Formula 1- Raikkonen seeks back-to-back wins

March 22, 2013 - 08:23 | F1

Kimi Raikkonen hopes Lotus can build on their Formula 1 victory in Melbourne by impressing again in the hot and humid conditions at the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend.

Formula 1- Raikkonen seeks back-to-back wins

Kimi Raikkonen only won one race in 2012.

The Finn is 11/4 to make it two victories in a row on Sunday and is 9/2 to be the fastest qualifier for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Last year Lotus performed best when the conditions were hot, but Raikkonen is adamant that the team will not be making any changes to their usual race weekend routine.

He said: “There’s no target or anything, we don’t do any different things this weekend than we did in any previous race or last year.

“If people think we are the kind of leaders it makes no difference to our work, what we did or what we’re going to do this weekend or any other weekend. We just try to do our best and hopefully can score some good points.

“Last year we were pretty good when it was hot and actually it was better for us but obviously we haven’t run in these kind of conditions and the winter has been very cold so I have no idea. If it’s anything like it was last year it should be pretty OK but we have to wait and see how it goes.”

Raikkonen, 4/1 to win the 2013 drivers’ title, finished third in last year’s championship despite only emerging triumphant in one race – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 33-year-old, who won the drivers’ title when with Ferrari in 2007, did also enjoy a podium finish on six other occasions in 2012 though.

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.

View all Formula 1 betting

F1 – Webber eyes Red Bull finish

March 13, 2013 - 19:41 | F1

Leave a comment

Mark Webber expects to finish his F1 career with Red Bull.

F1 - Webber eyes Red Bull finish

Mark Webber claims it is ‘quite likely’ that he will finish his career with Red Bull ahead of the 2013 Formula One season.

The 36-year-old, who is now the oldest driver in F1, is preparing for his home grand prix in Australia this weekend in what will be his 12th season in the sport and seventh in Red Bull colours.

Webber’s age has led to speculation concerning his future, while the fact he is on a one-year rolling contract has only served to fuel talk that his bosses will look to replace him in the near future.

For me to finish at Red Bull is quite likely.

Mark Webber.

Kimi Raikkonen was linked with his place at Red Bull in 2009, but Webber was kept on and team principal Christian Horner is adamant that he will stay on board for as long as he is a consistent performer.

Therefore, Webber insists he will probably quit F1 when Red Bull decide to replace him because he does not want to follow in the footsteps of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello who went from team to team following a six-year stint at Ferrari.

“For me to finish at Red Bull is quite likely,” he said.

“But you never know, someone might ring tomorrow with something else. It’s a funny old business, Formula One.

“But chopping and changing teams…I admire Rubens for that.

“I couldn’t have done what he did in terms of being at the top and winning races and then going back down through teams in Formula One and being in an uncompetitive environment.

“That’s something that would be quite difficult. I’m not particularly keen on doing that.”

Webber is 9/1 to win the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, while he can be backed at 20/1 to win the F1 drivers’ championship this year.

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone and tablet with the new and improved bet365 On The Move.

View all Formula 1 betting

F1 – Vettel happy with progress

February 20, 2013 - 19:40 | F1

Leave a comment

F1 - Vettel happy with progress

Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel has admitted he is pleased with how Red Bull are progressing ahead of the 2013 Formula One campaign.

Pre-season testing has been going well at Circuit de Catalunya for the German this week and the three-time world champion managed to secure the fastest lap time in Barcelona on Wednesday morning.

With just three points separating Vettel from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso in the Drivers’ Championship last season, Red Bull are working hard to make sure they stay one step ahead of their rivals in 2013.

Vettel has been happy with how the off-season has been going, as he prepares for the Australian Grand Prix on 17th March.

He said: “What we have here is more or less the same car as we had in Brazil, just another step forward. I think we stepped out at the last races last season, so we’re much happier this year here than we were last year.

“At this stage, I think we can be pretty happy with what we have.”

