F1 picks are back, with Portuguese Grand Prix odds available ahead of Sunday's race at Portimao. Through two races, Formula 1 odds reflect the competitive fight taking shape at the top, with current leader Lewis Hamilton atop the Portuguese GP odds board despite his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, taking pole position.
F1 odds are always a fascinating look into the race, and here are our Portuguese Grand Prix picks and F1 betting odds for this weekend.
F1 Portuguese Grand Prix odds
| Driver | Odds to win the Portuguese Grand Prix |
|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | -120 |
| Max Verstappen | +225 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +350 |
| Sergio Perez | +2,000 |
| Carlos Sainz | +5,000 |
| Charles Leclerc | +10,000 |
| Lando Norris | +10,000 |
| Esteban Ocon | +10,000 |
| Pierre Gasly | +15,000 |
| Sebastian Vettel | +20,000 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | +50,000 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | +50,000 |
| Fernando Alonso | +50,000 |
| George Russell | +50,000 |
| Antonio Giovinazzi | +100,000 |
| Lance Stroll | +200,000 |
| Kimi Raikkonen | +250,000 |
| Nicholas Latifi | +300,000 |
| Mick Schumacher | +400,000 |
| Nikita Mazepin | +400,000 |
Odds courtesy of bet365 on May 1.
Where is the Portuguese Grand Prix taking place?
The Portuguese Grand Prix will be held at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao for the second consecutive year, and only the second time ever at this track, as F1 returned to Portugal following a hiatus of two decades. The previous 13 iterations, from 1984-1996, took place at the Autodromo do Estoril in Lisbon.
Portimao is a fantastic, up-and-down track with 15 corners and an extremely wide start/finish straight that encourages plenty of overtaking — occasionally even with cars going three-wide as they head to the first turn.
F1 Portuguese Grand Prix tips and picks
Tip: Leader After 10 Laps - Lewis Hamilton (+150)
Due to an early safety car, some rain, and a lockup on the first lap, it took Hamilton around 20 laps last year to overtake his teammate Valtteri Bottas in Portugal, with Bottas led after the first lap. However, after he did, he never looked back and eventually won by nearly 26 seconds. Bottas got off the line poorly here a year ago and was down to third by the first corner, before eventually retaking the lead on the opening lap after Hamilton's aforementioned lockup (and a collision involving Max Verstappen).
It would not be surprising to see a classic Hamilton start on Sunday, with the British driver getting his elbows out into the first corner and immediately overtaking his teammate. Hamilton is +200 to be the leader after one lap, so at +150 to lead after 10, we'll give ourselves the luxury of an additional nine laps at similar odds.
Tip: Straight Forecast - Lewis Hamilton 1st, Valterri Bottas 2nd (+300)
This season has been a delight through two races due to the competitive nature at the front, with Red Bull's Verstappen offering Hamilton his first real challenge in years. The pair are separated by just a single point in the Drivers Championship and have been a class above the rest of the grid in 2021.
In Portimao, however, it looks like we may get a return to the HAM-BOT 1-2 we became so accustomed to in recent seasons. Verstappen and Sergio Perez's Red Bull is seemingly the only car with the pace to hang with Mercedes in 2021, but they look off the pace in Portugal. Verstappen finished Q3 nearly 0.4 seconds off Hamilton and Bottas, with both Red Bull drivers having to fight their cars around the track on Saturday. It may not make for the most entertaining race at the front of the grid, but it's looking like a Mercedes 1-2 on Sunday.
Tip: George Russell Points Finish (+225)
Russell, the 23-year-old director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, had a heel turn in Imola so unexpected it would make Hulk Hogan blush. Overtaking Mercedes' Bottas in his Williams — a dramatic occurrence in itself, with Russell the Merc-driver-in-waiting — Russell lost control, taking both Bottas and himself out of the race. Moments after the high-speed wreck, Russell walked over to a dazed Bottas, still in his cockpit, and smacked him on the helmet and later told reporters he was asking, "Are you trying to kill us?"
Russell doubled down after the race, despite it being generously ruled a racing incident and thus not either drivers' fault. While he would eventually apologize, it was a shocking lack of composure from a well-respected young driver. However, what followed has overshadowed what came before the incident: a Williams overtaking a Mercedes, yet another sign that perhaps Williams won't be anchored to the back of the grid in 2021.
Russell performed well at Portimao last year, making it into Q2 in a dreadful car and coming just .309 seconds from getting through to Q3. The Williams appears much better this year and Russell will be eager to not only put the incident at Imola behind him but secure points in his Williams for the first time.
Past winners of the Portuguese Grand Prix
| Year | Portuguese Grand Prix Winner |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Lewis Hamilton |
| 1996 | Jacques Villeneuve |
| 1995 | David Coulthard |
| 1994 | Damon Hill |
| 1993 | Michael Schumacher |
| 1992 | Nigel Mansell |
| 1991 | Riccardo Patrese |
| 1990 | Nigel Mansell |
How to bet on Formula 1
The most popular way to bet on Formula 1 odds is by simply picking the winner of a particular race. Other popular F1 betting options include on which car/constructor will win and whether or not a particular race car driver will end up on the podium with a Top-3 finish.
F1 race odds usually look like this:
- Sebastian Vettel +650
This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to profit $650 if Vettel wins that particular race. If one driver is especially dominant, you might see a minus sign (-) ahead of that driver's odds like this:
- Lewis Hamilton -175
This means that you would need to bet $175 to win $100 on Hamilton winning the race.
Where can I bet on F1 betting odds?
As the top international car racing competition, most online sportsbooks and casinos offer F1 odds. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what Formula 1 odds they have available.
