F1: Oddsmakers pick Max Verstappen to win 3rd straight title in 2023
The bookmakers have released their odds on the 2023 Drivers’ Championship, and it is Max Verstappen who is the favorite to defend his crown and prevail for the third straight year in the sport.
Verstappen wrapped up his second world title with four races to spare in 2022, as victory at the Japanese Grand Prix ensured he could not be caught by his rivals. The Belgian driver won his 13th race of the season in Mexico, continuing what has been a dominant year for him on the track.
Outright Odds
Those looking to place a sports bet on Verstappen in 2023 can do so at odds of -225. It is the shortest price he has started a season at, and it reflects how he has become the man to beat in F1.
Max Verstappen wins in Mexico and becomes the first driver EVER to win 14 races in a single season! 🍾 pic.twitter.com/VXfovObJ05
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) October 30, 2022
Verstappen is among the latest betting tips for the final races of 2022. He is likely to extend his lead over the rest of the pack before the season is over, capping off what has been a great year for the Red Bull Driver.
Charles Leclerc Next Best in Betting For 2023
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has had his best year in F1 since making his debut in 2018. The Monegasque driver has won three races in 2022, with wins coming in Bahrain, Australia, and Austria.
CHARLES LECLERC WINS THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 🏎
Max Verstappen finishes in second, Lewis Hamilton in third pic.twitter.com/QGjyq73FtC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 10, 2022
Leclerc got off to a fast start to the year, as he was victorious in two of the opening three races. His car was in great form in the early stages, as he hit the fastest lap in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Australia before Verstappen then wrestled back control in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The 25-year-old finished on the podium in 10 of the opening 20 races in 2022. Due to that consistency, he is second best at +550 in the outright betting for the title next season where is ranked as the most likely challenger to Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton Looking to Bounce Back for Eighth Title
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has had his worse year in F1, as up until the final two races of the season, he has yet to win a Grand Prix in 2022. It has been well documented that Mercedes have had problems with their car, and they will be hoping to rectify that when the season finishes. Hamilton is now 37 years old, so there won’t be too many chances left to hold the record outright for the most titles in the sport. He currently shares the record with Michael Schumacher.
The British driver is +650 with the bookmakers to bounce back to his best again next year and claim the trophy at the end of the season. His performances in the USA and Mexico, where he finished second on both occasions, will give him a lot of encouragement.
The 2023 F1 season begins on March 5 when the Bahrain Grand Prix kicks off the new campaign. The race in Sakhir will be the first of the 24 Grand Prix across the calendar, with the finale coming in Abu Dhabi once again.