Recommended Bets
No matter how many layers of gloss, varnish and polish pundits will apply to Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, it will be a boring race. It always is.
A racetrack in the desert was never going to look pretty no matter how much it cost its oil-rich owners to build. The masterstroke of making it a night race staged under floodlights (in 2014) has certainly helped with the visual impression it creates but nothing else.
But there is no getting away from the fact this super-wide circuit with vast run-off areas – built in such a way to prevent sand blowing onto the racing line – gives us safe racing and, in turn, that results in minimal collisions and maximum finishers.
Safety in Numbers
Just twice in eleven Bahrain Grand Prix has the Safety Car been rolled into action and the number of classified finishers here is always high. With the 1.6 litre hybrid cars now in their third season and more reliable than ever, there’s no reason to predict a change.
Of course Ladbrokes top-price of 4/9 about a ‘no safety car’ scenario doesn’t set the pulse running but it’s a scenario which should be priced-up considerably shorter. A better proposition, along similar lines, is the line on the total number of finishers.
There have been 17+ finishers in every Bahrain Grand Prix since 2008 and, at BetVictor’s 5/6 about 16.5+ classified finishers this Sunday, the sensible money will back that sequence to be continued.
Lewis at Home Here
The Bahraini track layout means this circuit does not require copious amounts of downforce and it’s unlikely the Ferrari’s will be able to give the Mercedes team much of a run for their money.
It is primarily a question of which Mercedes driver will win and, with Nico Rosberg winning the last four races, his price is getting shorter every weekend. Consequently Lewis Hamilton is available at even-money, it too looks a good bet.
Hamilton has won this race the past two seasons, overcoming Rosberg in 2014 despite that rival qualifying on pole and this type of fast flowing circuit plays to his strengths.
