F1 Tips: Spanish Grand Prix best bets including a 3/1 special punt

Our tipster Alex Harris fancies history to repeat this weekend.

Max Verstappen

Spanish Grand Prix Tips:

Fastest Qualifier/Race Winner Double – Max Verstappen
Points Finish – Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly & Esteban Ocon
History Repeating Specials – Verstappen and Perez Podium, Russell and Hamilton Top 6 (Happened in 2022)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Well, last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix was a bit more exciting that normal, wasn’t it! Saturday’s qualifying session will go down as one of the greatest in recent history and the rain during Sunday’s race provided a bit of a mix up in the order. There were even a few overtakes to enjoy, although they was mostly enabled by Williams rookie Logan Sargeant somehow losing about five spots in the space of two laps.

Max Verstappen, however, was at his dominant best, despite flirting with the barriers when the rain was falling, and the drivers’ championship already seems to be sorted as Red Bull team-mate and title rival Sergio Perez had an absolute stinker around the streets of Monte Carlo after binning his car early doors in Q1.

Monaco looked like one of the best opportunities for one of the other teams to win a race and, despite Fernando Alonso’s best efforts all season, the prospect of Red Bull taking every chequered flag is becoming alarmingly real.

There’s no rest for the wicked as the Formula 1 circus travels to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend for the 64th edition of the Spanish Grand Prix. I’ve picked out a few punts for the seventh race of the 2023 season so let’s get to the bets…

Spanish Grand Prix
Qualifying: Saturday 3pm
Race: Sunday 2pm
TV: Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports F1

Max Verstappen

Fastest Qualifier/Race Winner Double – Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen has utterly dominated Formula 1 for the last 18 months and we’re at the stage where the rest of the field are relying on mechanical issues to stop the Flying Dutchman.

Red Bull’s top dog has a cracking record in the Spanish Grand Prix, with two victories and four more podiums from eight visits to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Despite never claiming pole position in Spain, he started second on the grid in the last two years and has the car to dominate qualifying this weekend as well as the bottle to deliver under pressure.

Verstappen’s Outright Betting odds are on the skinny side so I’ll kick things off with the Fastest Qualifier/Race Winner Double for a bit of extra juice.

Points Finish – Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly & Esteban Ocon

Carlos Sainz heads into his home race off the back of a disappointing weekend in Monaco and, it’s fair to say, his season needs a spark. Luckily, the Ferrari ace comes alive at the Spanish Grand Prix as he has placed in the points in all eight of his F1 starts here. He has also achieved a top-10 finish in five out of six races this campaign.

Alpine got both of their cars into the top 10 here last year and I’m backing a repeat to complete a Points Finish Acca. Pierre Gasly has scored points in three of his five visits to Spain and on four occasions already this term. Esteban Ocon is also three from five for points in Spain and boasts a decent strike rate this season. ‘Estie Bestie’ should be in flying form after bagging a Monaco podium last weekend.

*A Points Finish acca with these three bets pays at approximately 1.5/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.

History Repeating Specials – Verstappen and Perez Podium, Russell and Hamilton Top 6 (Happened in 2022)

Yes, that’s right, folks. Lightning can strike twice. Paddy’s top traders have put their foot down to offer a range of History Repeating Specials for the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix – and I like the look of one.

As well as being my pick to take the W, Max Verstappen has yet to finish outside the top two this season. Sergio Perez grabbed a maiden podium in Spain last year and has the character – and the car – to bounce back from his Monaco horror show.

Lewis Hamilton has an outstanding record around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a record-tying six wins. He managed fifth place in the tractor Mercedes gave him last year and has a decent chance of placing in the top six if the team build on the promise shown by their upgraded car.

Team-mate George Russell clearly likes the track as he took the third step on the podium in 2022. The 25-year-old will probably need to get the better of one of the Ferraris to finish in the top six for the fourth time this season, but he comfortably held Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in Monaco last weekend and, as mentioned, there should be more to come from Mercedes’ upgraded package.

Spanish Grand Prix Tips:

Fastest Qualifier/Race Winner Double – Max Verstappen
Points Finish – Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly & Esteban Ocon
History Repeating Specials – Verstappen and Perez Podium, Russell and Hamilton Top 6 (Happened in 2022)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

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