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The Spanish Grand Prix, the first European round of the Formula One season, takes place at the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend and world championship favourite Sebastien Vettel will be hoping to answer his critics and land the victory that will get his title charge back on track.

Red Bull driver Vettel has dominated qualifying in the four races so far this season having taken pole position on three occasions. But his only victory came in the Malaysian Grand Prix, the only race he did not start at the head of the grid, and as a result he sits in fifth place in the drivers’ standings and trails championship leader Jenson Button – winner of the Australian and Chinese events – by 15 points.

Red Bull do not have the greatest of record in Barcelona but improvements made to their car during the three week break since the Chinese Grand Prix should aid the cause of Vettel and team-mate Mark Webber. Other teams bring new additions to their car, but a pole position-race victory double for Vettel looks a stand out price with Betfred, who go biggest in both markets at 13/8 and 12/5 respectively, particular when you consider his performance in qualifying second 12 months ago when splitting the super-quick Brawn cars.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso is second favourite to win for Ferrari ahead of McLaren pair Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, although the surprising thing is to see the current championship leader double the price of Hamilton.

As well as backing Vettel for pole position Ferrari’s Felipe Massa is worth supporting each-way at odds of 18/1 offered by William Hill. Since joining Ferrari, who have by far the best record of the teams at the Circuit de Catalunya, has never qualified lower than fourth on the grid and he looks overpriced for Saturday’s qualifying session.

Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg has been most consistent this season since joining the team and looks another solid bet at odds of 8/11 with Blue Square, 888 Sport and Ladbrokes to finish in the top six. This season the German has registered two fifth place finishes followed by podiums thanks to third in Malaysia and China and it is hard to see him being outside of the top six this weekend.

BETTRENDS ADVICE

Sebastien Vettel – pole position-win double – approximately 8/1 (Betfred)

Felipe Massa – pole position (each-way) – 18/1 William Hill

Nico Rosberg – top six finish – 8/11 (Blue Square, 888 Sport, Ladbrokes)