Lewis Hamilton in pole and favourite to get first Malaysia win

Lewis Hamilton has been installed as the 11/10 favourite to win the Malaysian Grand Prix after qualifying in pole position for the race.

Hamilton made it two in a row following his pole in Australia last weekend and looks poised to improve on his disappointing third place finish in that race this weekend.

The Briton has never won in Malaysia though and that will give hope to drivers further down the grid – especially Jenson Button who finished second in qualifying to complete the McLaren front row.

Button won in Malaysia back in his 2009 championship winning season and, with a win at Australia already under his belt this season, he looks an incredibly tempting bet at 2/1 to claim his second win of the season and second win on the track.

Third in qualifying was Michael Schumacher who is doing a good job of proving the naysayers wrong with yet another solid performance.

His odds have been slashed to 10/1 to win the Grand Prix for the fourth time in his career and, based on the way the vastly experienced German has been driving in practice and qualifying so far, he shouldn’t be ruled out.

Reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel once again struggled to get the times required and qualified in sixth – although he will move up to fifth as Kimi Raikkonen will drop five places to 10th after his Lotus gearbox was changed overnight.

However, Vettel showed his class last week by finishing the Australian Grand Prix in second place despite a similarly disappointing qualifying.

He can be backed at 7/1 to win and make it three consecutive wins in Malaysia.