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PREVIEW: Spanish Grand Prix - Start time, odds and predictions

PREVIEW: Spanish Grand Prix - Start time, odds and predictions

08-05-2019 09:15
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Bobby Vincent

The Spanish Grand Prix is almost upon us! We have a preview for you here... with everything you need to know: What time is it on? Our predictions and the latest betting odds.

Flashback

Last season it was a Mercedes one-two, with Lewis Hamilton topping the grid, followed closely by his team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Sound familiar? Yeah, thought so...

Max Verstappen completed the podium on a track where he has done very well on in the past. Sebastian Vettel followed the Dutchman closely, with Daniel Ricciardo in P5. It was some result for Kevin Magnussen - who recorded a P6 finish for Haas.

It was also a fantastic result for Carlos Sainz of Renault at his home race with his compatriot Fernando Alonso capping off his final home grand prix with an eighth-place finish for McLaren.

Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc, then with Sauber, finished in P9 and P10 respectively, to complete the points finishes. For Kimi Raikkonen, it was a disappointing race, with the Finn being forced to retire on the 25th lap. Likewise, Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Ocon were forced to retire early.

Right at the beginning of the race, it was perhaps crash of the season, with Romain Grosjean spinning his car but staying on the track and completely dismissing Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly from the race.

 

Expectations

With Mercedes dominating the start of the season - with four consecutive one-twos - plus the fact its drivers have shared two victories each, it really is so difficult to look past them. For Ferrari, this is such a huge weekend. We have been saying this for the last three races; but for some reason, the Spanish Grand Prix is feeling as a season-definer for the Italians.

Leclerc drove well in Azerbaijan and was obviously hampered from his crash in Q2, and Vettel stayed consistent all race, but Ferrari needs to take a gamble at the moment. They cannot stay happy being consistently third.

I'm expecting a Ferrari response in Spain. It might sound almost ludicrous when you take into considerating the two teams' beginnings of the season, but Scuderia will go into this race weekend with an "all or nothing" mentality and I believe it will pay off.

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

2. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

4. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

6. Lando Norris (McLaren)

7. Pierre Gasly (Red Bull)

8. Carlos Sainz (McLaren)

9. Alexander Albon (Toro Rosso)

10. Romain Grosjean (Haas)

What time is it on (UK BST)?

 

Friday

FP1: 10-11:30

FP2: 14-15:30

Saturday

FP3: 11-12:00

Qualifying: 14:00

Sunday

Race: 14:10

Betting Odds

To win the race (via OddsChecker)

Lewis Hamilton: 6/4

Valtteri Bottas: 5/2

Charles Leclerc: 9/2

Sebastian Vettel: 9/2

 

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