F1 Singapore GP Odds: Verstappen heavily favored for first Marina Bay win
The two-time defending champion has yet to win in Singapore. Could his dominant season change that?
Formula 1 is back this weekend after a week break following the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The grid now turns from the fastest track on the calendar to arguably the most demanding circuit. Singapore is often mentioned as the most challenging race because of the circuit’s humidity, heat, and technical demands. Winning in Singapore is no small feat. But the F1 Singapore odds for this weekend look similar to what we’ve seen for most of 2023.
Verstappen is the big favorite for victory and pole yet again
Max Verstappen’s the driver of the season in 2023, and it isn’t close. The two-time defending champion has won a record 10 races in a row. Each win re-writes the record book. It’s been four months since anyone else stood on the podium’s top step in a race this year.
Unsurprisingly, Verstappen leads the odds for a win once again at -400. He’s never won in Singapore before in six career races there. He’s made the podium twice in 2019 and 2018 but has only led six laps at the circuit. Last year, he had to abort his final qualifying lap and started the race eighth instead of closer to the front, in a year where he’s dominated the F1 drivers championship, that will change. The RB19 is so strong, especially its aerodynamic package, that it’ll be hard for anyone to catch up, barring a crash that takes Verstappen out.
Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez is next in odds at +900. Pérez is the reigning winner in Singapore, but he’s struggled since Miami. Over those first five races, he had two wins and another two podiums. In the last nine races on the 2023 F1 schedule, he’s winless with just four podiums. He is strong on street tracks like this and has won on two high-speed street courses this year (Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan). Verstappen is the class of the field, but in the off chance he slips up, Pérez will be in a great position.
Charles Leclerc (+3300) is likely the best bet for a win outside of the Red Bull drivers. He qualified on pole in the last two Singapore Grand Prix and finished second. He took pole in Azerbaijan, a similarly rear-limited track to Singapore this weekend. He’s a long shot, given Ferrari’s woes this year, but on pace should be the next-best choice.
For qualifying, Verstappen’s the favorite, but only at -225. The Red Bulls have been more vulnerable in qualifying trim than the race in 2023. It’ll be hard to catch him, but Pérez (+750) or Leclerc (+1200) are the most likely to do it.
F1 Singapore GP odds for podium and points finishes
Oddsmakers like a podium combination of Verstappen (-800) and Pérez (-165) in the first two spots. Lewis Hamilton has the shortest odds for the third spot (+150) ahead of Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris (+225 each).
Given how good the Red Bull will likely be around the Marina Bay Circuit, it’s tough to imagine anyone else taking the top two spots. Hamilton’s a safe bet given his history at the circuit: four wins and another two podiums in 13 career races. The Mercedes’ lack of straight-line speed won’t hurt them as much as it did in Monza.
The same can be said for Alonso and Norris in the Aston Martin and McLaren, respectively. Norris managed fourth place last year and could do one better in a bounce-back race for McLaren following a rough weekend in Monza. Another strong performance here could bump Norris up the Formula 1 standings and closer to the big three teams (Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari).
The F1 Singapore GP odds favor 11 drivers making the top 10: Verstappen (-1000), Pérez (-800), Norris (-700), Hamilton (-600), Alonso (-500), George Russell (-500), Carlos Sainz (-400), Leclerc (-400), Oscar Piastri (-400), Alex Albon (-165), and Lance Stroll (-175).
A track like Singapore is both demanding and hard to pass on. Qualifying will play a significant role in deciding who makes the top 10 before the lights go out on Sunday. Of those favorites, Albon and Stroll seem most likely to finish outside of the points. Albon’s Williams is more suited to high-speed, low-downforce circuits, and Singapore isn’t one of them. Stroll’s struggled lately with just two points finishes in his last five F1 races.
Drivers who could break through include Yuki Tsunoda (+350) and either Alpine drivers (both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are +120). Tsunoda raced well on another rear-limited track this season in Azerbaijan and a track like Singapore could hide the Alpha Tauri’s weak points.
Of the two Alpine drivers, go with Gasly. He managed a points finish last year in an Alpha Tauri that was well off the pace. In his career, he’s raced well on rear-limited tracks. This is a risk, given how badly the team performed in Monza but it could pay off.
Singapore Grand Prix predictions
It’s another weekend where things look set for another Verstappen win. The driver-car combination is one of the strongest seen in Formula 1 history. Picking anyone else to win a race isn’t easy.
We’ll stick with Verstappen to get his record 11th win in a row after Leclerc gets pole position. Verstappen, Pérez, and Norris will fill out the podium, and Tsunoda will break into the top 10 for his fourth points result of the year.
For F1 betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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