Formula 1 Championship Odds: Verstappen, Red Bull Emerge as Slim Favourites
With the win, Perez moved to within just 15 points of the lead in the Formula 1 Drivers Standings. But despite emerging as one of the most consistent drivers on the F1 circuit this season, “Checo” has failed to make gains in the odds to win this year’s Formula 1 Drivers Championship, where he remains well off the pace as a lengthy +2800 bet.
Signed by Red Bull ahead of the 2021 season to provide Max Verstappen with an experienced and steady teammate, Checo has vastly exceeded expectations this season. The 32-year-old Mexican has cracked the top four in six of seven races to date, and among the top two in four of the past five outings.
Concerns that Perez is starting to chafe in his role as second fiddle at Red Bull reached new heights after he expressed his disappointment with team orders that denied him the win in Spain last month. And while his subsequent win in Monaco has lifted him into the championship hunt, and given Red Bull the edge in the race for the F1 Constructors title, the question being asked now is can he outpace his teammate and defending champion the rest of the way.
Verstappen Still the Man to Beat
The short answer to the above question is no. Barring a major injury or other setback, it is unrealistic to expect Red Bull team orders to favour Perez moving forward, despite his recent success. Indeed, while Perez’ steady performance has been key to Red Bull’s rise to -143 favorites to win the F1 Constructors Championship, teammate Max Verstappen remains the man to beat this season.
Verstappen saw his three-race win streak come to a halt with his third-place finish in Monaco. However, that was good enough to extend his lead in the standings over second-place Charles Leclerc to nine points, and cement his position as -143 chalk to successfully defend his F1 crown. Overall, the 24-year-old has reached the podium in 25 of the past 26 races he has finished since late 2020, claiming victory on 15 occasions over that stretch.
While Verstappen has overcome recent technical problems, things have not gone so well for Leclerc. The Ferrari driver looked poised for a breakout campaign while winning two of the first three races, and seizing the pole position in five of seven races to date. However, the talented Monte Carlo native has been beset by bad luck and bad decisions that cost him a chance to win in Spain and Monte Carlo. Accordingly, he has tumbled to a +150 second favourite to rebound and earn Ferrari its fist Drivers Championship since 2007.
Ferrari Offers Value on F1 Constructors Championship Odds
Leclerc struggled on the track in Spain, and was denied a chance to win by bad team decisions in Monte Carlo, but not all hope is lost for Ferrari. An also-ran in the F1 Constructors Standings in recent years, there is still plenty of time for the Italian automaker to rebound this time around, and pay out as +125 second favourite to claim the title.
While a reversal in fortune is obviously necessary if Leclerc is to challenge Verstappen, it will be the performance of Carlos Sainz Jr. that will ultimately determine Ferrari’s fate. Sainz has reached the podium four times this season, and demonstrated his street smarts by openly, and correctly, questioning Ferrari’s orders to pit early in Monaco.
However, the 27-year-old has also struggled at times to maintain control of the new Ferrari F1-75. Indeed, control issues directly contributed to his early exits in both Australia and Imola. With those concerns top of mind, and his first F1 victory still eluding him, Sainz offer little value as +5000 bet to claim the Drivers title. However, F1 betting fans can reasonably expect Sainz to show steady improvement as the season progresses, adding considerable value to Ferrari’s odds to claim the Constructors title
Predictions: Max Verstappen to win F1 Drivers championship (-143); Ferrari to win F1 Constructors championship (+125)
