Vettel and Red Bull to do the business

6Mar 2013

With pre-season testing now well under way, it's not long until the Formula One campaign begins in earnest at the Australian Grand Prix on March 17. F1 fan Stephen Fletcher looks ahead to the season

After last year's impressive performance, Sebastian Vettel is now a three-time Drivers Champion and any lingering doubts about his 'inexperience' have long since vanished.

Short odds backers may well be tempted into backing the German at 1.37 for a top three finish as it looks a certainty, but I'll happily take the 2.68 on offer for a fourth consecutive Drivers' Championship as the 26-year old bears down on Michael Schumacher's seven titles.

Vettel's Red Bull team mate Mark Webber is one of the most experienced drivers in the field this year and will be looking to keep pace with the number one driver and push for a top three finish.

The significant changes in the other teams' line-ups might serve in Webber's favour, but I suspect he might not be with the pace this year and will swerve the 4.1 on offer for top three.

Lotus will be the team to look out for this season, with Kimi Raikkonen's impressive season showing what they are capable of. If the Finn's young teammate Romain Grosjean can keep his car on the track more consistently, he looks a good price at 10.0 to finish in the top three.

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has said Grosjean has the potential to become world champion, and while that might be too much to ask this year (available at 65.0 if you're feeling lucky), that third place is up for grabs.

With five Formula One debutants in Estaban Gutierrez (Sauber), Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) and Jules Bianchi joining British racer Max Chilton at a new look Marussia team, there will be a good opportunity for the experienced drivers to make a push up the field. This could benefit Fernando Alonso at Ferrari after he narrowly lost out to Vettel last season.

A price of 1.7 shows that a top three finish is very much on the cards for the Spaniard, but it will be all about how the two-time Drivers Champion bounces back from last year's disappointment. You can get 4.8 for the Spaniard to win a third World Championship, and his first with Ferrari, but my money will be with Vettel.

Lewis Hamilton's well publicised move from McLaren to Mercedes will see his performance scrutinised throughout the season, and after a relatively poor time last season he'll be looking to build quickly alongside new teammate Nico Rosberg. I suspect, however, it will be a season of transition for the British driver.

Finally, the battle for the Constructors Championship this year will be close, and with Alonso and Vettel chasing the driver's title, it will be between Felipe Massa and Webber to collect the points for the team win.

The Brazilian has had a hard time in the sport of late, so I'm backing Red Bull for another Constructors Championship at 2.06, with McLaren, Mercedes and Lotus battling for third place.

Recommended Bets

Sebastian Vettel to win the Drivers Championship at 2.68

Red Bull to win the Constructors' Championship at 2.06

Romain Grosjean for Drivers' Championship Top Three at 10.0