Speed, power, and prestige. These three words perfectly sum up the magnetism and allure of Formula 1 (F1), the world’s elite auto racing series. F1 has captivated racing fans across the globe since 1950, although the roots of the competition stretch back as far back as the early 20th Century. The sport is steeped in legend and mysticism and enjoys a level of popularity that seemingly grows by the day.
It is not difficult to see why Formula 1 is still as captivating today as it was in its early days. With the most technically advanced cars in the world – boasting the absolute pinnacle of engineering and automotive brilliance – there is no shortage of mystique. Factor in some of the most gifted drivers to have ever lived, jaw-dropping tracks and courses, and the big occasions, and you have a formula for success (pun intended).
While there is an obvious emphasis on producing better cars, more technically advanced equipment, and growing the sport as a whole, F1 is firmly in touch with its history. This gives the sport a unique identity consisting of a blend of innovation and classic appreciation. There is no sport on the planet that perfectly combines these features and still manages to say as cool as icebox in the North Pole.
Make no mistake: F1 is a sport to get excited by. As betting enthusiasts around the world know, combining the thrills of a sport that really resonates with you – and the buzz of placing some potentially profitable wagers – is an unbeatable mix. For many, there is no competition when it comes to betting on F1.
So, let’s take a look at what makes this sport so vital among many betting fans.
You might be wondering where the name “Formula 1,” or “Formula One” comes from. Quite simply, it is the name for the rules that govern the championship of the same name. As manufacturers had to develop cars according to these rules in order to compete, this ensured that everyone involved was on the same level. To this day, the modern and updated F1 rules have to be adhered to.
Before F1 was set up in 1950, there was a rich history of racing in Europe. The drivers’ championship we all know and love was finally set up after World War II (when racing was back up and running). The first race of the championship was contested at Silverstone, England in May of the same year. Although there were twenty races on the calendar, only seven were eligible for points contributions to the championship.
Manufacturers such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Mercedes Benz were the early pioneers in F1. Maserati also enjoyed success. There were also drivers who were not part of a team who competed in the early days, but this was not something to last. Juan Manuel Fangio was the standout driver of the early days of F1, winning five championships with five manufacturers.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, rapid changes to the shape of cars, engines, and technology saw F1 explode in popularity. Turbocharged cars and aerodynamic designs underpinned a massive growth in the sport. Commercial interest exploded in the 1970s and 1980s, with TV coverage helping to push F1 to the forefront of the world’s sports media coverage.
The sport is incredibly diverse, with drivers from all around the world competing for glory. Annual budgets for a top team can be as much as $250 million, making it a very money-rich sport. The top speed ever recorded in an F1 car (231.5mph) was set by Juan Pablo Montoya of McLaren-Mercedes in 2005, which gives you an idea of just how fast these incredible cars can be.
A number of the most famous tracks, such as Monte Carlo in Monaco, Monza in Italy, and Silverstone in England have hosted races since the early days. These championship races, known as Grand Prix races, are part of the calendar that makes up the F1 championship series. F1 drivers are highly-trained and exceptionally talented, earning impressive wages for their talents and abilities.
There is a particular format to the F1 championship. Let’s break that down, below.
As it stands, there are 21 Grand Prix races that are contested by 10 teams in Formula 1. Of the 10 teams, there are two cars that will race and be eligible for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Drivers must qualify for races by entering into Free Practice sessions (x3) and Qualifying. The race is the big event, with drivers contesting for points that contribute to the overall championship standings.
A winner is awarded 25 points, while second place earns a driver 18 points. Third place collects 15 points, with further distribution of points awarded for those that do not finish on the podium. Drivers that fail to finish 10th or above are awarded no points. At the end of the season, the driver with the most points will win the FIA Formula One World Drivers Championship.
As you can imagine, competition in F1 is extremely tight. For the most part, manufacturers and drivers are pretty close in terms of innovation and talent. Over the years, some teams have dominated with their designs and ingenuity. This certainly makes for an interesting scenario for gamblers, but there are some pretty impressive things about betting on F1 that need to be said.
