Alonso odds-on champ at F1 half-way point

Ferrari Formula 1 star Fernando Alonso is odds-on favourite to win the 2012 Driver’s Championship as the F1 season reaches its half-way point in Germany this weekend.

Betting comparison site oddschecker.com has revealed that Alonso is currently 15/8 favourite following a big turnaround in fortunes since the start of the season: back in March, he was a 25/1 long-shot.

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The driver who beat him to victory at the British Grand Prix, Mark Webber, has also improved in recent races: his chances of winning the title this year have been boosted from 16/1 to 6/1. However, his team-mate, current World Champion Sebastian Vettel, remains ahead of him on 9/4.

The odds are more tempting for the British drivers. Lewis Hamilton is third-favourite and odds checker is currently offering a 5/1 bet on him – but his team-mate Jenson Button has seen a big reversal in fortunes, moving from 9/4 to become an 80/1 long shot.

As McLaren is promising things will improve from this weekend’s German Grand Prix, could Button be a rewarding bet by the end of the season?

Button’s odds of winning the German Grand Prix are better, at 20/1, with the chances of a British victory rated at 4/1. The bookies, it seems, expect a German victory at the German Grand Prix: the odds here are 15/8.

Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg or Michael Schumacher to the top step of the podium, then?