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Tag: F1

  • F1 Champions Threaten To Take Clean Sweep In 2023

    F1 Champions Threaten To Take Clean Sweep In 2023

    SF1 champions Red Bull Racing have so far dominated the 2023 season. It has has seen their rivals scrambling for answers from race to race in an attempt to close the gap.

    The year has not been short of unpredictable outcomes and entertaining storylines. However, predicting the race winning team has so far not proven to be a difficult task.

    Where many expected the field to condense, Red Bull have taken a huge step forward in performance.

    As a result, they now find themselves in a position to complete a season clean sweep, an accolade that is yet to be claimed in the sport’s history.

    Here, we discuss the likelihood of the team being able to claim the season’s remaining race victories.

     

    The size of Red Bull’s pace advantage

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    The pace advantage of the RB19 has been evident by some of the winning margins achieved so far in their 12 victories.

    In particular, Max Verstappen has been able to consistently take the flag with a lead in excess of 20 seconds to the nearest competitor. 

    There had been rumours of potential stumbling blocks throughout the season which could pose a threat to their perfect year – one being the Monaco Grand Prix.

    However, with this event navigated despite mid race rain and a challenge from Fernando Alonso, the target appears to becoming more and more realistic with every weekend. 

    Verstappen eventually claimed victory by 27 seconds on the shortest and highest risk circuit of the year. This achievement truly underlined the car’s peak levels of performance. 

    With Max in seamless form, he only adds to argument that Red Bull could stop their rivals from taking the chequered flag at any race this season. 

     

    The Potential Threats

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    As ever in Formula 1, there are no foregone conclusions. Reliability, driver mistakes, weather and strategic errors can quickly put pain to an excellent result. 

    Red Bull have been near flawless in terms of their car’s reliability. However, the team must still navigate the longest season to date which has the potential to put strain on the engine and gearbox.

    Related: Relentless Verstappen Bent on Season Dominance

    This is something very much beyond the control of the team, as a failure can occur at any time, putting an end to a magnificent run. 

    This season has also thrown up many surprises in terms of weather, with rain affecting a number of Grand Prix’s so far. 

    The drivers and team will need to ensure they stay vigilant should such a scenario arise. A lapse in concentration is often more costly in wet conditions. 

     

    The chasing pack’s challenge

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    Throughout the first half of the season, Red Bull have been completely out of reach on pure pace.

    Fernando Alonso initially threatened to challenge at the front. From Monaco onwards, this challenge has faltered, along with the pace of the Aston Martin. 

    Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are the only non-Red Bull drivers to manage a pole position this season. Despite this, the pair  lacked the pace to maintain the lead on race day. 

    Last season, Mercedes did manage to claim a victory in the latter stages of the season. They were able to capitalise on their rivals changing their development focus to the following season’s car. 

    Related: F1: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton keen to continue season momentum.

    This may present an opportunity for Red Bull’s rivals to steal a victory in the twilight of the F1 season. A new venue in Las Vegas is an unknown for all of the teams. It could pose a threat to the perfect record. . 

    There is no doubting that the team’s motivation to achieve this will be high. They will therefore be difficult to stop on pure pace alone and may only be halted by external factors. 

     

    You can claim odds of 12/1 at Unibet for Sergio Perez to win the Dutch GP this weekend in the dominant Red Bull.

    Do you think Red Bull will claim victory at every race in 2023? Click here to claim three £10 free bets. 

    Next: familiarise yourself with some of the other stand-out performers from the first half of the 2023 season. 

  • F1: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton keen to continue season momentum

    F1: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton keen to continue season momentum

    With Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth, Formula 1 left Belgium having witnessed a familiar figure taking the chequered flag. 

    Max Verstappen delivered his tenth win of the season in dominant fashion, cruising past former championship rival Lewis Hamilton in the process. 

    The overtake will have brought back memories of their epic on-track battles from 2021.

    However, with Hamilton not having taken a win since that season, the question remains will he reach the top step in any of the remaining races this season?

     

    Mercedes’ Continued Struggles

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    By their own admission, Mercedes took a wrong direction with their 2023 car design philosophy. This was an evolution of last years troublesome W13. 

    Results have been more consistent compared to last season. However, the dominance of Red Bull and the rise of midfield teams such as Aston Martin and McLaren has left victories out of the question for the Silver Arrows.

    The team arguably boast the most talented driver pairing on the grid in George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Despite this, inability to provide them with a front-running car continues to be a frustration.

    Regular upgrades mean the team have frequently fought for podiums. Although, the most recent performance improvements saw the return of the bouncing phenomenon that plagued the team throughout 2022. 

    Mercedes’ will be hoping their upcoming packages scheduled for after the summer break will eradicate this. The goal will be to provide a solid platform to work from going forward. 

