F1 Tips
#WhatOddsPaddy – Sprint Race – Max Verstappen to Win the Sprint Race & Sergio Perez to Finish on the Podium in the Sprint Race
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen to Win the Race & Lando Norris to Finish on the Podium
#WhatOddsPaddy – Mercedes to Have the Fastest Lap
*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
Max Verstappen was back to his imperious best when demolishing the rest of the field at Suzuka two weeks ago and the Dutchman can seal his third drivers’ title in Qatar this weekend.
All Verstappen has to do to get his hands on the trophy for the third year in a row is finish sixth or higher in the Sprint. Yeah, that’s right folks, it’s another Sprint weekend.
It is also the second time the Formula 1 circus has headed to the Losail International Circuit in Qatar for a Grand Prix weekend and Mercedes ace Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to add to his victory in 2021.
I’ve run the rule over Paddy Power’s odds for the Qatar Grand Prix and picked out a few fancies. Let’s get to it!
Qatar Grand Prix
Qualifying: Friday 6pm
Sprint Shootout: Saturday 2pm
Sprint: Saturday 6:30pm
Race: Sunday 6pm
TV: Sky Sports F1
#WhatOddsPaddy – Sprint Race – Max Verstappen to Win the Sprint Race & Sergio Perez to Finish on the Podium in the Sprint Race
Red Bull should have the best car to cope with the demands of the Losail International Circuit and Max Verstappen will want to seal the drivers’ title with an emphatic victory in the Sprint Race.
The presence of Sergio Perez in this #WhatOddsPaddy punt is effectively what drives the price to odds against. Quite frankly, he needs to bounce back from his Suzuka shocker and the structure of the weekend should mean he is capable of maximising his package on Saturday.
Perez’s struggles over one lap are well documented but effectively having a second shot at qualifying in the Sprint Shootout should leave him in position towards the front of the grid to secure a top-three finish in the Sprint.
It wouldn’t be surprising if it plays out all to similarly to the Austrian Grand Prix when he was a woeful 15th in Qualifying before taking second in the Sprint Shootout and holding on to that place in the Sprint.
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen to Win the Race & Lando Norris to Finish on the Podium
McLaren’s progression throughout the season has been one of the highlights of an otherwise tepid F1 campaign. Every member of that team deserves praise for dragging the car from the depths of the opening rounds to being, arguably, the second best on the grid as we approach the home straight.
The MCL60 should prove effective in Qatar and, quite frankly, both cars should be in the mix for the Podium, especially if my concerns about Perez’s chances in Qualifying on Friday come to fruition.
Lando Norris has been on fire in recent weeks with second-place finishes in Singapore and Japan further demonstrating the Briton’s status as one of the best drivers on the grid, while he just about has the edge on supremely talented rookie teammate Oscar Piastri at the moment.
Despite the fact that he’s likely to already have the world championship in the bag by lights out on Sunday, it is difficult to look past Max Verstappen taking the chequered flag once again.
#WhatOddsPaddy – Mercedes to Have the Fastest Lap
The battle for second in the constructors’ championship is going to be the principle storyline for the remainder of the season as Mercedes lead Ferrari by just 20 points with just six rounds left to go.
Every point matters and Mercedes have shown a knack for bagging the Fastest Lap over the years. The Silver Arrows have secured the bonus on four occasions this season – Lewis Hamilton three times and George Russell once – which is comfortably the second best record behind the dominant Red Bulls.
If Hamilton or Russell are not in contention for the podium and boast a 25 second or larger gap to the car behind then fully expect them to pit at the end and go for the Fastest Lap.
Qatar Grand Prix Tips
#WhatOddsPaddy – Sprint Race – Max Verstappen to Win the Sprint Race & Sergio Perez to Finish on the Podium in the Sprint Race
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen to Win the Race & Lando Norris to Finish on the Podium
#WhatOddsPaddy – Mercedes to Have the Fastest Lap
*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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