RACE DEBRIEF

    Formula 1 is back on the streets of Baku for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen and Red Bull looking to extend their leads at the top of the drivers’ and constructors’ championships respectively. But what do the betting odds say about their chances?

    Verstappen has won four out of the opening seven races this year, but Charles Leclerc has proven the man to beat in qualifying – having taken pole five times already this season. Sergio Perez was in sparkling form last time out in Monaco, winning his first race of the season, and won in Baku last year too. So, who do the odds favour this weekend?

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    188BET's odds are presented in decimal form: for every $1 wagered you would win the figure represented by the odds; so, if Verstappen is favourite at 1.50, you would win $1.50 for every dollar bet.

    The odds for the win

    The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is known for producing chaotic races and has seen four different winners in all four editions of the race (five if you count the 2016 European Grand Prix, Baku's debut on the F1 calendar). Mercedes and Red Bull are the only teams to have won in Baku, so expect Ferrari to come out swinging as they look to add their name to the list.

    It will be of no surprise that the two favourites for the race are the top two in the drivers' championship, as Verstappen edges Leclerc. But keep an eye on Mercedes, who have typically gone well in Baku, so they could be in with a chance for their first win of the season.

    Max Verstappen 2.10
    Charles Leclerc 2.75
    Sergio Perez 7.00
    Carlos Sainz 9.00
    George Russell 26.0
    Lewis Hamilton 34.0
    Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas 151
    Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly 301
    Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Sebastian Vettel, Yuki Tsunoda 601
    Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Mick Schumacher, Nicholas Latifi, Zhou Guanyu 901

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    Charles Leclerc has been very strong in qualifying this season, and will be looking to continue that fine form in Baku

    The odds for who will be fastest in qualifying?

    Charles Leclerc is the favourite, having been in supreme qualifying form this season. The Monegasque driver has qualified on pole in the last three races in a row – in Miami, Barcelona and Monaco. Leclerc also put it on pole against the odds in last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

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    Verstappen, on the other hand, has never been on pole in Baku, but not many drivers on the grid have. So, what do the odds say about qualifying?

    Charles Leclerc 2.00
    Max Verstappen 2.20
    Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez 11.00
    George Russell, Lewis Hamilton 34.0
    Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas 67.0
    Fernando Alonso 151.0
    Daniel Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon 301
    Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly 601
    Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Mick Schumacher, Nicholas Latifi, Sebastian Vettel, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu 901

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    Mercedes are the only team to seal a one-two victory in Baku, and will be hoping to get into the mix for the podium positions this weekend

    The odds for a podium finish

    The 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix produced a remarkable race that saw the Aston Martin of Sebastian Vettel and the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly joining the Red Bull of Perez on the podium. With Red Bull and Ferrari dominating the podiums this year, that type of result may seem unlikely, but it is not to be discounted.

    Lewis Hamilton is a previous winner at this circuit, and George Russell has finished on the podium twice this season, so if Mercedes can get their car in the right window, both drivers could be in the hunt for silverware.

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    Based on form, Lando Norris and 2019 Baku winner Valtteri Bottas are two drivers to keep an eye on this weekend, but what do the odds say?

    Max Verstappen 1.25
    Charles Leclerc 1.30
    Sergio Perez 1.80
    Carlos Sainz 2.20
    George Russell, Lewis Hamilton 4.50
    Lando Norris 7.00
    Valtteri Bottas 11.00
    Fernando Alonso 15.0
    Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly 34.0
    Esteban Ocon 41.0
    Mick Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel 51.0
    Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda 101
    Zhou Guanyu 201
    Alexander Albon 601
    Nicholas Latifi 901

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    Lando Norris stole the fastest lap point and finished P6 at the last race in Monaco

    The odds for fastest lap

    With the championship battle so close, the fastest lap point will be incredibly valuable to both teams at the top. Max Verstappen claimed the fastest lap in last year’s race but because he failed to finish, it did not count.

    Baku is quite a long circuit, so could one of the front-runners avoid the backmarkers and get the fastest lap, or could someone in the midfield steal an extra point late on in the race, like Norris did in Monaco? Let’s see what the odds say…

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    Max Verstappen 2.00
    Charles Leclerc 2.50
    Sergio Perez 9.00
    Carlos Sainz 12.00
    Lando Norris 34.0
    Fernando Alonso, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas 67.0
    Daniel Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly 101
    Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Mick Schumacher, Nicholas Latifi, Sebastian Vettel, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu 251

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    With the championship battle close, Red Bull and Ferrari will both have eye on taking the maximum available points this weekend in Baku

    What are the odds for which team will take the most points?

    The two championship-contending teams are the favourites, with Red Bull slightly ahead of Ferrari. But the odds tell us Mercedes are now comfortably the third-best team, and could be in a position to take advantage if anything were to happen in the front, like they have done on a few occasions this season.

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    McLaren are dark horses. They possess a driver in Daniel Ricciardo who is looking to bounce back from a tough run of results, and who is one of four drivers presently on the grid who has won in Baku. Norris, meanwhile, is in good nick, and finished P5 here last year.

    Red Bull 1.60
    Ferrari 2.20
    Mercedes 12.0
    McLaren 67.0
    Alfa Romeo 151
    Alpha Tauri, Alpine 201
    Aston Martin, Haas 501
    Williams 601

    The odds for a Safety Car appearing during the race?

    The Safety Car has made an appearance in six of the opening seven races so far this season, including at all four of the races hosted on street circuits. But how likely are we to see it again this weekend? The odds say...

    Yes 1.16
    No 4.50