The F1 season has produced some crazy moments this season and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has been at the heart of most of them. His deliberate side-swipe in Azerbaijan at Lewis Hamilton was the contender for the most bizarre moment of the season until Singapore two weeks ago. It was just about as bizarre of a thing as you will ever see, as the German had another one of his rushes of blood to the head.
Vettel, who was trying to work his way back into title contention against Lewis Hamilton had done all the hard work. He had taken Pole Position and just needed to get off to a strong, straight start and hold his line. Previous Singapore Grands Prix have favoured those going off from the front of the grid so this was a big chance for Vettel to stop the momentum Hamilton had gained by winning the two previous races in Italy and Belgium.
Instead of just going straight off the line, Vettel decided that moving across the grid to try and protect himself and his position was a better thing to do. Before five seconds on the race clock had passed, he had wiped himself, his teammate Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen all out in a three-way collision. All for no reason whatsoever. It also allowed Hamilton, who was started from fifth on the grid, to come through and take the win.
So now Vettel is looking at a 28 points deficit to Hamilton and with the next three races in Malaysia, Japan and the USA favouring the Mercedes driver, things are looking bright for Hamilton. But will Vettel’s misjudgement from the front of the grid just inspire the German to come back strongly this weekend? He seems unfazed by the whole event and he has a serious track record at Malaysia.
Vettel with track record to succeed
Vettel is a four-time winner of the Malaysian Grand Prix, having collected more wins there than at any other race. So he has the chops to go out and get something done even though he is the second favourite behind Hamilton at a price of 11/8 with bet365. His track record at the race is not to be messed with, and considering that Hamilton has won it only once, back in 2014, then Vettel may see this a full-blown chance to repair the damage done two weeks ago in Singapore.
The German is the 5/2 second favourite to take Pole Position and Hamilton’s composure in Singapore helped out by wet weather which helped reduce the threat of the Red Bull team to him, means that he goes as odds-on favourite. But this season has had some fantastic moments of drama. Vettel is well worth a punt to get his fifth win in what is the last ever Malaysian Grand Prix and shake up the title race once more in this topsy-turvy championship.