Vettel can be backed at 11/8 to successfully defend his drivers’ crown, while team-mate Mark Webber is 22/1 to win the title and Jenson Button can be backed at 11/2 to take the top prize.

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone and tablet with the new and improved bet365 On The Move.

View all Formula 1 betting

F1 – Hamilton upbeat after Mercedes visit

January 22, 2013 - 19:37 | F1

Leave a comment

Lewis Hamilton believes he can help Mercedes challenge for F1 honours next season after visiting the team’s bases in Brackley and Stuttgart.

F1 - Hamilton upbeat after Mercedes visit

The 2008 world champion left McLaren for Mercedes at the end of the previous campaign but his chances of securing the Drivers’ Championship title in 2013 have been questioned by some pundits, as his new team struggled for points towards the end of the 2012 season.

However, the 28-year-old is optimistic Mercedes can challenge the likes of Ferrari, Red Bull and his former employers following his trips to the Mercedes bases, although he admits there is still plenty of work ahead for his new team.

“I live to win,” he said in a Mercedes video. “That’s what I work towards every year so that’s what we’re going to work towards this year. Of course it’s going to be tough to beat the guys who are already at the front – the Red Bulls, the McLarens, the Ferraris – but I don’t think it’s impossible.”

He added: “I went to Brackley back in the early part of December, asking lots of questions, trying to get as much involved as I can in the limited time I was there. It was great to see how enthusiastic everyone was. It looked like there was incredible determination to turn this thing around and that gave me a lot of motivation for my winter.”

Hamilton, who is 14/1 to secure the drivers’ title, believes the 2013 campaign will be a learning curve for him and has confidence he can help Mercedes move forward.

“I think this year’s going to be an interesting year, an interesting journey,” he said of the season ahead. “Learning and getting to know new people is always a massive challenge and that’s first and foremost one of the biggest challenges I have. After that it’s trying to succeed with them and extract the most out of them. But I think it’s going to be a journey that we enjoy.”

Hamilton will be partnered by Nico Rosberg in 2013 and Rosberg can be backed at 50/1 to secure Drivers’ Championship glory, while McLaren star Jenson Button is 8/1 to emerge victorious.

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone and tablet with the new and improved bet365 On The Move.

View all Formula 1 betting

2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award

December 4, 2012 - 08:00 | Boxing, Cricket, F1, Football, Games, Golf, TV Shows

Leave a comment

Olympic and Paralympic athletes dominate the shortlist for the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

odds correct as at 3rd Dec 2012

BET HERE

Cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy, tennis star Andy Murray, and athletes Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah are candidates in a 12-strong list.

Rower Katherine Grainger, golfer Rory McIlroy, boxer Nicola Adams and sailor Ben Ainslie are other hopefuls.

Paralympians Sarah Storey, Ellie Simmonds and David Weir also make the list for the award on 16 December.

Three former Sports Personality nominees were on an expert panel which decided the shortlist, and the winner will be decided by a public vote on the night.

The panel was put together following criticism of an all-male list decided via a different method in 2011.

The 2000 winner Sir Steve Redgrave, Baroness Grey-Thompson and Denise Lewis were joined by Baroness Campbell, chair of UK Sport, and representatives from the BBC and the newspaper industry.

Presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Clare Balding, Sports Personality of the Year will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC One HD and BBC Radio 5 live from 19:30 GMT.

A capacity crowd of 15,000 at the ExCel in London will make it the biggest show in the event’s 59-year history.

It will be a star-studded climax to 12 months of sport which saw London host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With an array of candidates to choose from, the panel faced some difficult choices finalising the shortlist, which was extended from 10 to 12 to reflect a brilliant year for British sport.

Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to win the Tour de France and followed up with Olympic time trial gold. Hoy won the team sprint and men’s keirin at London 2012 – his fifth and sixth gold medals overall – to beat the record for golds won by a British sportsman.

