Lewis Hamilton is the rightful auto racing betting favorite to win the 2017 Austrian Grand Prix, at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Styria, Austria. The British Mercedes driver is the only non-German, non-Nico Rosberg to win this race in the last seven years; Michael Schumacher won it in 2002 and 2003, then it went in hiatus between 2004 and 2013, and Rosberg won the 2014 and 2015 editions. In addition to winning last year, Ham was the runner up in 2014 and 2015. Hamilton is coming off a 5th place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on June 25th, where he locked horns with Sebastian Vettel. Speaking of whom, here are another faves for fans who bet on auto racing.
Auto Racing Betting on Sebastian Vettel
The German wheelman is ahead of Hamilton in the drivers’ standings, and finished ahead of Hamilton in Baku – both of which bode well for him. Before the second Safety Car period was coming to an end in Azerbaijan, Vettel crashed into Hamilton’s rear (no, not like that), which he attributed to Ham brake testing him – though FIA telemetry data showed that Hamilton had driven at constant speed. A little later, Vettel pulled alongside and collided with Hamilton’s Mercedes as they prepared for a restart, and was hit with a ten-second stop-go penalty. Nevertheless, with Ham forced to pit for a loose headrest a few laps earlier, Vettel came out in front and held off the Brit to move 14 points clear in the standings. That being said, Vettel has had to retire from the Austrian GP twice (which does not bode well for auto racing betting chances); on lap 27 last year, when he crashed into the barriers after his rear right tire exploded, and on lap 34 in 2014 after damaging his front wing halfway through the race. He finished 4th in 2015.
Daniel Ricciardo
The Aussie has been on fire lately, making four straight podiums and winning his first F1 event since the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, as well as Red Bull’s first win of the season. Ricciardo recovered from a crash in qualifying to pick up his fifth career victory ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll. The Australian has two top 10 finishes (8th place in 2014 and 10th in 2015) and one top 5 (5th in 2016) at Red Bull Ring.
Valteri Bottas
Speaking of the Finish, he finished second in Baku – his second straight runner-up finish after coming in second in the Canadian Grand Prix, as well as his fifth podium of the season. Bottas has one podium, one top 5 finish, and one top 10 finish in the Austrian GP.
Lance Stroll
And speaking of master Stroll, in Baku he became the first Canadian to stand on the podium since Jacques Villeneuve at the 2001 German Grand Prix, and the second youngest driver ever to finish on the podium. He may still be bit wet behind the ear, though, so we’re just throwing him in the mix as an auto racing betting long shot.