- Max Verstappen is the even money betting favorite to win the Belgian Grand Prix on August 29th despite taking just five points in the last two races.
- Defending race winner Lewis Hamilton is second in the current Bet365 oddsboard at +110.
- Hamilton has also reclaimed the lead in the Drivers’ standings and is now the -138 favorite to win a record 8th F1 world title.
Max Verstappen is the slight odds on favorite to win the Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 29th.
The 23-year old Belgian-Dutch driver is currently priced $10 shorter than Lewis Hamilton in the latest Bet3655 and BetMGM oddsboards at even money (+100). This marks the fourth straight race where Verstappen is favored over Hamilton but is the first time in those four races where he doesn’t have the minus money sign next to his name.
Verstappen Has Hit a Snag
Glad I’m ok. Very disappointed with being taken out like this. The penalty given does not help us and doesn’t do justice to the dangerous move Lewis made on track. Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behavior but we move on pic.twitter.com/iCrgyYWYkm
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 18, 2021
Verstappen was the -162 betting favorite at Bovada to win the Austrian Grand Prix, the -140 odds on favorite to win the British Grand Prix, and the -120 chalk to win the Hungarian Grand Prix. Max cashed out at the Austrian Grand Prix to win the back-to-back Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring and three out of the last four races. But since then, he’s hit a snag.
Verstappen figured in a controversial crash with Hamilton at Silverstone, forcing him out of the race. He then finished 9th at the Hungaroring the most recent race of the season. In those two races, he’s earned just five total points, three for claiming the pole position at Silverstone, and two for finishing 9th at the Hungaroring.
Because of that, Hamilton has reclaimed the lead in the Drivers’ standings and the Brit is now back as the -138 odds on favorite to win the Drivers Championship. But the championship is far from over.
Hamilton Winningest Active Driver at Belgian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton wins the Belgian Grand Prix ???
89 career race wins for the Mercedes driver!
Absolute dominance! ??#BiggerRewards pic.twitter.com/Vx6IdnzGiB
— BigiBet (@bigibet) August 30, 2020
Hamilton meanwhile is second, although just slightly, in the latest Belgian Grand Prix oddsboards at +110 despite being the defending race winner and even if he’s won the race three times in the last six years.
In 14 starts at the Circuit de Spa Francorchamps, Hamilton has 10 Top 5 finishes and four victories. Hamilton’s four wins at the Belgian Grand Prix are tied with Kimi Raikkonen for the most among active drivers, and third-most ever behind Micheal Schumacher and Ayrton Sienna. His six pole positions at the race track are the most by any current driver with one else having more than one.
The seven-time wold champion has won a total of four races this season, including three with the plus money sign beside his name in the betting odds boards. Hamilton was at his season-low +150 when he won the British Grand Prix two races ago.
State of Play
The state of play after 1️⃣1️⃣ races, then and now…
Who’s impressed you the most?#F1 pic.twitter.com/eBPHAMU0Bl
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 14, 2021
Hamilton is the most dominant driver in this era. He has won each of the last four Drivers Championships and six out of the last seven. During his dominant run, no driver has come close to dethroning Hamilton on top of the F1 mountain. But the landscape has changed this season.
The betting odds have been close throughout the year, and they slightly vary from one betting site to another. But one could argue that Max has entered half of the completed races as the betting favorite. Verstappen has won five races and Hamilton four. Hamilton currently leads the standings, but just by eight points.
Before the current season began, Hamilton was a comfortable -250 betting favorite to win a record-breaking 8th world title while Verstappen occupied second spot at +500. But Max and Red Bull have taken the fight to Hamilton and Mercedes. Halfway the season, it’s anybody’s world title to win. The current Belgian Grand Prix odds are proof of that.
