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With the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix just over one week away, we look at the seasonal betting angles for the 2024 F1 schedule, with current World Champion Max Verstappen a heavy favourite to claim a fourth consecutive F1 drivers' crown.
The Dutchman boasts 44 race victories over the last three seasons and is expected to again dominate at the front of the field. Even before testing begins, the three-time world champion is priced at 1/4 to claim the drivers' championship.
In addition, his team, Red Bull, are outright favourites to secure a third consecutive constructors' title (2/9) with team-mate Sergio Pérez expected to contribute to the team's success, but not really challenge his cross-garage rival in the drivers' standings.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton – in his final year with the team before he moves to Ferrari in 2025 – is the bookies' most likely challenger in the drivers' market at 8/1. The seven-times world champion hasn't tasted the top step of the podium since the 2021 season, with just one pole position and 15 podiums in the last two years.
A more tantalising proposition is likely the McLaren of Lando Norris (12/1) – the young brit showcasing his talents with some excellent performances at the end of the 2023 campaign.
He notched a career high seven podiums last season to finish sixth in the drivers' standings – but it was the trajectory of the car's performance in the latter stages of the campaign that gives hope to McLaren.
The Woking-based entity are 7/1 second favourites in the Constructors' Championship, just ahead of Ferrari (17/2) and Mercedes (17/2). Aston Martin are next in the odds at 50/1, with the bookies expecting a three-way battle for second behind Red Bull.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Mercedes' George Russell and Perez are all capable of challenging at the front of the field according to the betting, priced at 16/1, 25/1 and 25/1 respectively.
There are certainly some interesting props bets that could be looked at. Norris, who has yet to win a F1 main race, is priced at 5/2 not to win a Grand Prix in 2024 – with a similar price offered for Lewis Hamilton and 5/1 for Sergio Perez to go winless.
Max Verstappen to win all 24 races is 50/1, Red Bull to win every race is 14/1 and a Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car to affect every race is 100/1. Two or more DNFs at every race is also a tantilising 50/1.
