F1 Odds & Picks: Updated Drivers' & Constructors' Championship Winner Prediction
Two weeks into the F1 season, Johnny Covers looks at the updated Drivers and Constructors Championship odds.
Johnny Covers - March 30, 2022, 10:48 AM EDT
5 minutesF1 Odds & Picks: Updated Drivers' & Constructors' Championship Winner Prediction
We are two full race weeks into the 2022 Formula One (F1) season and things look quite a bit different than many thought they would. Already, the considered by many best F1 driver of all-time Lewis Hamilton (+1000) and his Mercedes team (+750) have looked like a shell of their former selves, unadjusted to new regulations.
Elsewhere, the emergence of Charles Leclerc (+155) and Ferarri (-135) has been the story thus far. With a week off before a return to action and the Australian Grand Prix, let’s take a closer look at whose in the best position to win this year’s championship from both a driver and team perspective.
All Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Max Verstappen (-115) (Bet $115 to win $100)
Make no mistake about it, if it were not for an engine failure in the final laps of week one in Bahrain, Max Verstappen and Red Bull would have consecutive wins heading into the first break of the season. Last week in Jeddah at the STC Saudi Arabian GP, the reigning champion Verstappen out dueled Charles Leclerc following several lead changes in the final laps.
Yet another week with the two going head to head as the race unfolded, Verstappen’s former foe Lewis Hamilton once again struggled, finishing 10th in the race as the new regulations have not been kind to the seven-time world champ.
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With the win last week, however, Verstappen moved into 3rd place in the standings now entering a stretch of the season in which he found plenty of success last season. In last season’s weeks 3-8, Verstappen averaged 23.16 points per week, finding the podium in nearly every race he entered. Look for a similar outcome this season as Red Bull becomes more adjusted to F1’s new rules seemingly each and every week.
Ferrari (-135) (Bet $135 to win $100)
While Red Bull is becoming adjusted and Mercedes is still searching for the right formula, team Ferrari appears to already be there in spades. Through the first two weeks, Ferrari’s drivers Leclerc and Carlos Sanz Jr. have both found the podium in consecutive weeks.
As we sit today, Ferrari has over double the points (78) as the next closes team (Mercedes), as they look to grow their lead next week in Australia. Historically always the bridesmaid and never the bride, things appear to be clicking on all cylinders in the Ferrari garage, and they finally once again have the elite-level driver (Leclerc) to bring home their first Constructors' Championship since 2008.
