McLaren battle between Button & Hamilton to finish behind Vettel

The Formula One world title may be already as good as decided with five races still remaining, but the battle for second spot is likely to go right down to the wire.

Only 17 points separate McLaren duo Jenson Button in second and Lewis Hamilton in fifth, while Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso in between will feel they can still take second spot.

Button is the favourite in the Formula One betting at 7/4 to finish behind Vettel in the drivers’ championship, but there are plenty of reasons why this is still a cracking price.

The 2010 Formula One world champion has been supremely consistent this season, with only Vettel eclipsing his eight podium finishes.

Meanwhile, many of these podiums have come on the back of poor qualifying results and if he would have started from some better grid positions then there is every reason to believe that he would be closer to Vettel in the title race.

Button is also extremely consistent and it has been through no fault of his own that he was forced to retire at both Silverstone and in the German Grand Prix.

Webber is 5/2 to finish second, but his lack of race pace is a major concern given that his Red Bull is the fastest on the grid.

Alonso can also be backed at 5/2 to finish behind Vettel, but given the disappointing speed of his Ferrari this season it is hard to believe he will outscore Button and Webber in the remaining races.

Therefore, it is Hamilton who is arguably the biggest threat to Button, despite not finishing on the podium in the four races since winning the German Grand Prix.

A host of abnormal errors have impacted his season and his own aggressive nature on the track is typically his own downfall.

But when on song Hamilton is arguably the quickest of the quartet in the hunt for second and he has certainly qualified well this season, regularly splitting Vettel and Webber on the grid.

He certainly looks overpriced at 9/2 to make up 17 points on Button and finish second overall.