Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 Predictions & Winner Odds

Hamilton can stick first win of 2019

Sports Betting

Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 Preview – March 31st, 2019

It is on to round two of the 2019 F1 season with Mercedes getting off to a flying start. All through pre-season practice, it looked as if Ferrari were going to be the ones making a hot start in Australia. It wasn’t as Mercedes booked a 1-2 finish with Valtteri Bottas coming out ahead of reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton after overtaking the British driver on the grid. It’s on to Bahrain this weekend.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Winner Odds*

Lewis Hamilton 13/8
Sebastian Vettel 3/1
Valtteri Bottas 5/2
Max Verstappen 7/1
Charles Leclerc 11/1
Pierre Gasly 40/1
750/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 26th, 2019 at 7:35 pm)

Visit Bet365

Can Ferrari bounce back?

Will Ferrari be bouncing back this weekend after not having made the podium in Australia? Sebastian Vettel has won the last two editions of the Bahrain Grand Prix back to back and perhaps. Because Bahrain is the total opposite of what drivers were up against in Australia, Vettel at 3/1 odds is the second favourite to get the win this weekend* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 26th, 2019 at 7:35 pm).

He has won the race four times before, having claimed it twice for Red Bull in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Ferrari just didn’t have the pace in Melbourne and it was really strange because they had looked so good in the pre-season. Vettel and his teammate Charles Leclerc took fourth and fifth respectively in Australia, Vettel over a minute behind winner Bottas. The track should be more suited to Ferrari and if they don’t deliver there will be even bigger questions.

Hamilton with room to attack

But Lewis Hamilton has also tasted success at the track before. He won it back to back in 2014 and 2015 and this is a track which is suited to his style of driving. There are plenty of overtaking opportunities, especially compared to those in Australia. Hamilton showed plenty of pace in Australia as well, getting Pole Position. A poor start though saw him get jumped by teammate Bottas. Last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix produced one of the highlight moments of the season when Hamilton pulled off a triple-pass.

Red Bull got themselves a great finish in Australia with Max Verstappen coming home third. That was a fantastic start in their new partnership with Honda. There is every chance again that Verstappen’s Red Bull is going to be in the mix for a top-three finish this weekend as well. It has been all Mercedes and Ferrari in the last five editions, but the Red Bulls had those back to back wins in the hands of Vettel in 2012 and 2013.

Predictions

This is going to be some show. Were Ferrari simply saving themselves for a run at this track where they know they are going to be a better fit? They are likely to get more out of their car than they did a fortnight ago in Melbourne.

The composed win of Bottas really throws a conundrum into the mix as it was something of an unexpected success that he took a fortnight ago. All we can go based on is what we have seen so far.

Hamilton has the pace, will not be afraid to rack up overtaking manoeuvres if he needs them and with Ferrari still to actually prove that they have it on the track this season, Hamilton is the top fit at 11/8 to win outright* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 26th, 2019 at 7:35 pm).