F1 Tips
Qualifying Winning Car – Mercedes
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez & Lewis Hamilton all to Finish on the Podium
Points Finish – Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris & Lance Stroll
*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
He’s under pressure to secure second place in the championship and retain his Red Bull seat, but Sergio Perez can count on the support of his fans when the Formula 1 circus heads to Mexico this weekend.
Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification from last Sunday’s United States Grand Prix means Perez has a 39-point advantage over his Mercedes rival in the race to finish best of the rest behind Max Verstappen. A third consecutive podium finish at his home race would leave him well placed to help Red Bull achieve their first ever one-two in the drivers’ standings.
He will likely have to play second fiddle to team-mate Verstappen on home soil, however, as the Dutchman has won on four of the last five visits to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and is chasing a 16th victory of the campaign.
I’ve taken a look at Paddy Power’s odds for the Mexican Grand Prix and picked out a few fancies. Vamos!
Mexican Grand Prix
Qualifying: Saturday 10pm
Race: Sunday 8pm
TV: Sky Sports F1
Qualifying Winning Car – Mercedes
The fact that the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is more than 2,200 metres above sea level can act as a great equaliser because the airflow on the cars is reduced thus making them less draggy.
That’s good news for Mercedes, who have been plagued by a draggy car over the last two seasons, but look like they finally have a good package going forward as Lewis Hamilton delivered a super drive in the US Grand Prix before being disqualified last weekend.
Mexico was the setting for one of the Silver Arrows’ better weekends in 2022 – the first season of the new rules – as George Russell and Lewis Hamilton qualified second and third respectively before the latter climbed to the second in the race while the former came home fourth.
Mercedes have claimed just one pole position this season – Hamilton in Hungary – but their driving duo have been knocking on the door in recent weeks so a chance is taken at a decent price on either to shine on Saturday.
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez & Lewis Hamilton all to Finish on the Podium
The last two editions of the Mexican Grand Prix have concluded with the same podium result – Max Verstappen taking the chequered flag, Lewis Hamilton following in second and home hero Sergio Perez finishing third. Three is the magic number and I quite fancy the trio to Finish on the Podium once again.
Verstappen has been a dominant force in Mexico in recent years and should wrap up a third straight victory here. Despite the other teams closing the gap to Red Bull, the Dutchman continues to be head and shoulders above his rivals as shown by his US Grand Prix win.
As previously outlined, I expect Mercedes to be strong on Saturday, which should tee Hamilton up for a good challenge in the race. He seems to have the fire back in his belly and finished a solid second at COTA last weekend before his disqualification.
A run of four races without finishing in the top three has put Perez under increasing pressure, but Red Bull are normally strong at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and Perez comes alive at his home race.
Points Finish – Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris & Lance Stroll
Fernando Alonso doesn’t have a great record in the Mexican Grand Prix – scoring points just twice in six races – but the Spaniard has only been outside the top 10 on Sunday on two occasions this season, the latest of which was last weekend’s US Grand Prix when he was set to score before a late retirement.
Pierre Gasly has scored points in 10 of this season’s 18 Sunday races – a decent return considering Alpine have been a major disappointment – and his fourth-place finish in the 2021 Mexican Grand Prix proves he can handle the challenges posed by the track.
It is 10 races and counting that Lando Norris has bagged points and, while McLaren feel their best chances of winning have passed, the Brit should have more than enough in the tank to finish in the top 10 once again.
Lance Stroll delivered, arguably, his best performance of the season in the US Grand Prix last weekend. The Canadian extracted strong pace from Aston Martin’s new configuration and flew from the pit lane to ninth before being promoted to seventh after the chequered flag. A repeat of that race pace would put Stroll in contention for points.
*A Points Finish acca with these four bets pays at approximately 5/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Mexican Grand Prix Tips
Qualifying Winning Car – Mercedes
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez & Lewis Hamilton all to Finish on the Podium
Points Finish – Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris & Lance Stroll
*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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