     

    Hamilton still has the pace

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    Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has remained the centre of attention despite his team’s current performance levels.

    Regardless of their pace, Lewis has demonstrated throughout the year that he still has the pace to fight at the front should he be given the tools to do so. 

    Second place finishes in Melbourne and Barcelona were followed up by a stunning pole position in Budapest.

    When given the opportunity, Lewis has delivered strong results, perhaps results that proceed the expectations of the team in their current situation. 

    If Mercedes can provide the 7-time champion with a worthy challenger, Hamilton will certainly be ready to fight when the chance comes. 

     

    WiIl Mercedes challenge Red Bull this season?

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    Although Hamilton has the ability to win, there are doubts surrounding Mercedes’s ability to match Red Bull before 2024. 

    The Brackley-based outfit have a huge deficit to the reigning champions. More significantly, they are restricted by F1’s cost cap and aerodynamic testing regulations. 

    As a result, should Mercedes find an upturn in pace, they may be unable to add performance to their car until next season when the restrictions refresh. 

    For fans dreaming up a battle at the front, the team did manage a victory at the end of the 2022 season when they found a sweet spot in their car’s setup in Brazil. 

    There is potential of a repeat this year as teams begin to turn attention to the 2024 season. 

     

    Interested in betting odds for the remainder of the Formula 1 season? Click here to get in pole position with a free bet.

    Claim a free bet and odds of 16/1 for Lewis Hamilton to win the Dutch Grand Prix with Unibet

    To find out more about how the first half of the season played out, click here. 

  • Formula 1 | Alonso ready to defy Red Bull in Austria

    Formula 1 | Alonso ready to defy Red Bull in Austria

     

    Round 9 of the Formula 1 season arrives at the Red Bull Ring this weekend for the Austrian Grand Prix.

    With more points available on this, a Sprint weekend, who can defy the odds in Spielberg?

     

    Best bet for the win

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    Max Verstappen, the unanimous leader in the Driver’s Championship, is by some distance the best bet.

    The Dutchman will compete in front of a home Red Bull crowd this weekend, looking to win for a fifth time around the Red Bull Ring.

    Teammate Sergio Perez, with the same set-up however, continues to push hard.

    The Mexican, who failed to score in Monaco and was podium-less in both Spain and Canada, is slightly longer odds with patchy form.

    Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, has shown Aston Martin do have winning potential.

    The Spaniard’s race craft in Canada proved that with the car’s much-needed upgrades, the Silverstone-based team are close to scoring their first-ever win.

     

    Sainz safe bet for podium

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    Mercedes are teasing a return to race-winning form, but is it a false dawn?

    As the Brackley manufacturer try to maximise the potential of the W14, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are now consistent podium threats.

    Ferrari’s fiery Spaniard, Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, is looking to impress after a fifth-place finish in front of his home crowd in Spain and last time out in Canada.

    But the Scuderia driver’s points advantage over Russell, is now just three points in fifth.

    Nevertheless, Ferrari are in the frame for third in the Constructor’s Championship.

    Charles Leclerc, however, has the odds stacked against him with a 14-point gap to his teammate.

    Yet, with Leclerc having secured the only podium finish for the Prancing Horse this term and with a P4 in Montreal, they remain in the mix.

     

    Ocon to score points

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    Alpine, so far this season, have demonstrated they are the strongest team in midfield.

    With Esteban Ocon scoring a podium in Monaco, the team from Enstone can achieve points with ease.

    For the moment, McLaren are their main rivals for fifth place and it is worth noting also Lando Norris scored a podium here back in 2020.

    Can the Bristolian emulate the same success this weekend?

    When the lights go out Sunday, all will be revealed.

    BetFred

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    What can we expect at Austrian Grand Prix? Find out here. 

  • F1 Sprint returns for Austrian Grand Prix

    F1 Sprint returns for Austrian Grand Prix

    Interested in placing free bets on this weekend’s race? Scroll down for the latest Austrian Grand Prix betting odds.

    Let’s get into what the weekend has in store.

     

    Return to Styrian Alps

    Eight races into the Formula 1 season and Austria is the next stop at the Red Bull Ring for F1 Sprint weekend.

    Max Verstappen is aiming for his fifth win in the Styrian Alps.

    The second Sprint weekend this term, Red Bull continued their dominance in Azerbaijan with a one-two finish.

    So just how is this weekend shaping up?

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    The format

    Introduced during the 2021 season to inject life into qualifying, what was originally given the paddock cold shoulder has now become a regular season staple.

    With six sprint weekends this term however, the format in 2023 has been altered.

    As the Friday consists of a single practice session, qualifying follows which sets out the starting grid for the main race on Sunday.

