Odds and betting lines for the 2021 Bahrain GP – With Hamilton not the favourite for the season opener

A new 23-race Formula 1 season beckons, with Lewis Hamilton chasing a record eighth World Championship title. But after Mercedes' mixed testing performance, are they still the favourites heading into the first race of the year? Here are the odds for the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix provided by 188BET.COM.

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

What are the odds for the win?

Mercedes may have won five of the Bahrain Grands Prix in the hybrid era but, given Red Bull's impressive showing in pre-season testing, it's not Hamilton who's favourite to win the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen edges out the reigning champion with odds of 2.50 to win, while Hamilton has odds of 2.60. However, Hamilton's team mate Valtteri Bottas has shorter odds to win the race than Verstappen's team mate Sergio Perez.

McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo is the 'best of the rest' as he has odds of 29.0 to take the victory, making him fifth-favourite overall.

Max Verstappen 2.50
Lewis Hamilton 2.60
Valtteri Bottas 7.50
Sergio Perez 8.00
Daniel Ricciardo 29.0
Lando Norris 51.0
Charles Leclerc, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Sebastian Vettel 67.0
Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda 101
George Russell, Kimi Raikkonen, Antonio Giovinazzi, Mick Schumacher, Nicholas Latifi, Nikita Mazepin 901

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 12: Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes pose on the grid during — Bottas and Hamilton seem to have a real fight on their hands, courtesy of Verstappen and Perez

What are the odds for fastest in qualifying?

Again, last year's Bahrain Grand Prix polesitter Hamilton isn't favourite this time. Once again, it's Verstappen who holds the favourite tag, having taken pole at the 2020 Abu Dhabi race – which he went on to win.

Furthermore, Red Bull's short-run pace looked superior to Mercedes' in pre-season testing, according to our data.

Perez has never taken pole position, however, so the odds for him to do so here are 9.00. And Pierre Gasly is an outlier as he has short odds of 41.0 to take pole for AlphaTauri.

Max Verstappen 2.35
Lewis Hamilton 2.50
Valtteri Bottas 6.00
Sergio Perez 9.00
Daniel Ricciardo 29.0
Lando Norris 34.0
Pierre Gasly 41.0
Charles Leclerc, Lance Stroll, Sebastian Vettel 101
Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda 151
Esteban Ocon 201
George Russell, Kimi Raikkonen, Antonio Giovinazzi, Mick Schumacher, Nicholas Latifi, Nikita Mazepin 901

Mega Quali Laps: Jarno Trulli's Bahrain 2009 pole position

What are the odds for a podium finish?

Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly scored impressive podiums in 2020, but what are the chances of a midfield top three finish this weekend?

The odds reflect a more competitive field, with Pierre Gasly sitting at 10.0 – while he was 26.0 to get a podium in last year's Abu Dhabi GP – and even the backmarkers having had their odds slashed from 901 in Abu Dhabi to 501 here.

Of course, the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers are favourites to land on the rostrum - the question is, which three will it be?

Lewis Hamilton 1.30
Max Verstappen 1.30
Valtteri Bottas 1.70
Sergio Perez 2.00
Daniel Ricciardo 5.00
Lando Norris 7.00
Pierre Gasly 10.0
Charles Leclerc, Lance Stroll, Sebastian Vettel 15.0
Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda 26.0
George Russell, Kimi Raikkonen 101
Antonio Giovinazzi 251
Mick Schumacher, Nicholas Latifi, Nikita Mazepin 901

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 13: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red — Verstappen won last season's Abu Dhabi GP and is favourite, alongside Hamilton, to at least get a podium in Bahrain 2021

What are the odds for Fastest Lap?

In 2020, we witnessed Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas and George Russell score the fastest lap bonus point.

The fastest lap bet is always a bit more wide open as it depends on who will fit soft tyres at the end of the race and set a blistering benchmark for that bonus point. If you fancy a punt, there could be value down the order here...

Lewis Hamilton 2.40
Max Verstappen 2.40
Valtteri Bottas 6.00
Sergio Perez 9.00
Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris 21.0
Pierre Gasly 51.0
Charles Leclerc 81.0
Sebastian Vettel 101
Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda 151
Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso 201
Kimi Raikkonen, Antonio Giovinazzi, Nicholas Latifi, Nikita Mazepin, Mick Schumacher, George Russell 301

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 12: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin walks amongst the cars on — The jury's out on who might get fastest lap in Bahrain...

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

Reflecting Max Verstappen's favourite status, Red Bull are odds-on to take the most points in Bahrain, followed by Mercedes and the team widely expected to be top of the midfield: McLaren.

Red Bull 1.82
Mercedes 1.90
McLaren 19.0
Aston Martin, AlphaTauri, Ferrari 51.0
Alpine 81.0
Alfa Romeo, Haas, Williams 601

What are the odds of a Safety Car during the race?

The odds lean towards a Safety Car period during the Bahrain Grand Prix, which saw a number of incidents in 2020 - not least Romain Grosjean's fiery crash on Lap 1.

Yes 1.60
No 2.20

Odds supplied by 188BET are in $USD and correct as of March 24, 2021, 11am GMT

Odds and betting lines for the Bahrain GP – With Hamilton not the favourite for the season opener