With Max Verstappen clinching his first-ever driver world championship still fresh in our memory we embark on the start of a new season in Formula 1. The 2022 rule changes aim to improve the racing and push cars closer to each other, but will it be business as unusual for the big boys? Read on to uncover the best F1 betting options available.
FORMULA 1 BAHRAIN GP: BETTING TIPS
RACE WINNERS
Max Verstappen – The reigning world champion is the favourite at 2/1 (3.00) to light up the stage once again in Bahrain. Red Bull’s new RB18 looks like the machine to beat on track this year, as the team together with Christian Horner aim to win the Constructor Championship for the first time in nine years.
Lewis Hamilton – The seven-time world champion narrowly misses out on being the favourite to conquer the desert as he is priced at 9/4 (3.25) – mainly due to the performance issues of his car in testing. As we have seen last season, Mercedes are a team that despite facing problems are capable of fashioning car improvements through upgrades as the season progresses.
Charles Leclerc – The Monégasque driver is priced at 11/2 (6.50), to show off the great progress that the team has made in previous years. Ferrari were under the spotlight due to the aggressive sidepod and promising performance in testing, and with lead driver Charles Leclerc a proven Grand Prix winner he is tipped to get off to a spectacular start.
Carlos Sainz – The other Ferrari driver that impressed last season with his consistency comes in at 15/2 (8.50), to get off to a flying start to his second year with the Scuderia. The Spaniard – who beat his teammate last year – was praised for how he has handled the car during many rigorous tests, with the most laps completed without any faults or crashes from either driver.
TOP 3 FINISHERS
Lando Norris – The Englishmen is priced at 11/2 (6.50), to secure his first podium of the year. Last year Lando was able to clinch the best of the rest position, finishing fourth place in the Driver Championship, just behind Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes. McLaren look likely contenders for a top-three finish this Sunday, after promising days in testing.
Pierre Gasly – Despite driving in a sister team, the Frenchman has impressed fans and critics all through last season being the best of the rest in multiple races. We are pricing Pierre Gasly at 14 (15.00), to secure another podium this Sunday.
CHAMPIONSHIP OUTRIGHT MARKETS
MOST GRAND PRIX WINS THIS SEASON
Hamilton – We are pricing Sir Lewis Hamilton at 5/4 (2.25), to win the most races this season after being beaten by young Max Verstappen in the Drivers Championship on the very last lap around Abu Dhabi. With their pride on the line, Mercedes will be looking to write a few wrongs and push their new W13 to its limits in order to pave the way for Hamilton to become the only driver to win the Championship a record-breaking eight-time.
Verstappen – After winning his first-ever Championship Max Verstappen will have the confidence to be able to do it all over again. We are pricing him at 9/5 (2.80) to win the most Grand Prix this season. By the looks of pre-season testing, Red Bull have provided Max with another worthy car that could take him the distance and secure his second championship in as many years.
Leclerc – Charles Leclerc comes in at 13/2 (7.50), to put his F1-75 on the top spot the most times in 2022. The Monégasque driver comes in as the third most likely candidate to achieve this feat – other than his main rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Last year’s performances in Monaco, Baku and Silverstone show just what Leclerc is capable of and why the Scuderia have so much faith in their young driver.
DRIVER AND CONSTRUCTOR WINNERS
Max Verstappen & Red Bull – We are pricing Verstappen and Red Bull to win both Championships at 7/2 (4.50), and finally put an end to Mercedes’ domination. It was back in 2013 when Redbull last won the Championship with the driver pairing of then World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
George Russell & Mercedes – The new Mercedes driver is priced at 14 (15.00), to win the Championship on his first year in a title contender car – after driving the Williams for three years. His performances in Spa surely caught the eye of team principal Toto Wolff when he unqualified Lewis Hamilton in a slower car, showcasing his raw speed and talent in appalling conditions.
FERRARI VS MCLAREN
Ferrari – Although they were out of the Drivers and Constructors Championship runnings early in the season last year, Ferrari look like they’ve finally built themselves a beast worthy of their historic name. We are pricing Ferrari at 3/10 (1.30), to finish higher than close rivals McLaren in the Constructors Championship.
McLaren – After last year’s fourth place in the Constructors Championship we are pricing McLaren at 11/5 (3.20), to get the better of Ferrari this time round. It will be a question of how long will Daniel Riccardo take to become one with the McLaren and produce drives that everybody knows he is capable of.
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*Odds subject to change. Odds correct at time of publishing