Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Betting Preview

Double Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has a chance to wrap up a third consecutive title in Qatar this weekend.

The Dutch driver only needs to out-score his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez by three points across the Qatar Sprint weekend to be crowned champion.

The 5.4km Losail Circuit has hosted MotoGP since 2004 and this year’s F1 GP will mark the start of a new 10-year deal with the sport. F1 ran in 2021 for the first time, won by Lewis Hamilton, and the country missed out last year due to hosting the FIFA World Cup tournament.
The battle for second position in the constructors’ championship hots up as Mercedes, Ferrari, and third-place Aston Martin are separated by 84 points.

The Track

When it comes to speed, Losail is ferociously fast. The circuit has a wonderful flow that offers a thrilling ride for drivers who need to maximise the loud pedal. The over one kilometre main straight is a highlight and requires a skinny rear wing to achieve a high-top speed. Red Bull, Williams, and Ferrari will certainly look to maximise overtaking opportunities coming out of Turn 16 down to the first corner.

The drivers will deal with daily highs of 40°C this weekend and it will have an impact on tyres. The 57-lap race covers a distance of 308km, however, there is only one practice session as it’s a Sprint weekend.

The track surface has also been resurfaced and there are changes to the kerbs. The teams will head into the Sprint qualifying slightly blind in terms of data from the tyres and which setup works better. It’ll be fascinating to watch the drivers battle under the lights.

Who We Think Are Favourites

Verstappen is likely wanting to wrap up the title as soon as possible. The Dutch driver has 13 wins this season and we think the RB19 will relish the fast nature of the Losail track.

In a podcast with Red Bull, he said: “I have my routine, and I also trust the team around me to do their job to their best standards.” He has won 10 GP in a row in 2023 and has broken several other records this season.

The double world champion can finish sixth on Saturday and eighth on Sunday to secure the win. We have Verstappen as favourite for the race win and opted for Charles Leclerc to win the Sprint.

Ferrari’s focus is on Mercedes as the Italian team attempts to wrestle second place from them in the constructors’ championship. Carlos Sainz has been in superb form, and if Ferrari can deal with tyre degradation they’ll be a threat in Qatar.

Alex Albon has scored all of Williams’ points this season, and Qatar will be another chance for the Thai driver to exploit the FW-45’s rapid straight-line speed. We see the former Red Bull driver hustling into the top six and scoring points in the Sprint.

Mercedes has struggled with maximising the W14’s pace this year and we feel the medium and fast corners will see them caught out to Ferrari and even some other teams.

Predictions

Sprint winner – Leclerc
Sprint podium – Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz
Winner – Verstappen
Podium – Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc
Fastest lap: Verstappen
First to retire: Sargeant
Most Team Points: Ferrari
Both Cars Qualify for Q3 Shootout: Ferrari
Practice 1/2/3 Winning Car: Verstappen/ Red Bull
Safety Car: Yes
Top 6: Albon, Russell, Hamilton
Top 10: Gasly, Lawson, Ocon
Winning margin: Over 5 seconds
Number of classified finishers: 19

Sean Parker

Sean Parker is a motorsport journalist and sports content creator at The South African. He has worked for the country's premier motoring publications, and is a Formula 1 contributor to Bet.co.za, the Bet Central podcast, and Vision View Sports radio.