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Tag: Mercedes

  • 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.

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  • 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.