One bookmaker has admitted it faces a substantial payout on Lewis Hamilton after the McLaren driver clinched victory in the China Grand Prix.
With Hamilton leading Ferrari's Felipe Massa by seven points going into the final race of the season in Brazil on November 2nd, the 23-year-old Englishman is now 1/9 with William Hill to win the Formula One drivers' championship.
"Hamilton has been very well backed all year … and we will be paying out a six figure sum if he wins. Only mechanical failure can save us now," the betting firm's spokesperson Rupert Adams stated.
Following his victory in Shanghai, Hamilton will secure the championship by finishing fifth or better in Sao Paulo next month.
Ladbrokes makes the Stevenage-born driver 7/4 to win the Brazil Grand Prix, while Massa is priced at 6/4 and his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen 3/1.
Hamilton is also William Hill's favourite to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year at 11/10, with Olympians Rebecca Adlington and Chris Hoy available at 7/4 and 7/2 respectively.
One bookmaker has admitted it faces a substantial payout on Lewis Hamilton after the McLaren driver clinched victory in the China Grand Prix.