What are the biggest and best Formula 1 markets to bet on? This is a common question among F1 fans looking for betting sites where they can predict the outcomes of the next F1 races. The good thing is that Formula One is a popular car racing competition that’s covered by some of the best bookies in the world.
There is a wide range of betting markets available to punters interested in F1. Obviously, not all of these markets are equally big and interesting. Some of them are quite risky while others are safer, but yield smaller returns. If you want to make the right decision, you should check our list of biggest Formula 1 betting markets.
- Check the most interesting betting markets
- Learn more about the best options that fit your betting style
- Find out what kind of odds you can expect
This list contains a wide array of markets that can be used by regular players, but also by those who are planning on placing large stakes. So, check our guide to find the 10 best and biggest betting markets in F1.
1. Best Racing Team
Size: Around ten bets
Odds: Low to High
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: All bookmakers
The number of F1 teams is not fixed. However, generally speaking, there are usually around ten teams per season. Some of them have participated in this competition for many years like McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari for example while others are relatively new.
So, betting on the best racing team is one of the most interesting and best Formula 1 betting markets. Each team has two drivers and their combined score at the end of each race contributes to the position of the racing team. To be honest, betting on these teams is not very difficult because there are a few of them that usually stand out.
As a result of that, the odds you can expect to get are relatively low. But, if you want to bet on the outsiders (something that many betting sites allow), you can expect very high odds. In any case, do intensive research before using this market.
- A few racing teams are usually competing for the title
- There are low odds for the favorites
- You can always create accumulators to improve the odds
- Analyze the drivers of each team and their cars before placing a bet
2. Driver Champion
Size: Around twenty bets
Odds: Low to High
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: All bookmakers
Just like in the case of any other type of competition, be it a short or long-term competition, bettors can place bets on who will win the Formula One world championship this year. We are talking about an outright winner in the Formula 1 competition. Since there are around ten teams competing every year and each of them has two drivers, there are around twenty drivers that you can bet on.
This is a big and interesting market that can keep you on the edge throughout the season. People usually pick one of the few favorites and place a significant amount of money on them. Keep in mind that you should not use money that you can not afford to lose for this purpose.
The odds for the favorites are not very big, but they are decent. Of course, you can place bets on the outsiders too. This might be a good option because if something goes wrong with this bet you will know way before the season ends and place another bet if you want to.
- Every bookmaker covers this betting market
- There are always a few drivers that stand out
- To get better odds, bet on the underdogs
3. Race Winner
Size: Over 20 bets
Odds: Low to Medium
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: All bookmakers
One of the things that make F1 popular is the fact that every race is different. Surely, there are drivers who have good records on certain tracks, but no one knows who will win the race before the match starts. Yet, there are always favorites for each race.
Betting on race winners is a smart move for those who want to spice up watching the next Formula 1 race. The odds vary and depend on the current form of the favorites and the specific race that you are planning to bet on. There are typically over 20 races to choose from and it’s not easy to pick a winner all the time. This is also an example of a simple and straightforward betting market.
In case the driver you’ve picked wins the race, you’ve won the bet. Take some time to do intensive research, check the race details and history and analyze the stats. Look for bets that promise a good value.
- There are over 20 F1 races every year
- Some drivers have good records at specific tracks
- Try to find bets that promise a good value
4. Winning Margin
Size: Many bets
Odds: Medium to High
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: Some bookmakers
Let’s be clear – all the F1 drivers know their job and they are excellent drivers. That’s why the difference between them is measured in seconds. Sometimes, when punters are sure that some of the drivers are better than the others, they are not betting on race winners, but on the winning margin.
We are talking about one of the most exciting betting markets available to F1 punters. Usually, this means betting on the difference in crossing the final line between the two best drivers at the race. Don’t forget that some bookmakers have specific types of winning margin bets.
For instance, some of them will provide over/under bets (over or under 5 seconds between the first two drivers). In other cases, bookmakers will offer them as part of groups – between 5 and 10 seconds, over 12 seconds, etc. Once again, you have to analyze the specific race and the racers before you make a decision.
- This is one of the most thrilling betting markets
- Not all bookies offer bets like this
- Usually, bookmakers are offering over/under bets
5. Top 3
Size: Around 20 bets
Odds: Low to Medium
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: Most bookmakers
Even when one of the drivers is a clear favorite, there are many times when they end up in second or third place. This makes sense because the difference between the drivers (and their cars) is not that big and one distraction and wrong move can cost the driver a few seconds. If you are not sure who will win the race, but you believe that some of the drivers will certainly end up in the first three places, you can choose the top 3 betting market.
