Hamilton looks unstoppable in Malaysia Grand Prix hat-trick bid
Published:
Lewis Hamilton came through a rain-affected qualifying session to take pole in Malaysia in front of Sebastian Vettel and the world champion looks good for successive ‘hat-tricks’ early in the season.
The Mercedes man completed the F1 betting holy trinity of pole, race win and fastest lap in Australia and having already banked part one of the bargain in Kuala Lumpur 1/1 about a repeat of last season’s result looks mint.
Hamilton completed the Malaysia Grand Prix hat-trick a year ago and interestingly the grid features exactly the same front three as 2014, with Vettel managing to split the Mercedes in tricky Q3 conditions.
The Brit is handling his Silver Arrow better than his teammate Nico Rosberg and 1/3 for the chequered flag mustn’t be baulked at as the German doesn’t appear to have the answers as yet and may never.
If rain comes into play in the race itself, which is a distinct possibility with further tropical Thunderstorms in the area, then this will only strengthen Hamilton’s case as recognisably the best driver in wet track conditions.
On a mixed afternoon for Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen had a shocker by misjudging traffic on his flying lap to miss out on Q3 altogether, so the Finn will start from 11th.
Teammate Vettel, however, showed just how well the same car can perform by turning in a lap less than a tenth slower than Hamilton.
The four-time world champion looks great for successive Malaysian Grand Prix podiums at 1/2 as a result.
The youngest man in the field, Max Verstappen, put in a truly stellar performance in his Toro Rosso to claim sixth place on the grid behind the two Red Bulls.
Despite his inexperience the boy wonder looks a great price for at least a points finish at 6/4 following that remarkable Q3 showing in treacherous conditions.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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