Ennis won the heptathlon and Farah triumphed in both the 5,000m and 10,00m in the Olympic Stadium.

Murray clinched gold at the Games before ending Britain’s wait for a major tennis title with victory in the US Open, and McIlroy also triumphed across the Atlantic as he took theUS PGA title, played in Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team and won the season-ending Tour Championship.

Adams became the first female fighter to win an Olympic boxing title,Grainger claimed rowing gold at the fourth attempt and Ainslie’s victory at the Games made him the most decorated Olympic sailor.

F1 – Jenson Button rues Hamilton loss

November 7, 2012 - 08:00 | F1

Leave a comment

Jenson Button admits Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Mercedes represents a big test for McLaren.

Jenson Button admits team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Mercedes is a “big loss” to McLaren.

Hamilton has agreed to join Mercedes ahead of the 2013 Formula 1 campaign, with McLaren securing the services of Sergio Perez from Sauber to replace the 2008 world champion.

Button, 32, admits Hamilton’s decision to leave McLaren is a blow to the Woking based team but is confident Perez will impress next season.

The McLaren star also rejected the suggestion he will act as Perez’s mentor, and insists he can also learn from the 22-year-old Mexican.

Button told a press conference on Thursday: “When Sergio is in the team, he’ll probably learn plenty from someone who is older and more experienced than he is – which will be me – but I still think that as an older driver you can still learn from a younger team-mate because they will still bring fresh ideas to the table. But an older brother? Definitely not!”

The 2009 world champion admits McLaren face a big test in recovering from the loss of Hamilton, but Button is confident his Perez will rise to the challenges ahead.

He added: “With Lewis leaving, the team lose a very fast driver and one who has achieved a lot- including the last championship won by the team. It is a big loss.

“But things change, you learn to adapt and it’s definitely not the end of two strong drivers at McLaren.

“Sergio will be fast, it’s a great opportunity for him and I’m sure he’ll take it with both hands.”

Button is 12/1 to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, while Perez can be backed at 150/1.

Hamilton has failed to secure a podium finish since announcing his decision to join Mercedes and can be backed at 6/1 to come out on top and take maximum points this weekend.

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.

View all Formula 1 betting

Indian F1 : Vettel sets the early pace in India

October 26, 2012 - 17:56 | F1

Leave a comment

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel continued his recent dominance in F1 by being fastest in both practice sessions ahead of Sunday’s Indian F1 Grand Prix.

India F1 : Vettel sets the early pace in India

Vettel, who won the inaugural GP in India last season, led the way from McLaren’s Jenson Button in the first session of the day at the Buddh International Circuit.

I think we can be quite happy, we didn’t have any major issues.

Sebastian Vettel

Red Bull then enjoyed a one-two in the afternoon, with Mark Webber just over a tenth of a second behind his team-mate.

Vettel currently leads the drivers’ standings by six points from Ferrari ace Fernando Alonso, who was third fastest in both sessions on Friday and almost six tenths off the pace of the German in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Button and McLaren colleague Lewis Hamilton were disappointing in second practice, finishing in seventh and sixth places respectively.

Vettel is now 2/5 to be the fastest qualifier for the race on Sunday and is 4/6 to take the chequered flag and extend his championship lead, with the German 1/4 to secure a third straight drivers’ title this season.

“The track improved enormously,” Vettel said after another fine display. “The circuit kept improving, there was quite a lot of grip by the end.

“I think we can be quite happy, we didn’t have any major issues. Now we need to see whether we made progress and hopefully we can make progress for tomorrow.”

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.

View all Formula 1 betting

Vettel maintains Suzuka dominance

October 6, 2012 - 14:34 | F1

Leave a comment

Vettel maintains Suzuka dominance

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel dominated qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, clinching a fourth successive pole position at Suzuka to boost his world title hopes.

Vettel, who has won the race in Japan in two of the last three years, was nearly three tenths of a second ahead of the field, with Mark Webber completing a Red Bull front row.