If you compare betting on F1 to betting on other sports, such as football and basketball, there are so many different scenarios that can happen in the former. As there are 20 cars on the grid, rather than two teams contesting a game, anything can happen. If New England Patriots are playing the Seattle Seahawks, the only things that can happen in this scenario is a win for either team or a tie.
If you are looking for variety and style when betting, F1 should be right up your street. With so many opportunities for betting, including a number of unique markets, it makes sense to consider the wealth of options at your disposal. By its nature, F1 is a fast and sleek sport and has built an immeasurable fanbase on its consistent offering of thrills and spills over the years.
Understanding how to bet on F1 does not require a degree in rocket science or a mechanics apprenticeship with Ferrari. Your understanding of the sport will be determined by just how much you want to learn, however. Yes, this is racing, and in racing the win matters. However, if you understand the various factors and variables that contribute to every victory in a race, this will help you, no doubt.
When betting on F1, you might be tempted to try your hand at placing wagers on Free Practice and Qualifying. Depending on the sportsbook you bet with, you should be able to find a few markets for betting on both. Not all betting sites will have markets, however. When it comes to betting on any sport, it is never a great idea to bet on any scenario where competition is not really at its highest, unless it favors you, of course.
Betting on any practice sessions, in this case, is unlikely to be a wise move. In F1, Free Practice holds no real relevance as it does little more than provide drivers with an opportunity to warm up before Qualifying. As such, a driver may be more concerned with tackling a tough corner or trying something new, rather than racing to win. If this is the case, you could see a great disparity between who does well in Free Practice and who does best in Qualifying.
That being said, you can use the Free Practice sessions to learn a little bit about a driver and car. No, you probably don’t want to bet on it but you can certainly take little nuggets of revealing information from the sessions. For example, by the time the second practice session rolls around, cars will use their softer tires. This can give a little insight to just how well certain cars can do in Qualifying.
The second Free Practice session sees drivers up the gear a little, in an attempt to ease themselves into preparing for the race itself. As such, they will aim to replicate a race scenario and take a longer run on tires to test them out. From here, you can gain some valuable knowledge on a car that may need more pit stops than another.
A common question many gamblers new to F1 tend to ask is whether they should bet on Qualifying or not. There are certainly good and bad points for betting on the qualifying stage. It is important to know the difference between Free Practice and Qualifying, considering that the latter is competitive and carries a lot more significance than the former.
Much like how a shrewd gambler can observe many points in Free Practice to help with their race bets, Qualifying can reveal information that can help decide who looks in good shape ahead of a Grand Prix. One of the biggest factors of Qualifying is the conditions. The weather is very crucial when it comes to racing and some cars and drivers tend to work better in conditions like heavy rain.
Qualifying comes in three stages, meaning that there is ample time to make up your mind as to what bets make sense. There is one market in Qualifying that is very popular among race bettors, and this is for Pole Position. If you have spotted something in Free Practice that might be a key factor in finishing ahead of the pack in Qualifying, this could well be worth a punt.
As we previously mentioned, there are various betting markets available to eager F1 fans. From simple bets to novelty wagers, you should find a market that is a right fit for you. Below, we will take a look at a number of the most popular F1 bets to give you an idea what to expect when devising your betting strategies.
In F1, an outright prediction is a bet that is placed on a result that will be decided in the future, such as the winner of the Drivers’ Championship or Constructors’ Championship. For example, you may want to bet on Lewis Hamilton winning the Drivers’ Championship and/or Mercedes to win the Constructors’ Championship.
In keeping with the examples above, a bet on Lewis Hamilton to be crowned F1 champion at the end of the season means that he must end the season with the most points. Constructors must also finish with the highest points tally – from both of their drivers – to win the Constructors’ Championship. Both bets can only be settled when there is a mathematical impossibility of a driver/constructor being caught by another.
There are various other outright bets available for F1 betting enthusiasts, including wagers on drivers to win any race in the season, driver vs. driver bets, and much, much more.
One of the most exciting parts of being an F1 betting fan is placing wagers on your favorite Grand Prix. Conversely, even if the Grand Prix of the day is the one you like the least, you can make it more interesting with some smart bets. There are plenty of markets available on each race and these, for the most part, will be the same.
