Home » Sport » Motor Racing » Baku Grand Prix Predictions: Antonelli Short At 6/5 But Title Leader The Right Favourite In Azerbaijan

Motor Racing

Baku Grand Prix Predictions: Antonelli Short At 6/5 But Title Leader The Right Favourite In Azerbaijan

2 hours ago

| BY Sam Cox

Kimi Antonelli is the clear F1 betting favourite for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku and William Hill News preview the best of the action ahead of Sunday’s big race.

The young Italian holds a commanding lead in the Drivers’ Championship after consecutive race wins. This weekend’s Grand Prix is taking place on Saturday rather than Sunday due to a public holiday in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix Best Bets

George Russell Top 3 Finish & Arvid Lindblad Top 10 Finish
Pierre Gasly & Franco Colapinto Top 10 Finish

Arvid Lindblad has had a phenomenal rookie season. In the points in eight of the last nine races, Lindblad is at a disadvantage to the Mercedes-powered cars at Baku, but that didn’t stop him finishing seventh at Silverstone, eighth at Monza, and ninth in Madrid.

At 4/7 for a points finish, pairing Lindblad with a Russell podium is a good way to get some more favourable odds. Russell has been on the podium in five of the last seven races he’s finished.

Could the Mercedes-powered Alpines be in the mix? Pierre Gasly grabbed pole at Monza, leading to the Frenchman and his teammate Franco Colapinto finishing seventh and ninth, respectively.

We could see Colapinto giving Gasly a slipstream in Q3 if both drivers make it that far, and we know that Mercedes power unit is going to be competitive around Baku. Alpine already has five double points finishes this season.

Baku’s Challenges

Generally a track that produces entertaining racing, Baku might be a street circuit, but it has a good mix of long straights, heavy breaking zones, and tight corners.

It’s the first time energy harvesting will be a factor for drivers to consider. The long start/finish straight will test a car’s energy reserves at the end of a lap, and these smaller, nimbler cars should mean there’s more chance for overtaking than in previous years.

Last-Chance Saloon

George Russell has a massive deficit to his teammate. His championship hopes are hanging by a thread, relying on Antonelli having multiple slip-ups along with a near-perfect end to the season for the Brit.

This weekend falls into the must-win category. Russell cannot lose further ground to Antonelli, who has quite simply had the better of him this season.

With plenty of straights, the Silver Arrows are expected to be the fastest cars on the grid this weekend. Russell has to dig deep and outdrive Antonelli in Friday’s qualifying and avoid his desperation pushing him into undue risks on a relentless circuit.

McLaren’s Hopes

McLaren – or more specifically, Lando Norris – have three poles and two wins in the last four races. The Papaya cars have progressed throughout the year, with Norris emerging as the Mercedes’ nearest challengers.

McLaren have more upgrades coming to Baku. It’s not a circuit that seems like it would suit a car that has struggled a bit on power-hungry tracks, but it would be foolish to write off Norris in this form and he warrants respect in sports betting markets.

Red Bull & Ferrari

Red Bull have dominated at Baku historically, with four wins from five races. Max Verstappen has four podiums in five races. The Dutchman is still waiting for his first win of the year, though, and it’s unlikely that’ll come this weekend.

Ferrari have fallen to 145 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship. Lewis Hamilton’s title hopes have all but disappeared.

Charles Leclerc may end up taking an engine penalty, which would practically extinguish any podium hopes for the Monegasque star.