It was only a few weeks ago that we were writing about how close the 2017 Formula 1 Drivers Championship was. We were licking our lips and readying our bets for what was set to be a tense finale to a season with as many twists and turns at the top of the driver standings as there are on the tracks themselves.
As we go into the last three races – the first of which is the Mexico grand prix this weekend – the outlook on the Drivers Championship tells a completely different story. British driver, Lewis Hamilton, is currently 66 points ahead of his rival, Sebastian Vettel, and with just 75 points left to play for, it would take some serious malfunctions from the Mercedes car to stop Hamilton from sealing his fourth championship.
But that doesn’t mean that all bets are off. Any shrewd punter and follower of F1 will know that anything can happen, no matter how long the odds are. Plus, there are many more bets to take a look at as the season is coming to a close.
Lewis Hamilton to win Drivers Championship 1/500
Having trailed to the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel in the Drivers Championship for much of the 2017 Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton has finally managed to open up some daylight at the front of the pack. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Brit. With just three races left to run and a lead of 66 points, Hamilton will need to have some serious bad luck not to clinch his fourth World Championship. He could even do it this weekend simply by finishing the race in Mexico in fifth place or better. This would certainly be a deserved title for a driver who this year broke the all-time record for number of pole positions in the sport.
The current odds on Hamilton to win the championship are barely worth looking at 1/500. Nevertheless, if you’re the kind of gambler who likes to roll high on almost certain outcomes, then you could always up the wager to increase the potential payout.
Sebastian Vettel to win Drivers Championship 66/1
On the flip side of the equation, you might be the type of bettor who likes to place small wagers on those long-shot odds. In this case, you may well have an eye on Sebastian Vettel to somehow overturn his deficit in the last three races to win the championship at odds of 66/1. More unlikely things have come to pass in the world of sport, but this is still a very improbable eventuality despite the tempting profit potential of £66 from a £1 stake.
In order for Sebastian Vettel to even catch up with Lewis Hamilton for an end of season showdown, the German driver will need to win the next two races with his rival finishing out of the points in each race (this would still give Hamilton a 16 point lead going into the last race). But what better place to start the uphill climb than in Mexico, a high-altitude track where Mercedes are pipped to struggle with downforce.
All things considered, all of the momentum is stacked against Sebastian Vettel. The Ferrari hopeful has gone from early season optimism to late season disappointment after his retirements in Japan and Singapore sandwiched a fourth place finish in Malaysia. Suffice to say, the German needs a drastic change in fortune if he is to pose a challenge to Hamilton in the last races of the season.
The Best of the Rest
Formula 1 is one of those sports where a few great drivers (with plenty of help from their cars) dominate the podiums and end of season accolades. But what if you could take the top drivers out of the equation? That is where the “without Hamilton and Vettel” betting odds come into play. You can find odds on who will be the best of the rest on the Betfair Exchange, although the odds available also appear to omit Hamilton’s Mercedes team mate, Valteri Bottas.
So, we’re looking at odds on Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen to finish next highest in the standings at 33/5 – which is not too shabby at all. Kimi Raikonnen can also be found on odds of 33/5 after his podium finish in Austin during the USA grand prix. What’s more, the great thing about odds on betting exchanges such as that hosted by Betfair is that you can lay and back different odds – although you need to keep it reasonable otherwise no-one will match what you are offering.
Top 6 Finish
The great stories in Formula 1 racing are often told about the winners. So, it’s easy to forget that there is a whole grid of other racers competing for the scraps at the bottom of the points system. Truth be told, some of the most gripping in-race battles are found in the middle of the field as rookies and veterans go wheel to wheel for the chance to add just a few more points to their season tally to justify their right to drive the car in the next season.
You can also find odds on a top 6 finish at the Betfair Exchange. The current front-runners are Sergio Perez in the Force India – currently in seventh place in the standings – with odds of 19/10 followed by the Williams of Felipe Massa on 7/2. Again, these odds are a little bit “out there” due to the nature of the exchange – Massa is currently 83 points adrift of sixth place – but you can always lay or back your own odds for the chance to win some extra cash.
Looking ahead to 2018
The 2017 Formula 1 World Championship is not over yet, but it may seem like a done deal as far as the truly lucrative betting options are concerned. With that in mind, why not have a look forward to the 2018 championship?
SkyBet are currently rolling out a flurry of odds on the outright Drivers Championship markets. Unsurprisingly, Lewis Hamilton is in pole position with odds of 13/8 but Sebastian Vettel is an enticing proposition at 3/1; Ferrari have made massive improvements this season and, if they can carry that momentum into the next season, then Sebastian Vettel will have a car that will make Hamilton tremble with fear. If you think that it’s time for a change as far as the constructors are concerned then you could place bets of 4/1 and 6/1 on Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo respectively. Interestingly, Fernando Alonso is next on the grid for favourites to win the 2018 championship despite a woeful year in his Honda powered car but will the former world champion be able to find some race-winning power in the Renault powered McClaren? Alonso sits on current odds of 10/1, the same as Valteri Bottas. Could Hamilton’s Mercedes team mate be a dark horse after a season of playing second fiddle in the team order?
If you’re after something a little bit more intriguing, then you should check out the ‘RequestABet’ specials at SkyBet. These odds have been requested by punters and calculated by the bookmaker, so you are sure to find something a little bit out of the ordinary. Some of the top picks are any single driver to score points in every race at 6/4, Drivers Championship: 1st Vettal, 2nd Hamilton at 7/1, and Lewis Hamilton to finish on the podium at every race at 16/1.
