Formula 1 British Grand Prix Betting Preview
In many ways, Silverstone has served as the heart of European motorsports since before the Formula 1 World Championship was established. From 1948 to 2021, the British Grand Prix has been contested without fail and remains one of the most highly anticipated events each year. In 2022, it may make the difference in the hunt for the championship.
Bet every market for the British Grand Prix with DRF Sportsbook. Must be physically present in Iowa to wager.
Pre-Qualifying Favorites: Max Verstappen (+115) and Charles Leclerc (+195)
Though Max Verstappen enters the weekend with slight favoritism over rival Charles Leclerc, the two are so far ahead of the rest of the field that they can practically be considered co-favorites. With Verstappen trying to extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship and Leclerc trying to claw his way back into contention, the British Grand Prix may prove to be the race that decides the season.
Verstappen remains the one to beat in Silverstone this weekend with five victories in his last six races. Any positive result in qualifying will make him a favorite on race day, but there are problems to consider. After two practice sessions on Friday, neither Red Bull driver appeared optimistic, with Sergio Perez saying that the team was “miles off” the pace, while Verstappen said that Ferrari’s advantage was obvious. It may be an exaggeration on the part of the team, but at short odds, it’s the sort of talk that potential Verstappen bettors should keep in mind.
As has been the case all season, Leclerc appears to be the only driver capable of thwarting the reigning champion on Sunday. But after establishing himself as the points leader early in the season, the last five races have been a nightmare for Leclerc and Ferrari. Team mistakes and reliability issues have prevented the Monegasque driver from capitalizing on four pole positions. In Montreal two weeks ago, Leclerc had to start from the back of the grid due to a power unit replacement penalty, but he moved up the field to take fifth in a performance that earned him Driver of the Day honors.
The circumstances in Montreal weren’t optimal for a Ferrari car that should be competing for wins, but it was a step in the right direction going into Silverstone, a track Leclerc has earned three career podiums over in inferior cars. Without any penalties to worry about in Great Britain, Leclerc can once again compete for pole position on Saturday, the only place on the grid he has ever won from.
Outside Win Contenders: Lewis Hamilton (+800), Carlos Sainz (+850), George Russell (+1600), Sergio Perez (+1800)
Though Mercedes has been off the pace all year, pre-qualifying odds seem to favor the team’s pair of British drivers in their home race. Lewis Hamilton, in particular, deserves consideration this weekend regardless of the state of his car. The seven-time world champion has eight career victories at Silverstone, the most by any driver in F1 history. Mercedes also recently announced upgrades to its 2022 car, and if the team had to bring its best for one race this season, this is the one they would want to win.
Potential upgrades should also help Hamilton’s teammate and fellow Briton, George Russell, who has not yet finished outside the top five in 10 races this season. If not for Hamilton’s previous dominance on this track, Russell would likely be more highly touted going into the weekend.
Outside the Mercedes pair, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez are also outsiders for a win, as they have been all season. Perez may be in second position in the Drivers’ Championship, three points ahead of Leclerc, but is also coming off a gearbox failure in Montreal that ended his race after seven laps. He will likely only be able to compete for a win if Verstappen fails to finish. Similarly to Perez, Sainz has taken a clear secondary role at Ferrari behind Leclerc and is still looking for his first career victory.
Bet every market for the British Grand Prix with DRF Sportsbook. Must be physically present in Iowa to wager.
Candidates for Points: Lando Norris (+5000), Fernando Alonso (+11000), Daniel Ricciardo (+14000)
Though their odds to win are slim, all three drivers listed above appear to be in solid positions to score points in Great Britain. Similarly to Mercedes, both McLaren drivers are worth considering in the team’s home race. British driver Lando Norris remains the key contender of the pair, however, as Daniel Ricciardo has consistently failed to compete with his younger teammate.
In addition to those two, bettors and F1 fans alike will also need to keep an eye on Alpine driver Fernando Alonso. After a stunning Montreal qualifying session in which the two-time champion earned second position on the grid two weeks ago, team officials at Alpine claimed to be as mystified as fans watching from home. Though Alonso went on to finish ninth the following day, the team is now aware of previously unrealized pace in the car and could take a permanent step forward in future races.
