Alonso hits odds-on to regain crown

FERNANDO ALONSO is odds-on in places for the Drivers Championship after racking up his third win of the season at the German Grand Prix yesterday.

The Spaniard, with wins in Malaysia and at the European Grand Prix already under his belt as well as second-place finishes in Spain and at Silverstone, is now 34 points clear of nearest rival Mark Webber. And with just two finishes outside the top five in ten races this year he is showing enough consistency for Ladbrokes and Hills to chalk up a 10-11 quote about him regaining the crown he last won in 2006.

"For a while it looked like the most open title race in ages but Alonso has now stamped his authority on the field," said Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams.

And Joe Crilly of Hills said: "While other teams and drivers have fallen apart at various intervals through the season, Alonso and Ferrari have remained the one constant."

Starting on pole in Hockenheim yesterday Alonso was 2-1 second-favourite for the race, behind 15-8 home hope Sebastian Vettel, who finished second but was later demoted to fifth after receiving a 20-second penalty for leaving the tracke after he overtook Jenson Button on the last lap but one. However, bookmakers pay out on podium places and for betting purposes his second-place finish stands.

Button finished third but was promoted to second with Kimi Raikkonen moving up to third and Kamui Kobayashi fourth ahead of the relegated Vettel.

Bookmakers expect a similar dogfight between Alonso and Vettel next week in Hungary, with the German just shorter at 3-1 and Alonso a 100-30 shot with Hills.

Hungarian Grand Prix – best prices: 3 S Vettel (Betfred, Hills, Lads), 10-3 F Alonso (Hills), 5 L Hamilton (Betfred, Hills), 10 J Button (Hills), M Webber (Hills), 16 bar.