Belgian GP Odds: Verstappen Defends Spa Title in F1’s Return

Red Bull Leads Odds in Potentially Final Run For The Spa

It’s a homecoming for Max Verstappen as Formula One returns after a four-week break. The racing leader for the 2022 season is the favorite per the Belgian GP odds as he looks to win his third straight race. Tailing Verstappen is Ferrari’s Charles LeClerc and the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Verstappen defends his title in the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, a.k.a. “The Spa” as the weather could turn rainy.


2022 Belgian Grand Prix Information

    • Race: Belgian Grand Prix
    • Location: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium
    • Day/Time:
    • Television: ESPN

Can Mercedes Finally Beat Red Bull?

For the last few races, Mercedes has been making gains. The constructor is now just 30 points behind Ferrari with both Hamilton and Russell finishing on the podium in the last two tracks, however, Mercedes has yet to win a race all season. Hamilton and Russell have combined for 11 podium finishes but the second place has been their best result.

Hamilton has typically had issues with the Spa. He has won here four times in his career but has never repeated. In fact, no F1 driver since Kimi Raikkonen in 2005 and 2007 (2006 was not held) has won The Spa consecutively. Part of the reason may have to do with the weather as the constant rainy weather has made for some slippery racing conditions.

Verstappen, who the Formula 1 betting odds favor yet again, won by a margin of 10.587 and 7.834 seconds in the last two races. While Mercedes is gaining on him, it’s still quite a sizable margin. The Belgian-Dutchman sits 80 points ahead of Charles Leclerc for the drivers’ championship standings. Winning in one of his home tracks, as the Belgian GP odds forecast, puts him this close to clinching his second straight world title.

Is The Spa Here to Stay?

Whoever wins the Spa could be the final driver to win it in the meantime. Currently, there is no contract in place for the upcoming seasons. And with a 24-race limit, there are already new races set to be established like Las Vegas and a South African Grand Prix.

“It would be a big shame to lose Spa,” said Verstappen. “It is my favorite track in the world.”

Other champions like Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel echoed his sentiment.

“If Spa isn’t there I’ll be very upset,” Button, who won in 2012, said on the WTF1 podcast. “If you take away Spa, it’s for other reasons, not because it’s not a good circuit. It’s one of the best in the world, the racing’s amazing, the drivers love it and the team’s love going there.”

“[The] track is amazing and it would be a shame to lose it,” Vettel, who won the course three times, spoke out.

Vettel currently faces steep Belgian GP odds to win for the fourth time. You should also know, there are other longshots who could race much better than the betting lines indicate.

Upgraded Haas Could Make a Run

If you can’t beat them, copy them. That seems to be the motto over at Haas as the constructor has made a similar vehicle to what Ferrari has been running.

“I would say quite a bit (is like the Ferrari),” Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said. “Is something wrong with that?”

As a result, we should expect more from Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher as finishing in the top 10 should be well within their abilities. The odds have Magnussen at even money to finish with points while Schumacher is at 2-1 (+200). Many F1 betting tips may peg one of the two or both as dark horse contenders even for a top-six finish.

“Yes, both cars will have the upgrade package. We had one kit ready before the shutdown so we said we’ll put it on one car to collect some data so when we’re back, we have that data and now we can already work on the set-up, getting out in Spa straightaway.”

Magnussen is at 6-1 (+600) to finish within the top six. Schumacher is off the board but should hover around the 10-1 (+1000) mark just behind Magnussen and Valtteri Bottas.

Follow us on Twitter
Back to top button

pointspreads

WHO WILL WIN?

March Madness
clemson
Clemson
Arizona
Arizona
Thursday, March 28, 2024
50%
50%
March Madness
san diego st.
San Diego St.
UConn
UConn
Thursday, March 28, 2024
50%
50%
March Madness
alabama
Alabama
North Carolina
North Carolina
Thursday, March 28, 2024
50%
50%
MLB
cardinals
Cardinals
Dodgers
Dodgers
Thursday, March 28, 2024
50%
50%
MLB
cubs
Cubs
Rangers
Rangers
Thursday, March 28, 2024
50%
50%
March Madness
gonzaga
Gonzaga
Purdue
Purdue
Friday, March 29, 2024
50%
50%
March Madness
creighton
Creighton
Tennessee
Tennessee
Friday, March 29, 2024
50%
50%
Submit your vote and view the results
Hey Again

vote all you can

pointspreads

PS-email

PS-email

pointspreads

pointspreads-email

Bet like a PRO!

pointspreads-email

Subscribe now and get Weekly Expert Free Picks