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    Saturday features a special qualifying session, a ‘sprint shootout’, which sets the grid for the sprint race later that day.

    Unlike in 2021 and 2022, the finishing positions in the sprint do not have any relevance in starting grid positions for Sunday.

    Saturday proper concludes with a 23-lap race/100 km race, as Sunday reverts to the normal GP format, here over 72 laps.

    Still with us?

     

    Does it work?

    The answer simply relies on improving entertainment for fans.

    It’s initial device was also to create more of a challenge for teams to fine-tune car setup and encourage experimentation.

    Indeed, as far as 2023 goes, results from Baku illustrate that there is more track action.

    With teams prone to more mistakes, sprint format has added a good deal of spice into the melting pot.

    Whether that can will aid the chasing pack in their pursuit of Red Bull and Max Verstappen however, remains to be seen.

     

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  • Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP: Latest betting as Perez takes Jeddah pole

    Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP: Latest betting as Perez takes Jeddah pole

    Red Bull remain on course to continue their dominant start to the F1 season after Sergio Perez secured pole for Sunday’s Saudi Arabian GP.

    Clocking the fastest time in Q3, the Mexican was just over one-and-a-half-tenths ahead of the chasing pack.

    Perez’ chances of winning in Jeddah for the a second year running look good, at 11/10 with William Hill.

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    Alonso poised to end drought?

    He will be joined on the front row for Sunday’s night race by Fernando Alonso.

    Alonso has had the fastest pace at times this weekend and in P2 at lights out, will be champing at the bit.

    The Spaniard has good memories of night races with victory way back in the 2008 Singapore GP.

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    A full 10 years since his last win, the two-time former world champ has every chance of ending the drought.

    With Lance Stroll starting P5 on the grid also, Aston Martin are well set to mix things up.

    Jeddah has thrown up the unpredictable before and 5/1 as the winning team with Betfred, the British outfit look a good price.

     

    Verstappen looks Jeddah podium value

    After the perfect start to the season in Bahrain, Max Verstappen has his work cut out to record back-to-back wins.

    The dominant force for most of the weekend prior, an unexpected driveshaft problem saw the Dutchman fail to progress from Q2.

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    Fifteenth will be Verstappen’s perch on Sunday in Jeddah, however a charge will be expected.

    Could Verstappen put on a Lewis Hamilton-esque run to victory?

    A price of 11/8 with BetVictor could be his longest odds this term for a win.

     

    Leclerc could surge

    The situation is similar for Charles Leclerc, with the Ferrari driver starting 12th on the grid.

    Despite clocking the second-fastest time in quali, Leclerc incurs a 10-place demotion for an engine penalty.

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    As the battle rages at the head of the pack, it will be fascinating to watch the clash with Verstappen in midfield.

    Like with Verstappen, though winning looks a stretch, a podium finish is still within reach at 2/1 with PariMatch.

  • Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    The 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was the first-ever Formula 1 race held in Saudi Arabia. It was held on the Jeddah Street Circuit, a brand-new street circuit that is 6.175 kilometers in length and has 27 corners. The race was the penultimate round of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship, and it attracted a lot of attention from motorsport fans around the world.

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    The Jeddah Street Circuit was designed to be one of the fastest street circuits in the world, with an average speed of around 250 km/h. It featured a number of challenging corners and long straights, making it a true test of skill and bravery for the drivers. The circuit was also quite narrow, which added an extra element of danger to the race.

    The weekend got off to a dramatic start, with several drivers crashing during practice sessions. The most notable of these crashes was the one involving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who hit the wall hard during the second practice session. Verstappen was able to walk away from the crash unharmed, but his car was badly damaged and the Red Bull team had to work hard to get it ready for qualifying.

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    In qualifying, it was Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas who took pole position, setting a blistering lap time of 1:25.017. His teammate Lewis Hamilton qualified second, just 0.166 seconds behind. Verstappen, despite his earlier crash, was able to qualify in third place.

    On race day, the atmosphere was electric as fans gathered around the Jeddah Street Circuit to watch the first-ever Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. As the lights went out, Bottas got a good start and led into turn one. Hamilton, however, got a better start and was able to overtake Bottas into turn two. Verstappen, meanwhile, got a poor start and dropped back to fifth place.

    As the race progressed, Hamilton was able to build a small lead over Bottas, while Verstappen began to make his way through the field. He passed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris to move up to third place, and then set his sights on Bottas in second.

    On lap 43, Verstappen made his move on Bottas, overtaking him into turn one. Bottas tried to fight back, but Verstappen was too quick and held onto the position. From there, Verstappen set his sights on Hamilton in first place, who had built up a lead of around five seconds.