The most common race bets are as follows:
Winning Driver – As simple as it sounds. This is a bet on the driver you believe will win the race. For example, you might choose to place a bet on Lewis Hamilton to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. If Hamilton completes all laps and finishes first, you win your bet.
Winning Constructor – While there is only one Lewis Hamilton on the track, there will more than likely be two Mercedes cars (Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, for example). A bet on Mercedes being the winning constructor means that you have two chances to win, with Lewis and Bottas.
Fastest Qualifier – You might remember when we touched on how to bet on Qualifying a little earlier. This is the most popular bet on the Qualifying session and can be a winner if you predict the driver that finishes the session in the fastest time. A very easy bet to understand.
Podium Finish – This is another straightforward bet that is popular among racing fans. The bet works like this: if you select a driver to finish on the podium – and that driver wins the race or finishes 2nd or 3rd – you win your bet. This is a nice bet for beginners, given that there are three chances to win (in comparison to simply choosing a race winner when there is just one chance to win).
Pole Position – If you can predict the driver who completes all laps and finishes Qualifying Session 3 with the fastest time, inside the 12-minutes, you will win this bet. Once again, this is a bet that must be placed prior to Qualifying.
Fastest Lap – What we love about F1 betting is the simple nature of many bets. The Fastest Lap bet is no different. Simply select the driver you think will complete a lap in the fastest time and you make a profit.
Winning Margin – If you have any experience of Over/Under bets, then this one will be fairly easy to understand. In order to win this bet, you must select if the winning margin between first and second place will be more or less than the time offered by a sportsbook. For example, this might be advertised by a bookmaker as 5.5 seconds. If you believe it will be more or less than 5.5 seconds, simply place your wager and you’re away.
Safety Car – This bet is very similar to the one above. Rather than betting an Over/Under, your bet will be a yes or no on the appearance of a safety car during the race. If you believe that a safety car will be on the track, you will bet “Yes.” If not, you will bet “No.”
Now we have covered the most popular bets, let’s move on to a few key things to consider when devising your betting strategy.
Would anyone even bother to bet if there was no chance of winning money? Of course not! Yes, betting is about fun, but most of the fun comes from the chance of making a profit on our predictions. Losing is never fun, so what a smart bettor should do is remove as many roadblocks and obstacles there are between them and success. The best way to do this is to adopt a betting strategy.
Creating a strategy in F1 requires paying attention to a number of factors and variables that can affect a race. For example, some drivers find it difficult to race on certain tracks while others cannot perform under particular weather conditions.
Below, we will take a look at a number of examples that can help you put together a betting strategy to help you make more profit in F1 betting:
In a sport where the stars are the drivers, it pays to know who the best of the best are. While you can surmise who the best drivers are by looking at a bookmaker’s odds anytime a Grand Prix rolls around (the shortest odds indicate those considered likely to win a race), this isn’t the smartest thing to do. By fully immersing yourself in the sport, you will pick up on the standout drivers, those to keep an eye on, and the ones to avoid.
In F1, a great driver can make the difference when it comes to the end of the season. However, there is more to know than who to watch out for and who is expected to win. Some drivers have a tendency of performing very well on particular circuits and this information can be crucial when it comes to your bets. Always remember that the bookmakers know this, so arming yourself with knowledge is never a bad idea.
The more you watch the sport, the better you will know of the men behind the wheel. There are many factors that can affect a driver in F1 racing – including exterior matters – so learning about their temperament, who they are, and how they perform in certain environments may be a lot more crucial than you think.
Without them, there would be no races. The key thing to remember is how a particular car and/or circuit can affect a good driver’s ability to win a race. For example, has a driver had early season troubles with a new car? Are there problems that have not been ironed out in the design of a vehicle that appears to be preventing last season’s champion from finding their rhythm?
As previously mentioned, some drivers tend to perform on certain tracks and underperform on others. This is why knowing the history of a track – and what makes it difficult to drive on – can be the difference between a winning bet and a losing one. By knowing the cars and circuits, you could be able to anticipate a win for a dark horse and earn some pretty nice money in the process.
