Since both bet on auto racing Formula 1 and the Indy Car Series are taking the weekend off, why not take a look at both competitions’ auto racing betting futures?
Sportsbook odds to win the 2017 F1 Drivers Championship
Sebastian Vettel (+110). The German Ferrari driver leads the World Drivers’ Championship standings after eight races. Vettel has not finished outside of the top 5 this season, and only until the two last races did he finish worse than runner-up (he placed 4th in both the Canadian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix). As fans who bet on auto racing remember, the Teutonic wheelman is one of only four four-time F1 champion (2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) and seems bent on adding fifth title in 2017.
Valtteri Bottas (+3300). The Finn is having his bet F1 season, which includes two podiums and a win at the Russian Grand Prix – his first victory in six years in Formula 1. Bottas is currently third in the standings behind Vettel and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton (more on him below), for whom he has proven to be, unlike Nico Rosberg a perfect wingman; that is, one that knows his place and stays behind and not ahead of them.
Lewis Hamilton. (-140) even though Ham is trailing Vettel by 14 points, the Brit remains the odds-on auto racing betting favourite to win the 2017 F1 season – which would be his fourth championship, having previously won it in 2008, 2014, and 2015. Although he and Vettel are friends, the rivalry for the top spot turned physical in Baku. Before the second Safety Car period ended, Vettel clashed into Hamilton’s rear; the German accused Ham of brake testing him, though FIA telemetry data showed Hamilton had driven at constant speed. Not long after, Vettel pulled alongside and collided with Hamilton’s car as they prepared for a restart, for which he was given a ten-second stop-go penalty.
Odds to win 2017 IndyCar championship
Scott Dixon (+260). The New Zealander solidified his grip on the drivers’ standing with a win at the Kohler Grand Prix on Sunday, which was actually his first win of the season. Dixon is a three-time Indy Car Champion (2008, 2013, and 2015).
Helio Castroneves (+360). The Brazilian veteran came in 3rd place at the selfsame Kohler GP, his best finish and first podium of the season. The 42 year old driver has 23 wins and 38 poles, and has finished second in the season standings four times, third two times and fourth four times, but he has never won the IndyCar Series in his 17-year careers, and people who bet on auto racing would not disagree that it is now or never for Castroneves.
Simon Pagenaud (+235). Not unlike Hamilton, Pagenaud has the best auto racing betting odds to win this competition despite currently ranking second in the drivers’ standings – which may or may not have to do with the fact that he is the current, reigning and defending Indy Car Series champion. The French driver has only finished out of the top 10 in Indiana and Detroit; other than that he has always been in the top 5 and won the Phoenix Grand Prix.