BETTING GUIDE: Who are the favourites as F1 returns to Qatar?

Qatar plays host to the next round of F1 action, and it is set to be a busy weekend with the return of the Sprint. That means qualifying moves to Friday and there is less practice time for the drivers to get to grips with this circuit, all of which could mean some unpredictability comes into play. But do the odds agree?

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

Max Verstappen can wrap up the drivers’ title this weekend, and he can do so without winning either the Sprint or the Grand Prix. But if he does win his third straight crown, he’ll want to do so in style with victory in Sunday’s Grand Prix.

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With 13 wins from 16 races so far this season, it is no surprise that the bookmakers have the Dutchman as clear favourite. Lando Norris though, is second-favourite along with Sergio Perez, which shows just how far McLaren have come since their patchy early season form.

• Max Verstappen 1.20
• Lando Norris, Sergio Perez 15.0
• Oscar Piastri 19.0
• Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton 26.0
• Carlos Sainz 29.0
• Fernando Alonso 81.0
• Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, Logan Sargeant, Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu 601

The odds for who will be fastest in qualifying

Qualifying has been a more competitive affair this season, but it wasn’t last time out in Japan. There, Verstappen blitzed the field in grabbing pole by nearly six tenths of a second in the dry in a mighty performance.

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McLaren’s recent upgrade package, introduced in Singapore on one car and Japan on the other has been doing the business over one lap, with Oscar Piastri second and Lando Norris third on the grid last time out. Ferrari have also looked strong over one lap, with Carlos Sainz managing those back-to-back poles in Monza and Singapore.

• Max Verstappen 1.35
• Lando Norris 9.00
• Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc 11.0
• Oscar Piastri 12.0
• Sergio Perez 15.0
• Fernando Alonso, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton 67.0
• Alex Albon 151
• Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, Logan Sargeant, Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu 601

The odds for a podium finish

McLaren scored their first double podium of the season in Japan, with Piastri and Norris joining Verstappen on the rostrum. Piastri’s podium made him the 11th different driver this season to finish in the top three, a surprisingly high number considering the overall dominance of Red Bull for much of the year.

Mercedes last had a podium with Lewis Hamilton in Singapore but team mate George Russell hasn’t finished in the top three since Spain, while Fernando Alonso’s last rostrum was Zandvoort. Who else is due a top three finish? Charles Leclerc’s last podium was before the summer break in Spa…

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• Max Verstappen 1.10
• Lando Norris 1.60
• Sergio Perez 1.75
• Oscar Piastri 2.50
• Lewis Hamilton 3.80
• Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc 5.50
• George Russell 6.00
• Fernando Alonso 10.0
• Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly 67.0
• Kevin Magnussen, Liam Lawson, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu 151
• Logan Sargeant, Nico Hulkenberg 301

The odds for fastest lap

The bonus point hasn’t been as crucial in the title fight this year, but it could still make all the difference further down the order. Norris and Russell are tied on 115 points each in the fight for seventh overall, while there’s not much in it between Alfa and Haas in the fight for eighth. An extra bonus point gained along with a top 10 finish could make all the difference to those two teams in Qatar.

• Max Verstappen 1.60
• Lando Norris, Sergio Perez 7.00
• George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri 13.0
• Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc 21.0
• Fernando Alonso 67.0
• Alex Albon, Lance Stroll 151
• Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Liam Lawson, Logan Sargeant, Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu 251

READ MORE: Lawson expecting Qatar GP to be 'tougher' as he continues to deputise for Ricciardo

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

Red Bull have already secured the constructors’ title for this season, won last time out in Japan. McLaren are certainly finishing the season strongly, and Ferrari have also made a big step forward since the summer break. Aston Martin’s form has tailed off of late, but will this track suit their car a bit more than the last two?

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• Red Bull 1.15
• McLaren 7.50
• Ferrari 12.0
• Mercedes 13.0
• Aston Martin 51.0
• Alfa Romeo, AlphaTauri, Alpine, Haas, Williams 301

The odds for a Safety Car appearing during the race

The last time F1 raced here there was a Virtual Safety Car, but the Safety Car itself didn’t make an appearance. Will that change this weekend? The odds just about favour the appearance of Bernd Mayländer…

• Yes 1.60
• No 2.20