Vettel gets best odds in Formula 1 betting for Turkish Grand Prix

And suddenly, the 2011 Formula One betting season may not be a foregone conclusion; after Lewis Hamilton beat out Sebastian Vettel to take the Chinese Grand Prix, Vettel will likely begin this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix with longer than 1/1 odds at the online sportsbook for the first time this year.

By midweek, JackpotFinder-approved online sportsbook bet365 had established Vettel as the favorite to win it, but “only” at a line of 11/10. Despite the way his Red Bull team has its star going this season, betting on Vettel in the Turkish Grand Prix deserves a little aforethought. Success in Istanbul has eluded this driver throughout his career and after established as a favorite in the 2010 race, Vettel could not finish after a collision with Mark Webber.

In fact, if history is any indication, betting on the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix could be quite a mindbender. The winners of the last five races on this track will be driving on Sunday and, assuming

Podium finish	Bodog
Vettel	3/10
Hamilton	8/15
Webber	4/6
Alonso	7/5
Button	6/5
Massa	11/2
Rosberg	11/2
Shumacher	12/1
Petrov	11/1
Heidfeld	7/1

Vettel doesn’t find his way this time, punters may want to consider Hamilton (winner in 2010, 3/1 odds in bet365’s “Outright Winner” offering), Jenson Button (2009 winner, 15/2 at bet365), or even Felipe Massa (consecutive wins 2006-2008, 28/1 at bet365). See the table at right for bet365’s complete list of outright winner odds for the Turkish Grand Prix.

We’re thinking that “Podium Finish” proposition bets will be getting a lot of action this week. One can easily imagine British fans visiting the Bodog online sportsbook to wager on countryman Button, the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix winner getting a reasonable line of 6/5 in this prop.

Also tempting here is a Vitaly Petrov podium finish at 11/1. Since his third-place finish in Australia, Petrov has been hit with quite a run of bad luck. Even after his Renault suffered technical problem in the Chinese Grand Prix qualifiers, the Russian still managed to thunder to a ninth-place finish from well in the back at the race’s start. The top of the table in Bodog’s “Podium Finish” proposition bet may be seen at left.

For betting on Formula One, including the surely tricky Turkish Grand Prix, visit JackpotFinder-approved online sportsbooks Bodog and bet365 this weekend and throughout the season.