There is a lot to unpack about the Formula 1 season. The one question everyone is asking, though: Who will win the Formula 1 Drivers World Championship?
Fortunately, we have an answer. And not only do we have a Formula 1 championship pick, but we've got insight into who will win one of the most important upcoming races.
First, let's take a look at the latest Formula 1 Drivers Championship betting odds, courtesy of Bovada:
| Championship Pick |  |
|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | -250 |
| Max Verstappen | +300 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +1200 |
| Sergio Perez | +1600 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | +4000 |
| Charles Leclerc | + 5000 |
| George Russell | +6600 |
| Lando Norris | +6600 |
| Fernando Alonso | +8000 |
| Sebastian Vettel | +8000 |
| Carlos Sainz Jr. | +15000 |
| Pierre Gasly | +15000 |
| Lance Stroll | +20000 |
| Yuki Tsunodda | +25000 |
| Esteban Ocon | +30000 |
| Kimi Raikkonen | +50000 |
| Antonio Giovinazzi | +200000 |
| Mick Schumacher | +300000 |
| Nicholas Latifi | +300000 |
| Nikita Mazepin | +300000 |
As always, make sure you're double-checking these Formula 1 futures prior to making any decisions. The lines will be shifting in the coming months. We will also be discussing the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Constructors' Championship.
Formula 1 Betting Breakdown
We'll begin with the Formula 1 Drivers Championship.
For those who don't know, this is awarded every year to the most successful driver, which is determined through the points-based system that is calculated on a running basis throughout the season after each Grand Prix.
F1 Drivers Championship Pick
Choosing the Formula 1 champion in advance has become a rather boring endeavor. Many already know where this is headed.
Lewis Hamilton (-250) has been crowned king in each of the past four seasons. He's also racked up six of the last seven championships.
There is little reason to expect that he will, ahem, slow down this year. The 36-year-old is still at the peak of his career. It isn't just that he's fast—mind you, he's ridiculously fast. But he's also super under control. He knows how to pass opponents on the inside and out in his Mercedes series car, and very few are as adept at protecting leads later in races.
Feelings of inevitability don't often make for profitable investments. Hamilton returns far from even money in a sport that's supposed to, statistically, favor the field. If you're going to bet on him, be prepared to unload the financial clip to really feel the victory.
Of course, if you're in the market for a stab-in-the-dark option, this year's slate of drivers offers somewhat interesting alternatives.
Some will flock to Max Verstappen (+300) of Red Bull Racing. He has registered as Hamilton's greatest rival over the past half-decade or so. If you're looking to up the ante, we really like Sebastian Vettel at +8000.
The Aston Martin driver has garnered criticism for his lack of confident maneuvering in recent test runs, but this is a drastic overreaction to his 13th place finish last year. Everyone was out of sorts in 2020. Vettel isn't that far removed from 2019's performance, during which he consistently placed in the points throughout the season and ranked sixth overall in the standings.
Alas, that's not enough to make him our final pick.
Lewis Hamilton has a hold over the rest of the sport until the results suggest otherwise. Unless you think he'll suffer through an early-season slump and see his odds creep closer toward even money, we suggest selecting him now, lest your potential return only worsen.
OSB F1 Championship Prediction
Bahrain Grand Prix Pick
Here are the latest Bahrain Grand Prix betting odds from Bovada:
| Driver | |
|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | +165 |
| Max Verstappen | +150 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +450 |
| Sergio Perez | +700 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | +2500 |
| Charles Leclerc | +6600 |
| George Russell | +50000 |
| Lando Norris | +3300 |
| Fernando Alonso | +10000 |
| Sebastian Vettel | +5000 |
| Carlos Sainz Jr. | +10000 |
| Pierre Gasly | +5000 |
| Lance Stroll | +6600 |
| Yuki Tsunodda | +6600 |
| Esteban Ocon | +10000 |
| Kimi Raikkonen | +25000 |
| Antonio Giovinazzi | +25000 |
| Mick Schumacher | +300000 |
| Nicholas Latifi | +200000 |
| Nikita Mazepin | +300000 |
Anyone tempted to pounce on Lewis Hamilton (+165) has the right idea. Anytime you can get him for nearly a 2-to-1 payout, you're snagging fantastic value. It's also worth noting that he's won each of the past two Bahrain Grand Prix runnings.
Another recommendation: Steer clear of Max Verstappen at +150. He's the odds-on favorite, but he's never actually won this race.
Sebastian Vettel at +5000 intrigues us more. He has four Bahrain Grand Prix titles to his name, including victories in 2017 and 2018. People will again point out that he's working off a down year and hasn't done well during his exhibition drives.
Still, superstars in F1 don't just fall off as starkly as he did last season. A rebound year is possible, and he's historically held up well in this race.
OSB Bahrain Grand Prix Prediction: Sebstian Vettel (+5000)
Constructors' Championship Pick
Here's a look at the latest Constructors' Championship odds from Bovada. As a reminder, this title is given to the company that turns in the best collective performance over the course of the Formula 1 season:
| Constructor | |
|---|---|
| Mercedes | -500 |
| Red Bull | +300 |
| Ferrari | +1400 |
| Aston Martin | +6000 |
| Alpine | +8000 |
| McLaren | +8000 |
| AlphaTauri | +25000 |
| Alfa Romeo | +150000 |
| Haas | +150000 |
| Williams | +150000 |
Below is a list of every constructor that has taken home this title since 2014:
- Mercedes
That's it. That's the list. Mercedes (-500) has won each of the last seven—yes, SEVEN—constructors' championships. And there's no point betting against them now.
Lewis Hamilton's dominance is part of the equation. But he's partnered with Valtteri Bottas, who has finished second in the Drivers Championship standings in each of the past two seasons, behind only Hamilton himself. Bottas also hasn't finished outside the top five since 2016.
Feel free to tempt yourself with Red Bull (+300) or Ferrari (+1400). But we're not bothering.
OSB Constructors' Championship Prediction: Mercedes (-500)
Check out this list of the best online sportsbooks so you can decide which to use for all your Formula 1 betting needs:
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