Red Bull and Max Verstappen continued their momentum from last season in the opening race of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
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Fresh from his incredibly dominant season in Formula 1, where he clinched 19 victories out of 22 races in 2023 and secured his third world championship title, Verstappen’s performance was unparalleled. His achievements shattered numerous records, instilling a sense of trepidation in the paddock. There’s a prevailing concern that Red Bull’s advancements with the RB20 car have further solidified their stronghold in the F1 arena as they head into the new campaign.
While it is likely we will see another dominant display from the Red Bull team, this article will attempt to find some value in this season’s F1 futures.
| F1 Drivers Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | -900 | -847 | -900 |
| Charles Leclerc | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Lando Norris | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +2200 | +2300 | +2200 |
| Carlos Sainz | +2800 | +2700 | +2800 |
| Sergio Perez | +4000 | +3700 | +4000 |
| George Russell | +5000 | +3900 | +4000 |
| Fernando Alonso | +6600 | +7000 | +6600 |
The expected Verstappen title dominance poses a challenge for the Formula 1 spectacle as it embarks on its longest-ever season, kicking off with the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend. This scenario also presents a less-than-ideal situation for motorsport punters.
Verstappen is heavily favored with odds of -900 on betting sites to secure his fourth world title, while Red Bull stands at -1100 for the constructors’ crown. Unless one has substantial financial resources, the outright markets excluding Verstappen and Red Bull become more appealing. There’s a heightened level of intrigue surrounding who will emerge as the best among the rest in the competition.
Ferrari faces a crucial juncture in 2024, and the onus is on both the team and Leclerc to establish themselves prominently. Despite Leclerc’s undeniable status as Scuderia’s clear number one driver for several seasons, his position now appears vulnerable with the looming presence of Hamilton.
In the past two years, Leclerc has grappled with misfortune and subpar car development. However, when placed behind the wheel of a competitive and reliable Ferrari, his potential reaches heights comparable to anyone on the grid. Unlike Perez, who stands as the somewhat unconvincing favorite in the Drivers’ Championship market without Verstappen on gambling sites, Leclerc offers more promise.
Perez’s erratic performance last year, despite being in a dominant car, raises doubts about his ability to consistently challenge Verstappen and secure top positions for Red Bull. Therefore, placing trust in him to maintain pace with Verstappen and ensure another one-two finish for the team is a challenging proposition.
In contrast, Leclerc emerges as a more favorable choice to elevate as a Ferrari driver, especially in anticipation of Hamilton’s move. With the potential to claim a victory or two, Leclerc could be the standout performer in a season overshadowed by Verstappen’s continued dominance.
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Hamilton’s shift to Ferrari creates a situation where Sainz is on the lookout for a new team after this season, and there is likely to be a considerable number of interested parties vying for the consistently impressive Spaniard.
Sainz stood out as the sole non-Red Bull driver to claim a victory last year, triumphing in Singapore. Despite a promising season, his quest for fourth place in the Drivers’ Championship faltered in the last two races. Nevertheless, Sainz’s overall performance was commendable, securing points in 17 out of 22 races and consistently contending for top-six finishes.
In comparison to his Mercedes counterpart George Russell, Sainz displayed greater consistency, outscoring Russell by 25 points in 2023. Despite Russell’s initial promise with a maiden victory in Brazil in 2022, he took a step back last season and missed an opportunity for a second win in Singapore.
While the dynamics of the Hamilton move could influence how both Russell and Sainz are treated by their respective teams, the potential performance advantage gained by Ferrari over Mercedes during the winter, combined with Sainz’s reliability, positions the Spaniard favorably to outperform Russell in the standings once again this year.
As usual, Bovada has a host of special markets on Formula 1 including driver vs driver bets. You can look through their list and choose the driver match ups you favor.
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About the Author
Henry began his journey in the betting industry before transitioning into a writing career. While his expertise lies in soccer, golf, and darts, he covers a wide range of sports from across the globe. Armed with a BA Honors degree in Business and Management, Henry climbed the ladder at William Hill in England. Beyond sports writing, he has also achieved success in the Property and Finance sectors, where he continues to be active. Now based in Barcelona, Henry enjoys the city’s vibrant sports culture and plays golf year-round as a member of the Real Federacion Espanola de Golf.
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