F1 Championship leader Rosberg out to maintain ‘unexpected’ run in Spanish Grand Prix

Lee Gormley | May 10, 2016

Spanish Grand Prix

Rosberg targets Spanish GP crown

The Formula 1 season continues this Sunday as the Driver’s Championship steers into Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix, where dominant campaign leader Nico Rosberg is aiming to maintain his incredible start to proceedings.

Mercedes driver Rosberg has enjoyed a flawless start to the 2016 term, storming to victory in all four circuits so far, including Australia, Bahrain, China and Russia, with the German also recording two qualifying pole positions and as many fastest laps.

With the early Championship front-runner on such a rich run of supreme form going into Barcelona, he is the massive 11/10 favourite with Coral for a fifth successive victory, while more promising odds of 15/8 can be had on Rosberg securing another fastest circuit lap.

Leader didn’t expect flying start

Rosberg now holds an encouraging 43-point lead over teammate and title rival Lewis Hamilton, but the current world champion is 6/5 to bounce back and clinch first-place success at the testing Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Despite such an impressive start to the campaign, 30-year-old Rosberg admits he did not expect the winning run he is currently enjoying and it isn’t something he could have predicted, but is keen to make it last as long as possible.

“It’s not something I could have expected – winning the first four races of the year,” stated the German steerer. “It’s been a great start but I’m just enjoying the moment and the form I’m in, doing my best to keep it going and hoping I can carry it through to the end of the season.

“Sport is all about ups and downs and being mentally prepared to bounce back stronger when they come. With a season this long you have to just take things race by race. There are 425 points still up for grabs – and anything can happen yet.”

Recent history bodes well for the in-form Mercedes speedster too, having prevailed in last season’s Spanish GP, pipping Hamilton and compatriot Sebastian Vettel to the coveted crown on Barcelona soil. Four-time world champion Vettel will be gunning for a revival in form and fortunes on the track he finished third on last year and is 7/1 to triumph here.

Ricciardo closing in on podium

A win for Rosberg in Spain would see his streak move up to eight GP victories in a row since last season’s triumph in Mexico, which will give him the outright second-longest run in F1 history and one behind the all-time record set by Vettel with Red Bull back in 2013.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo has been knocking on the door for a podium finish this season, with three fourth-place endings so far recorded, and the Red Bull driver is 4/1 to finally get on one the three highest steps this weekend.

The evergreen Kimi Raikkonen will look to continue his consistent start to the season as well, after second, third and fifth position finishes being secured following an opening circuit retirement in Australia. Finland’s finest is therefore, 9/4 to go another step further and grab a podium finish.

Meanwhile, Williams steerer Felipe Massa is 6/4 for a top six finish, with Britain’s Jenson Button an 11/10 shot for a points ending in Spain and home favourite Fernando Alonso is available at evens for a top 10 placing in front of his passionate Spanish fans.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg to secure a fifth consecutive season success in the Spanish Grand Prix.