As the name suggests, this is a type of bet that allows you to choose a driver that you believe will end up on the podium (among the first three drivers). It’s completely irrelevant whether they will end up in the third, second or first place. Compared to race winner bets, this bet provides more flexibility. The odds depend on the driver you are betting on.
- This is a safer betting market compared to many other betting markets in F1
- It’s easier to pick a driver that will end up in one of the first three places
- Not every bookmaker has an offer like this
6. Constructors Championship Winner
Size: Around ten bets
Odds: Low to High
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: All bookmakers
In addition to drivers, it’s an exciting thing to predict the results of the constructors involved in Formula 1. Generally speaking, there are a few constructors that have shown great scores in the last decade which makes it easier for punters to make the right guess. On the other hand, this means that the odds are a little bit limited.
If you decide to use this betting market, do your homework and check what each team is planning before the season starts. Some of the teams are modest and they are aware that their drivers can’t win the championship. On the other hand, there are usually 3-4 teams that are considered to be favorites. You can expect odds of up to 10 (decimal odds) on these teams if you choose to place a bet on them.
- The constructor’s team with the best results on all races will win the title
- There are three or four teams that are considered to be favorites every year
- Avoid betting on the outsiders because it’s almost impossible to win
7. Direct Duels
Size: Many bets
Odds: Low to High
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: Some bookmakers
As previously mentioned, there are races where some drivers have proven to be better than the others. For example, one driver can be among the first ten on the rest of the races, but he is regularly among the top three at a specific race. That’s why some of the bookies have created special direct duels between drivers in their offer. Basically, you have to choose who will win the duel before the race.
What’s good about this kind of bet is that the final outcome of the race doesn’t matter. These drivers can end up in the 14th and 15th place and if you have placed a bet on the driver that’s better, you will still win. To increase the chances of winning on this betting market, it’s better to perform deep research – the current form of drivers, the track, their cars, head-to-head statistics, etc.
- Direct duels between drivers are becoming a popular formula one betting market
- More and more bookies are offering a few bets like this before each race
- Analyze head-to-head statistics before betting
8. Fastest Lap
Size: Over 20 bets
Odds: Medium to High
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: Many bookmakers
If you take a closer look at the records, you will notice that in many cases, the driver that had the fastest lap is not the winner of the race. This is another proof that a car racing competition like F1 is very unpredictable and exciting. The Formula 1 Championship odds don’t play a big role in a betting market like this.
So, the best idea is to check which driver had the fastest lap in the last few years. Don’t forget that the driver who will probably win is not always the one that has the fastest lap. Check the driving style of each driver and analyze the racing track. Maybe some of the outsiders will shine on the next race and drive the fastest lap.
- This is a relatively risky betting market where almost any driver can win
- Check the record of each driver before placing a bet
- The title odds have nothing to do with this bet
9. Pole Position
Size: Around ten bets
Odds: Low to High
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: All bookmakers
It’s not just the race that punters can use to showcase their ability to make correct predictions. There’s a betting market associated with Formula 1 that is often neglected and that’s betting on pole position. In case you didn’t know, this is the position that the driver with the best qualifying time gets before the race.
There are time trials that will determine this position. If you are betting on F1 events, you can bet on pole position at almost all bookmakers. Needless to say, you must do thorough research before the race to the pole position begins.
The driver’s experience and performance at a specific racing track play a major role. However, you should also take the weather, the constructor’s performance, and a few other things into account if you want to make a better prediction.
- Betting on the pole position is a good warmup for the main event
- The favorites usually end up in the pole position, but not always – there’s room for surprises
- Look for the best odds for the bet you are planning to place because almost all bookmakers have a bet like this in their offer
10. Prop Bets
Size: Many bets
Odds: Low to High
Research: Quick to Intensive
Availability: Some bookmakers
If you are tired of the same old betting markets, we suggest checking the prop bets available at some bookies. We are talking about a variety of bets that are usually listed under this betting market. They are unique because they are usually associated with individual or special events during F1 races.
It’s interesting that professional punters usually avoid these bets because they are difficult to predict. In other words, in most cases, they are used by casual bettors who want to make this activity more entertaining. To get a clearer picture of what prop bets in Formula 1 are all about, we will provide a few examples. First of all, you can bet on the first driver to retire during the next race.
In some cases, punters are allowed to bet on a driver who will lead the most laps (he doesn’t have to win the race). There are bets that are quite odd like will a certain driver finish at least one lap during the race as a leading driver. It’s really up to the creativity of the bookmakers when it comes to prop bets.
- This is one of the biggest betting markets in F1 that includes a variety of bets
- These bets are linked to specific events during a single race
- Many bookmakers have unique prop bets for Formula One punters
