Odds to win the Russian Grand Prix have already undergone drastic changes on the Formula 1 betting board after a wild qualifying session for this weekend's Grand Prix in Sochi, Russia.
Notably, championship leader Max Verstappen is fourth in Russian Grand Prix odds, as he will start at the back after having a new engine fitted. There is still F1 betting value to be found with the title leader, however.
We have full F1 odds and Russian Grand Prix picks, below.
F1 Russian Grand Prix odds
| Driver | Odds to win the Russian Grand Prix |
|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | -125 |
| Lando Norris | +275 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +900 |
| Max Verstappen | +1,100 |
| Carlos Sainz | +1,400 |
| Sergio Perez | +3,300 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | +4,000 |
| George Russell | +6,600 |
| Fernando Alonso | +6,600 |
| Pierre Gasly | +10,000 |
| Charles Leclerc | +10,000 |
| Esteban Ocon | +10,000 |
| Lance Stroll | +10,000 |
| Sebastian Vettel | +12,500 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | +75,000 |
| Nicholas Latifi | +75,000 |
| Kimi Raikkonen | +100,000 |
| Antonio Giovinazzi | +100,000 |
| Mick Schumacher | +200,000 |
| Nikita Mazepin | +200,000 |
Odds courtesy of bet365 on September 25.
Where is the Russian Grand Prix taking place?
Since 2014, and for the penultimate time, the Russian Grand Prix takes place at the Sochi Autodrom on the Black Sea. The Sochi Autodrom is the fourth-longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar.
It consists of a handful of nearly straight sections in which drivers can go full on the throttle, and then a mix of high- and low-speed corners. With overtaking not easy at the circuit, carrying speed through turns is of crucial importance, and qualifying will play a major part in the race results.
F1 Russian Grand Prix tips and picks
Tip: Max Verstappen - Fastest lap (+250)
The crash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix had a ripple effect that went beyond both drivers' races coming to an end in Monza. Verstappen, deemed to have caused the accident, was handed a three-place grid penalty for the Russian Grand Prix, and later opted to take a new power unit in Russia and thus, dropping to the back of the grid for Sunday's race.
However, Verstappen can still impact the title race between himself and Hamilton by picking up as many places as possible and, toward the end of the race, pushing for the fastest lap in order to gain an additional point (and just as importantly, keep it away from Hamilton).
Tip: Pierre Gasly - Top 6 finish (+110)
AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly has been among the most consistent drivers in F1 this year, as he has dominated rookie teammate Yuki Tsunoda and widely outperformed Red Bull's second driver, Sergio Perez. In 14 races this season, Gasly has qualified in the Top 6 11 different times and finished in the Top 6 in three straight races before a crash ended his Italian Grand Prix on the first lap. In Sochi, Gasly will have a great chance to secure his sixth Top 6 race finish of the season after the hard-luck in Monza.
Mercedes' pair of Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, as well as Verstappen, are likely locks for the Top 6, leaving three spots. Verstappen's Red Bull teammate, Perez, has been poor for several months and Gasly has beaten him on merit on several occasions and can do so this weekend. McLaren enjoyed a perfect weekend last time out, finishing 1-2, but Sochi isn't a favorable track for their car and Gasly could certainly out-qualify and then finish ahead of both Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. The Ferraris of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc should have an advantage on Gasly, but an engine change will force Leclerc to start at the back on Sunday and Sainz has been anything but consistent this year.
There will be at least two Top 6 spots available for midfield drivers on Sunday, and with Gasly, we get plus-money and one of the most consistent qualifiers on the grid.
Tip: Lewis Hamilton - Race winner (-163)
On balance, Hamilton's teammate Bottas (+350) is considerably better value to win, especially when considering his history of success in Sochi (including a race win here last season and in 2017). However, it's difficult to imagine any scenario in which he is allowed to win on Sunday.
Mercedes, already with an advantage over Red Bull at this circuit, get an even greater benefit due to Verstappen's three-place grid penalty. Regardless of where Verstappen qualifies on Saturday, the Mercedes pair will likely separate themselves from the pack from the race start, with the lone challenger dropped three places, and not look back. If it's Bottas, not Hamilton, who qualifies best and leads the race Sunday, at some point, the orders will come down to swap places in order for Hamilton to take maximum points in the midst of a tight championship fight.
There is no reason for Mercedes to prioritize Bottas' race over Hamilton's, and thus there's little reason to expect anyone but Hamilton to take the chequered flag on Sunday.
Picks made on 9/22/21 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Past winners of the Russian Grand Prix
| Year | Russian Grand Prix Winner |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Valtteri Bottas |
| 2019 | Lewis Hamilton |
| 2018 | Lewis Hamilton |
| 2017 | Valtteri Bottas |
| 2016 | Nico Rosberg |
| 2015 | Lewis Hamilton |
| 2014 | Lewis Hamilton |
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.
