Vettel looks for full Monte
THE Monaco Grand Prix is the most iconic race of the Formula One calendar with the stunning backdrop of the marina and glamour of celebrities.
Although he has won twice before in Monte Carlo – in 2008 and 2016– it has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for Lewis Hamilton.
He lives locally and is available at 5-2 but it is German drivers who have dominated in recent years.
Following Michael Schumacher’s victories through the 90’s and early millennium, Nico Rosberg and Sebastien Vettel picked up the mantle, between them winning five of the last seven races. Vettel heads the market at 13-8.
This season’s five races have been won by either Hamilton or Vettel and this looks like another battle, both looking for their third victory at the unique circuit.
The Red Bull pair of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen can be backed at 4-1 and 9-2 respectively.
The only other driver aside from the two leaders with a Monaco victory on his CV is Fernando Alonso.
He is 250-1 to land a third success but a more realistic option is the 4-5 for him to finish in the top six.
Some 600 miles north of Monaco we swap revs for racquets and head to Paris.
Rafael Nadal (below) is peerless on clay courts and is bidding for a record eleventh French Open title.
He has been plagued by injury in recent seasons but looks back to his best as recent wins on the surface in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome have proven.
He is 2-5 favourite for the Coupe des Mousquetaires and is hard to see beyond him. His Rome victim Alexander Zverev is at 9-1 while Dominic Thiem, who beat Nadal in Madrid, is 10-1.
Novak Djokovic is still on the comeback trail from an elbow injury but cannot be discounted at 12-1.
The women’s title is wide open as 6-1 the field shows. World No.1 Simona Halep and her Italian Open conqueror Elina Svitolina share favouritism while Serena Williams is 12-1 and Brit Johanna Konta is 100-1.