It goes without saying that any bettor looking to improve their betting strategy should know what is going on, at all times. OK, we get it, you don’t want to appear too eager, but you should, at least, be on top of the news heading into a race weekend. There are so many little details that can have a big impact on F1 betting. Problems in a driver’s personal life, small engine issues, or in-team fighting can be crucial.
These days, news is easy to come by with a simple Google search. You can also set up news alerts or simply head over to a number of F1 news sites to ensure that you are up to scratch with proceedings ahead of a big race. Most bettors will recall a time when they placed a bet on a team to win a game – or a boxer to win a fight – only to learn of injuries or personal problems after a shock result. Don’t be that guy. Ever again…
F1 is certainly a sport that is majorly concerned with data. Given that the margin of success is so thin, drivers, teams, and constructors consume tiny details as if they were major issues. This is what keeps the best ahead of the competition, after all. For you, the bettor, understanding track history, performance history, and several other details will make you a more seasoned bettor. It is that simple.
There are many things that can fly under the radar when it comes to choosing bets. F1 is data-driven, just like bookmaker’s odds are heavily influenced by things that have happened in the past. If you want any chance of truly succeeding in F1 betting, get with the program and absorb as much pertinent data as you can. Doing so could make for many happy Sunday evenings.
Over the years, heavy rain in an F1 Grand Prix has been known to lead to some very surprising results. This is racing, after all, and a dry track on a clear day is usually the preferred weather for most drivers. Some drivers do struggle in the rain (a point we have touched on before), but some tend to thrive in harsh conditions. A driver’s nationality may have a lot to do with this, especially if they come from countries where rainfall is prevalent.
Of course, sometimes weather can change several times over the course of a race. This presents a unique scenario for all drivers on the circuit. If you believe that there is a dark horse for a race who is undervalued in the bookmaker’s odds, for example, ask yourself if the weather forecast might be enough to get them into a position to win the race or even finish in the top 3.
The Qualifying sessions can be a great way to source information on how a particular driver or team could perform. More than this, it could be very revealing when it comes to choosing a winner for the race. As most F1 fans will know, it certainly plays a huge part in the Monaco Grand Prix, where overtaking is incredibly difficult. This means that a driver in pole position could have more than the upper hand.
There are other tracks that provide ample space for overtaking, such as the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull – who is regarded as the best overtaker in the sport – ironically won his first race in F1 here. Michael Schumacher, one of the best of all time in overtaking, has the most wins of any driver in history on the track (7).
What we can take from this is that a pole position on a circuit like Monaco may be more important than in Canada. This makes Qualifying an interesting spectacle that gamblers should always pay attention to.
While betting on Free Practice sessions might not be the greatest idea, there is no doubt that they can help your bets on the race or Qualifying. Lap times are a good indicator of how a driver might fare on the track and if there are any corners or parts of the circuit that they are struggling on. Any problems with the car itself could come to light in these practice runs.
Free Practice can often give punters an indication of how a driver might do in Qualifying. Depending on the track, this could integral to you winning bets. Pole position is important in racing, especially on particular tracks. For example, Monza, over the past decade, shows us that a driver in pole position, more often than not, wins the race. In practice, you can also look at things like tire choices and how the course might favor a faster car due to its layout.
If history has taught us anything in F1, it is that there is no guarantee that the first driver out of the traps will win the championship. As a betting enthusiast, it always pays to ease yourself into a new season, especially considering how it can take time for a driver to find their rhythm in a new car. Yes, it is a good idea to think smart but simply backing a driver to take the championship off the back of one race is rarely the sensible approach.
By taking your time to weigh up your bets, this gives you the chance to get a clearer picture of who is looking good in the early stages of the championship.
A betting strategy is something that all gamblers should think long and hard about. In F1, a sport that is data-driven, focusing on stats and history will no doubt help you achieve a better understanding of how things work. Following the latest news and keeping up to date on drivers and constructors will also ensure that you are not left in the dark when it comes to your bets.
There is a multitude of small details that make up the bigger picture. As such, recognizing how something that many would consider trivial could contribute to a driver’s chances of winning a race will see you in good stead. Betting should always be fun, but who doesn’t want to improve their chances of winning frequently?
