Over the course of the season, races are usually separated by a period of one to three weeks. The most common bet at events such as the Formula One Grand Prix is simply to choose which driver should cross the finish line first.
There is usually a clear favourite, such as Lewis Hamilton paying $1.50 for every $1 wagered. Meanwhile, the other drivers are worth anywhere from $4 to an astronomical $51 – the latter only for the big underdogs.
Some betting sites offer additional options, including which car manufacturer will win the race, or the nationality of the driver. You can also bet on who will win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship. The result is available at the end of the year, based on the points earned throughout the season.
Formula One betting strategies
The value offered by betting on zebras may seem tempting, but it turns out to be a waste of time. Formula 1 is a sport in which the favourites almost always live up to expectations. In 2013, Sebastian Vettel won each of the last nine races of the tournament. In 2014, only three drivers reached the top of the podium throughout the season: Lewis Hamilton (11 times), Nico Rosberg (5) and Daniel Ricciardo (3).
Generally, only four to six drivers have real chances of winning a given race. One way to identify good betting opportunities is to avoid overestimating the pole position.
Being on pole really does give the driver a big advantage, as he has the freedom to drive his course without having to deal with other cars ahead. However, despite this advantage, the driver in pole position only wins 40% to 50% of the time. Even if it is a significant percentage, it does not necessarily make the bet worthwhile, since the return is usually not very high.
In the end, it ends up being more worthwhile to bet on an excellent driver who is not in pole position and pays around R$ 4 to R$ 9 for each R$ 1 applied, instead of always investing in the great favourite who is in pole position.
How to choose the best bookmaker for Formula 1
As it has many fans, Formula 1 is a sport that is relatively easy to find at betting sites that accept players. Even so, it is good to research different bookmakers before investing your money.
Pay attention to these factors:
- Besides winning driver, what other Formula 1 betting options the site offers;
- What are the odds.
At first, it may seem small the odds variation of R$ 3.60 to R$ 4, for example. However, when you do the maths at the end, you will realise that the difference is brutal.