Azerbaijan Grand Prix Betting Tips: Is it Leclerc’s time to shine?
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The 2019 Formula One season rolls onto Azerbaijan this weekend for a race that has already produced its fair share of drama in its short three-year stint on the F1 circuit.
Former RedBull teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen took each other out on thetrack’s long straight 12 months ago. Then Valtteri Bottas relinquished victorywith three laps to go after picking up a puncture.
Blink in Azerbaijanand the chances are you’ll miss something. And with Bottas and Lewis Hamilton separatedby just six points at the top of the Drivers’ Championship, it’s a race you can’tafford to miss.
Azerbaijan GP Winner Odds
Mercedes have dominated the early running with wins in Australia, Bahrain and China. But Ferrari haven’t exactly been off the pace. By all accounts they have the fastest car in a straight –line and should’ve tasted victory in the Middle East.
The fast straights in Azerbaijan should suit the Scuderia, and in particular Charles Leclerc, who has been a revelation since switching from Sauber in the summer.
He’s 7/2 for a first race victory, with under fire teammate Sebastien Vettel priced at 12/5. That being said, Bottas and Hamilton have, between them, taken the chequered flag in all three races so far this season.
If Ferrari’s aerodynamicupgrades fail to produce the improvement required, it’d be no surprise to seethe silver arrows make it four race wins in a row.
Hamilton won here 12 months ago and probably would have done so in 2017, too, had his headrest not come loose and forced the Briton to pit. He’s the 13/8 favourite ahead of ultra-consistent teammate Bottas at 11/4.
Alternative Azerbaijan GP Odds
It’s unlikely that Verstappen will challenge the top step on the podium. But finishes of third, fourth and fourth so far this season suggest Red Bull’s number one man has a decent chance of nicking a podium at 7/4.
Further downthe grid we’re interested in points finishes. Lando Norris and AlexanderAlbon have both impressed in their respective rookie seasons and are pricedat 11/8 and 5/4 to make it into the top-10 again.
Meanwhile,although Williams are unlikely to trouble the points, they do have a decentreliability to record. Despite fighting it out at the back of the pack, bothcars have come home safely in the last 13 races.
We go 8/11 about that scenario occurring again. And with two surprise podium finishers here in the last two seasons, flying Finn Kimi Raikkonen is our outside tip to nab a podium at 50/1 if there’s plenty of drama once again.
Plus, with an extra point up grabs for the fastest lap, we have Pierre Gasly to go quickest for the second-successive race at 5/1.
All Odds and Markets correct as ofdate of publication