We had a very good qualifying session and it was very smooth, almost perfect.

Sebastian Vettel

McLaren’s Jenson Button was third fastest, but will start back in eighth place due to a penalty for changing his gearbox, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton could only manage ninth place.

Standings leader Fernando Alonso, who holds a 29-point lead over Vettel, will start from sixth place and he is 16/1 to win the race and 8/11 to go on and be world champion for a third time.

Meanwhile, Vettel, who is 4/9 to take the chequered flag and 13/8 to secure a third straight drivers’ title, said after a dominant display: “I’m very, very happy with the result.

“We had a very good qualifying session and it was very smooth, almost perfect. We didn’t have the best start yesterday, but we seem to get better every time we go out.

“The car feels fantastic, so all in all it came together nicely and we hope for a good race tomorrow.”

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.

View all Formula 1 betting

Lewis Hamilton dismisses ‘rubbish’ speculation

September 18, 2012 - 07:14 | F1

Leave a comment

McLaren star Lewis Hamilton insists he is in a strong position as the drivers’ title race moves towards an exciting climax.

Lewis Hamilton dismisses 'rubbish' speculation

The former world champion has also said that he has put talk of a potential switch to Mercedes at the end of this season when his McLaren contract expires to one side and is focused only on racing.

He is 4/1 to win this year’s drivers’ title and 9/4 to finish first at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Hamilton has called some of the speculation surrounding his future “rubbish” and insists: “My focus is on trying to win this world championship.

The most important thing is that I do not get distracted by all the rubbish that’s been around.

Lewis Hamilton

“Of course I do have to have those things sorted out but I have people in the background working on those contract negotiations. There’s a lot of speculation, there’s a lot of stories that aren’t true.

“I think we’re all wise enough to understand that people write things and that what is written is not necessarily what is true. I think the most important thing is that I’m 100 per cent focused on winning with this team and taking them forward.

“I’ve been with the team since I was 13 and we’ve worked so hard since 2009 to try and win this championship and hopefully, finally, we’re in the position where we can. So the most important thing is that I do not get distracted by all the rubbish that’s been around.”

Hamilton is currently second in the championship, while former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso leads the standings and Kimi Raikkonen is third. Alonso is 1/2 to win the drivers’ title for a third time while Raikkonen is 12/1 to clinch the world championship.

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.

View all Formula 1 betting

Formula 1 – Vettel refuses to concede title

September 10, 2012 - 18:02 | F1

Leave a comment

Sebastian Vettel insists he can still win a third successive world title despite being forced to retire from Sunday’s Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monza.

The German had been handed a drive-through penalty for forcing Fernando Alonso off the track before an alternator failure ended his race early.

We need to improve the car, we could see today the pace was not there.

Sebastian Vettel

Vettel is now fourth in the drivers’ standings, 39 points behind current leader Alonso, but remains convinced there are enough races left for him to overtake his rivals. He is 15/2 to win the drivers’ title while Alonso can be backed at 1/2, Lewis Hamilton at 4/1 and Mark Webber at 33/1.

When asked if he still felt he could win the title, Vettel replied: “Yeah, for sure. I think nothing has changed. Obviously this was not a very good result for us; we didn’t finish and it doesn’t help that the other cars are finishing.

“Nevertheless there’s still a long way ahead of us and we need to improve the car, we could see today the pace was not there. Nevertheless we were in a good position to finish fourth or fifth, something like that.”

Meanwhile, Vettel said when asked if he thought he should have had a drive-through penalty: “From my point of view it’s not – I think I left enough room.

“It’s extremely difficult; if you’re behind you lose the front so I don’t know what really happened to Fernando. I just saw that the next time I checked the mirror he was in the dirt. All in all I think he had much more pace, so he was faster and he passed me anyway.”

Don’t forget all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on your mobile phone with the new and improved Mobile at bet365.