three occasions that a British or German driver has triumphed at Silverstone - Michael Schumacher in 2002 and 2004 and Lewis Hamilton in 2008 - they have gone on to win the German Grand Prix.

3. However, over the last six years just seven drivers have recorded victories

Posted: July 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The stage is set for a Kimi Raikkonen win but his car probably isn’t

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Kimi Raikkonen has won two of the last four Spanish Grands Prix, Finnish drivers have triumphed in five of the last 11 and Ferrari in six of the last eight. Despite that, it’s not worth piling all your money in on the 2007 World Champion at 16/1 on Bet365 because past performances count for nothing in Formula One right now. Here are some stats that might prove more useful:

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» The last eight races in Catalunya have all been won by the driver starting in pole, as have 11 of the last 12.

» The Spanish Grand Prix was the only race that Jenson Button took points in last season - finishing sixth.

Posted: May 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Hamilton’s Bahrain GP price is halved after first practise

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Last season chickendinner enjoyed a lot of success by using past results to analyse whether it would be Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa or Kimi Raikkonen standing on the top step of the podium. However, this year has proven a lottery so far. Last weekend’s stats suggested that Ferrari would improve in China but it never materialised while the unpredictability surrounding this weekend’s race has seen Lewis Hamilton’s Betfair price crash from 22 to 11 after going fastest in first practise. Here are some Bahrain GP stats:

» Felipe Massa has won the last two Bahrain Grands Prix and Fernando Alonso the two before that but the only driver to have finished on the podium in each of the last four is Kimi Raikkonen.

» Sebastien Vettel, the winner in China last weekend, retired after one lap in Bahrain last year.

Posted: April 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Australian success bodes well for Button and Brawn GP

Five stats about this weekend’s motor racing

Photo Credit: PA Wire

1. In fifteen of the last nineteen seasons - including each of the last three - the winner of the opening race of the season has gone on to win the Drivers Championship. Jenson Button is now the favourite and the best price available on him is 3/1 with Boylesports.

2. The winning team at the first Grand Prix of the season have won the Constructors Championship in seven of the last nine years. Brawn GP are still available at 11/5 with Boylesports but Ferrari, who broke this trend last season to triumph, are still favourites. The best price available on the Scuderia is 11/8 with Ladbrokes.

Posted: March 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The reigning F1 champion is 33/1 to win the opening race

Ten stats about the unpredictable opening race in Australia

Formula One still constantly has to defend itself from accusations of being boring despite the Drivers’ Championship being won by a point at the final race for the second season running. However, a series of rule changes designed to shake up the sport and level the playing field means that this has the potential to be the most unpredictable season ever, as reflected by the odds for the opening race. Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton, who won this race last year, is 33/1 to triumph with Ladbrokes while the 7/2 favourite is Jenson Button, who picked up just three points throughout last season and until last month was in danger of not even having a seat this year.

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» The reigning world champion has won the opening race in just four of the last thirteen seasons (and on three of those occasions it was Michael Schumacher), so even if Hamilton was happy with his car he would struggle.

» If Button lives up to his billing as race favourite, he must be taken seriously as a title contender. In 15 of the last 19 seasons, including each of the last three, the winner of the opening race has gone on to win the Championship.

Posted: March 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Rebecca Adlington extends her lead over Lewis Hamilton

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Betfair odds: Adlington is in red, Hamilton in blue

The past week has seen Rebecca Adlington overtake and pull clear of Lewis Hamilton in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year betting, having previously been a distant second favourite.

The swimmer rather unsportingly claimed last month that she deserves the award more than Hamilton because he competes for the Formula One Drivers Championship every year whereas she only goes for Olympic gold once every four and judging by the odds shift, it appears the punters agree with her.

It could of course prove a good omen for Hamilton that he is no longer favourite because he was the clear frontrunner twelve months ago only to get pipped at the post by Joe Calzaghe.

Posted: December 10th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment