Abu Dhabi GP Betting Preview: The 2022 Season Finale
What’s at Stake in Final Race?
The 2022 Formula One World Championship comes to a close at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this Sunday. Red Bull and Max Verstappen have clinched their respective titles though there is still plenty at stake. The Abu Dhabi GP betting odds favor Verstappen and Red Bull despite all the drama the champion caused in Sao Paulo last week. Will it have any impact on the 2022 Formula 1 standings?
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Information
Race: Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2022
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Verstappen Slightly Favored Amidst Tensions
Verstappen did not win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. In fact, he was not even close as he finished sixth. But the two-time champion made his presence felt as he altered the standings.
The Belgian-Dutchman first collided with Lewis Hamilton early in the race and causing him a chance to win and then overtook his teammate, Sergio Perez, late. Both moves did not sit well with anyone including the Red Bull team.
“Max, what happened?” asked Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who told Verstappen to yield sixth to Perez. Verstappen replied curtly: “I told you already last time. Don’t ask that again to me. Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it.”
Perez gave a brief reply on his radio afterward: “It shows who he really is.”
Thanks to Verstappen’s stunt, Perez finished seventh while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished fourth. This led to Leclerc tying Perez in the driver standings. As for Hamilton, the Briton conceded to George Russell as he watched his teammate win his maiden Grand Prix. Mercedes still finished 1-2 though now the eight-time champion is left without a first-place finish.
The Abu Dhabi GP betting odds are still in Verstappen’s favor (+125) though not by much. Mercedes has momentum and it’s unclear if Perez will “help” Verstappen win after what he just did.
The constructor is determined to finish 1-2 for the first time in its history though it may just be a tad bit harder now with a fractured relationship between Verstappen and Perez.
Leclerc and Hamilton Hunting for Redemption
Leclerc inadvertently benefited from Verstappen’s defiance as the Ferrari man earned enough points to tie Perez for second place in the standings. The Monegasque driver finished outside of the podium for the second straight race, though he still has the second-most first-place finishes this season with three.
He’s fourth on the Abu Dhabi GP betting odds to win at 10-1 though he needs only to beat Perez to finish second.
Hamilton, on the other hand, gets the last shot at winning a Grand Prix this season. The 37-year-old has won at least one Grand Prix in each season he’s raced in. The odds have him just behind Verstappen as the most likely winner here at +250. Russell is right behind him at +350.
The Mercedes man had to weather a tough go all season. However, he picked it up in the latter half of the F1 schedule and has three consecutive second-place finishes. Heading to Abu Dhabi, Hamilton has the most wins in this track and it’s the scene of F1’s most famous (or infamous) moments last season. A first-place finish could be a redemptive end for Hamilton.
More Drama In Abu Dhabi?
It would be hard for F1 to top last season’s finish, but there could be some more drama at the Yas Marina Circuit this Sunday. The most notable would be how Verstappen “helps” his teammate, “Checo” Perez beat Leclerc given what happened in Sao Paulo. The F1 race between Perez and Leclerc will be one to watch.
Hamilton and Russell will also look to help Mercedes finish strong after its first 1-2 in Sao Paulo. The constructor could still overtake Ferrari for second on the constructors’ standings if they gain 20 more points than Ferrari. It would take another 1-2 finish and/or a disastrous result for the Italian constructor to accomplish this.
And last but not least, Sebastian Vettel is racing his final Grand Prix. The four-time champion announced his retirement earlier in the season. While he’s a longshot to win (500-1) with Aston Martin, Vettel could at least finish in the top 10 (-140).
