Bahrain Grand Prix: Hamilton hoping for hat-trick of wins in Sakhir
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | March 30, 2016
Bahrain Grand Prix
- Formula 1
- Sunday, April 3rd
- Race starts: 16:00 BST
- Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
- Live on Sky Sports F1 and Channel 4
Hamilton hoping for hat-trick
Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to win a third successive win at the Bahrain Grand Prix and prove to bitter rival and teammate Nico Rosberg that he is still the main man at Mercedes.
The Englishman finished runner-up to the German last time out at the 2016 Formula 1 opener in Australia by eight seconds, but is the odds-on 10/11 favourite to triumph in the Middle East.
Hamilton will also be aiming to go one better than current drivers Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel at this track by winning three times – which would equal Fernando Alonso. Rosberg is 15/8 for another victory.
Vettel, though, who last won here in 2013, is a tempting 9/2 chance to finish first after he led and should’ve gone on to pick up the Australian GP title, but his move to super-soft tyres mid-race meant he came third instead.
The German’s Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen, though, has finished second three times out of the last four in Bahrain including last year, and is 9/4 to be on the podium once more this time.
Alonso declared unfit for Bahrain
Despite a relatively dull first race of the season, with all the drivers getting used to things again, Spaniard Alonso was involved in a spectacular crash after trying to overtake Esteban Gutierrez on lap 17.
Thankfully, the double world champion was able to walk out of what little was left of his car, albeit no doubt shaken and in shock, though has been deemed unfit by doctors to take part this week.
It is a shame for Alonso who loves this track, though has not won here since 2010 when it was temporarily named the Endurance Circuit before reverting back to its usual Grand Prix Circuit title.
Grosjean and Palmer impress for minnows
There was a notable sixth place finish for new American team Haas, with Frenchman Romain Grosjean achieving the welcoming eight points for his constructor. He is an enticing 20/1 to do so again, or 10/3 just to gain at least a point.
Englishman Jolyon Palmer, in his debut Formula 1 season, also put in a commendable performance for minnows Renault, as he came 11th. The Horsham-born 25-year-old is 9/2 to finish 10th or better this time.
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Coral’s top tip: Grosjean is a fantastic 10/3 chance to finish in the points.
