F1 Tips:
Sprint Qualifying – Charles Leclerc (E/W)
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen to Win the Race & Yuki Tsunoda to Finish in the Points
#WhatOddsPaddy – Ferrari 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
Racing returns to China after a four-year absence from the Formula 1 calendar – and it also marks the first Sprint Weekend of the 2024 season.
Since the last race at the Shanghai International Circuit half a decade ago, we’ve had a brand new generation of cars and a stack of new drivers so giving the teams just one practice session before things get serious seems like, quite frankly, a bonkers decision by the power makers.
I’ll put that grumble to one side because the lack of practice time should provide some exciting action on track and provides potential for the usual running order to be a little mixed up.
The Shanghai International Circuit has been resurfaced so a repeat of the chaotic qualifying session for the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix could also be on the agenda should the rain fall.
It was back to normal at the last Grand Prix as Max Verstappen led home a Red Bull 1-2 in Japan and the Dutchman will be hoping to further extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings and tick off one of only two races on the Formula 1 calendar that he has yet to win.
It looks like being a tricky betting prospect due to the sheer amount of unknowns but I’ve run the rule over Paddy Power’s odds for the Chinese Grand Prix and picked out a few fancies. Let’s get into gear and head on over!
Chinese Grand Prix
Sprint Shootout: Friday 8:30am
Sprint: Saturday 4am
Qualifying: Saturday 8am
Race: Sunday 8am
TV: Sky Sports F1
Sprint Qualifying – Charles Leclerc (E/W)
It’s fair to say Charles Leclerc is facing a critical moment in his Ferrari career as departing team-mate Carlos Sainz is getting more out of the SF-24 and Lewis Hamilton’s arrival is drawing ever closer.
The Monegasque is still enjoying a solid campaign, however, and boasts prior experience of the Shanghai International Circuit, with two previous appearances at the track.
Ferrari are the only team bringing the challenge to Red Bull and the circuit layout of high-speed straights and low-speed corners should play to the car’s strengths.
The fact Leclerc can normally turn it on over one lap – he was one of four drivers to come out on top in any of last season’s Sprint Shootouts and has qualified second in two of four races this term – coupled with the lack of practice time makes me think he could be good from the off.
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen to Win the Race & Yuki Tsunoda to Finish in the Points
Other than the brake failure in Australia, Max Verstappen looks unstoppable in the Red Bull rocket ship and he will be eager to win the Chinese Grand Prix for the first time.
Unfortunately, Verstappen is long odds-on to take the chequered flag but that’s where the #WhatOddsPaddy markets come in handy.
Adding Yuki Tsunoda to Finish in the Points pushes the price to Evens and the Japanese driver should head to Shanghai is confident mood after scoring in successive races.
RB look like the best of the rest behind the leading five teams so it would only take an average performance from Tsunoda to be in the mix for a top-10 finish, especially when you consider he should be starting in a decent position having reached Q3 at the last three Grands Prix.
#WhatOddsPaddy – Ferrari To Have The Fastest Lap
The least confident selection on account of the shifting dynamics of a race making it a tricky punt to call before the cars have hit the track, although I think there are a couple of angles.
Firstly, Verstappen and Leclerc have each claimed two Fastest Laps from the four Grands Prix this season.
Secondly, Red Bull and Ferrari should be clear of Aston Martin, McLaren and Mercedes due to the track being unlikely to suit the latter three teams on account of their cars being draggy.
If that transpires and Leclerc or Sainz are outside the podium positions – which the early rounds would suggest is possible – then a bit of strategy could come into play in a bid to bag the extra point.
Chinese Grand Prix Tips:
Sprint Qualifying – Charles Leclerc (E/W)
#WhatOddsPaddy – Max Verstappen to Win the Race & Yuki Tsunoda to Finish in the Points
#WhatOddsPaddy – Ferrari 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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