    Despite his best efforts, Verstappen was unable to catch Hamilton, who took the chequered flag to win the first-ever Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Verstappen finished second, while Bottas completed the podium in third place. Norris finished in fourth place, while Leclerc completed the top five.

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    The race was not without its controversies, however. On lap 48, Verstappen was deemed to have gained an advantage by cutting a corner, and he was given a five-second time penalty. This dropped him back to third place, behind Bottas. Verstappen was not happy with the decision, and he made his feelings known after the race.

    Overall, the first-ever Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was a thrilling race that showcased the skill and bravery of the world’s best drivers. The Jeddah Street Circuit proved to be a challenging and exciting track, and it is sure to become a popular venue for motorsport fans around the world. With the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix already confirmed, it is clear that Formula 1 is committed to expanding its presence in the Middle East, and we can look forward to many more exciting races in the years to come.

  • Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023: Verstappen claims pole – latest betting

    Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023: Verstappen claims pole – latest betting

    Red Bull remain on course for a winning start to the new Formula 1 season after Max Verstappen claimed pole in Bahrain.

    Locking out the front row of the grid with teammate Sergio Perez in qualifying, the two-time defending champ was again superior.

    Are Red Bull finally poised to break a hoodoo and win a season opener for the first time in the turbo-hybrid era?

    Verstappen is still a fairly decent 4/5 price with Midnite to take the chequered flag on Sunday.

     

    Ferrari lurking

    In our pre-weekend betting, we pointed toward Ferrari as excellent value and the evidence is there.

    Though eventually forced to settle for the second row, Q1 and Q2 saw both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc clock fastest times.

    The main issue that lingers is team orders could scupper any plans for The Prancing Horse.

    Red Bull will be using the team block to thwart Scuderia, but Leclerc lurks at a hefty 10/1 with SpreadEx.

     

    Alonso, Hulkenberg impress

    Elsewhere, Fernando Alonso makes another sterling start to a campaign, swooping for P5.

    As the two-time former world champ rolls into a new era with Aston Martin, the Spaniard was fastest in practice.

    Twenty-two years on from his F1 debut in Melbourne, Alonso continues to enjoy a sparkle in his twilight years.

    We have already seen his car’s pace this weekend, so a podium finish should not be ruled out at 23/10.

    Nico Hulkenberg also made an impressive return to the paddock for Haas, progressing to Q3 and taking P10.

    The German has been on the periphery since losing his seat but a points finish at 9/4 would please his new employers.

    Both prices with 888Sport.

  • Formula Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023: Back Ferrari in season opener

    Formula Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023: Back Ferrari in season opener

    As pre-season testing disappears into the rear-view mirrors, Formula 1 finally emerges from winter hibernation this weekend for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

    In its traditional season curtain-raiser, Sakhir signals a Middle Eastern double to start the new campaign.

    With a short trip west into Saudi Arabia to come later this month, the 2023 term is set to be the longest yet.

    Twenty-three races lie ahead but who will take the early spoils this weekend?

     

    Red Bull top testing

    For Red Bull, the new term represents the chance to underline their current F1 dominance.

    After Max Verstappen retained his crown in 2022, Red Bull also claimed their first constructors title since 2013.

    A casual glance at the F1 Power Rankings post-testing would therefore suggest Red Bull could again have it all their own way.

    At the very least, the bookies see Verstappen the strong favourite to begin the new campaign in winning form.

    For a best price this weekend, Midnite are carrying the Belgian to win in Sakhir at evens.

     

    Scuderia offer value

    For Ferrari meanwhile, the optimism of last season’s early showings in the first three rounds rather dissipated.

    As Charles Leclerc picked up wins in Bahrain and at Melbourne, Scuderia would go on to top the podium just two more times.

    That, despite claiming pole in four successive GP weekends between Miami and Baku.

    Though Red Bull are expected to hit the ground running in Bahrain, there remains something of a monkey on boss Christian Horner’s back.

    In the turbo-hybrid era, Red Bull are yet to win a season opener, either here or in Australia.

    Therefore, Leclerc still carries significant value to take the chequered flag.

    Indeed, a 9/2 shot with BetUK and UniBet must surely be considered, even pole at 9/4 with 10Bet.

     

    Debutantes for points finish?

    The new season is set to feature no less than three F2 graduates.

    Nyck de Vries, Logan Sargeant and Oscar Piastri will all take their maiden F1 bow this weekend.

    A trio highly regarded, Williams and McLaren likely to struggle however and De Vries could make an impact.

    With AlphaTauri looking to have a good set up this year, the Italian manufacturer might surprise.

    Powered by the Red Bull Honda engine, the team saw 10 points finishes last term.

    De Vries and teammate Yuki Tsunoda could both grab points to open their season accounts, with the former 5/2 odds on the Betfair Exchange.