2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Prediction, Formula 1 Odds

Daniel Coyle
Last Updated: March 17, 2023

Fernando Alonso enjoyed an impressive debut with Aston Martin in this season’s opening race in Bahrain two weeks ago, claiming third place and a spot on the podium for the first time since 2021.

While Alonso’s impressive performance in Bahrain has raised hopes that Aston Martin is set to join the ranks of the top teams in Formula 1, the two-time F1 champion enters the weekend trailing well behind the favourites as a +900 bet on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix odds. In the wake of their 1-2 finish in Bahrain, the Red Bull Racing duo of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez arrive in Bahrain atop the F1 odds, pegged at -250 and +497, respectively. Charles Leclerc rounds out the top of the odds board, joining Alonso at +900.

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Race Time, Weather Forecast

Lights out at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday morning at Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Sunday’s race will feature 50 laps on a track that measures 6.174 kilometres in length with three DRS zones and two long straightaways. Weather is not expected to be an issue, with clear skies and temperatures reaching into 80s Fahrenheit forecast for race time.

Alonso is Back

Alonso shocked the racing world last year with his decision to leave Alpine for greener pastures at Aston Martin. However, the move has paid immediate dividends for both Alonso and the UK-based team, with the 41-year-old’s third-place performance two weeks ago marking just the team’s second podium finish in the three seasons since Aston Martin returned to Formula 1.

The question now is whether Alonso and his Canadian teammate Lance Stroll, who turned in a gutsy performance on his way to a sixth-place finish in Bahrain, can do it again Keeping pace with the likes of Verstappen and Perez may be too much to ask. The Red Bull duo followed up on their domination in preseason testing with excellent drives in Bahrain, and offer plenty of value as a -164 to both reach the podium again on Sunday.

However, with Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari all facing a host of issues going into Saudi Arabia, Alonso is a solid -125 wager to once again reach the podium, and after Stroll’s strong start despite recovering from injury, Aston Martin should not be overlooked as a -137 wager to see both their cars finish top six.

Leclerc’s Nightmare Continues

Plagued by a host of technical issues and poor judgement behind the wheel, Leclerc saw a fast start to last season quickly come undone, Those woes have carried over into the new season, with an engine failure ending what looked to be a drive to a podium finish in Bahrain. With Ferrari now forced to make engine upgrades far earlier than expected, Leclerc faces a penalty of at least 10 places in Sunday’s race, dramatically diminishing the value of his +900 odds to earn his first win in 13 outings. Leclerc remains a solid +400 bet to turn in the fastest lap on Sunday. However, he is also worthy of a flyer as a +200 wager to be the first driver to retire.

Considered to be a team capable of challenging Mercedes and Ferrari last year, McLaren Racing fell flat in the first race of the season. Lando Norris failed to overcome a shaky start on his way to a 17th-place finish while Oscar Piastri failed to finish in his F1 debut. Neither McLaren driver offers much value on the odds to win Sunday’s race, but after finishing top 10 in his past two appearances in Saudi Arabia, Norris offers intriguing value as a +1100 bet to bounce back and finish top six.