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Formula 1 2020 Belgian Grand Prix Grand Prix Odds & Picks

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in Racing

Updated Mar 12, 2021 · 1:26 PM PST

Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas claimed his first career Formula 1 victory at the 2017 Russian Grand Prix, and is poised to challenge Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in Sochi this weekend. Photo by Eric Vargiolu/DPPI/Icon Sportswire
  • Lewis Hamilton looks to take home the checkered flag for the fifth time this year when he hits the track at Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix as a -225 favorite
  • While Hamilton has dominated the Formula 1 circuit this season, it is Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel who have claimed victory in the past two editions of this event
  • We’ve got you covered with all the odds and insight ahead of Sunday morning’s running of the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

The Formula 1 season resumes on Sunday after a two-week break with the running of the Belgian Grand Prix. To the surprise of nobody, familiar faces remain perched atop the odds. Lewis Hamilton leads the way as a strong -225 favorite to take home the checkered flag for the fifth time this season, well ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen who sit well back, knotted as +375 co-second favorites.

Odds to Win 2020 Belgian Grand Prix

Driver Odds to Win Odds to Finish Top Three Odds to Finish Top Six Odds to Finish Top 10
Lewis Hamilton -225 -1000 -1000 -1400
Valtteri Bottas +375 -400 -700 -800
Max Verstappen +375 -500 -700 -700
Sergio Perez +3300 +300 -200 -450
Charles Leclerc +5000 +500 -150 -450
Lance Stroll +6600 +450 -150 -250
Sebastian Vettel +10000 +900 +110 -200
Carlos Sainz Jr. +12500 +1400 +110 -275
Alex Albon +15000 +900 -110 -350
Lando Norris +15000 +1400 +120 -250
Daniel Ricciardo +50000 +4000 +200 -275
Danil Kvyat +100000 +50000 +2000 +175
Esteban Ocon +100000 +10000 +600 -225
Pierre Gasly +100000 +20000 +1400 -175
Kimi Raikonen +250000 +75000 +15000 +550
Antonio Giovinazzi +300000 +100000 +25000 +1000
George Russell +300000 +100000 +25000 +400
Kevin Magnussen +300000 +100000 +25000 +500
Romain Grosjean +300000 +100000 +25000 +550
Nicholas Latifi +400000 +200000 +50000 +1600

Odds taken August 26, 2020

Hamilton Looks to End Drought in Belgium

Hamilton hasn’t missed a beat since marching to a record-setting F1 title last year. The 36-year-old Englishman has reached the podium on five occasions, with his weakest finish of the season coming in the first race of the season in Austria, where he came in fourth.

Despite once again being a massive favorite, Hamilton has been denied victory in Belgium in each of the past two years, settling for second-place finishes.

Can Leclerc Repeat at Spa-Francorchamps?

Conversely, it has been a tough Formula 1 season for Ferrari. With Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel combining to earn just two total trips to the podium through the first six races of the season, the Italian team sits well off the pace in the F1 Constructors Standings, trailing first-place Mercedes by 160 points. But if Ferrari are to turn things around, there is no better place for them to do so than at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, where they have claimed victory in each of the past two runnings of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc likely represents the best chance for Ferrari to return to the top of the podium for the first time since last September. Two weeks ago, the 22-year-old was forced to retire from the Spanish Grand Prix following an engine failure but has otherwise remained competitive despite the continued technical problems faced by the Italian team.

In addition to reaching the podium twice this year, Leclerc returns to the Belgian Grand Prix as defending champion after claiming his first career F1 win at Spa-Francorchamps last year. Despite that success, Leclerc lags as a distant +5000 to earn the win on Sunday but offers considerable value as a +500 bet to finish among the top three.

Leclerc’s teammate Sebastian Vettel has also enjoyed considerable success in Belgium. The 33-year-old has three wins to his credit, most recently in 2018, and six total podium finishes. However, unlike Leclerc, Vettel has looked largely uninspired during his final season with Ferrari, finishing 10th or worse in four of six outings, and is best avoided by sports bettors until he regains the edge that powered him to four straight F1 titles earlier in his career.

Belgian Grand Prix Recent Winners

Year Driver Margin of Victory Pole Position Fastest Lap
2019 Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 0.981 sec Charles Leclerc – Ferrari Sebastian Vettel – Mercedes
2018 Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari 11.061 sec Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes
2017 Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes 2.358 sec Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
2016 Nico Rosberg – Mercedes 14.113 sec Nico Rosberg – Mercedes Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
2015 Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes 2.058 sec Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes Nico Rosberg – Mercedes
2014 Daniel Ricciardo – Red Bull-Renault 3.383 sec Nico Rosberg – Mercedes Nico Rosberg – Mercedes

Verstappen, Bottas Constant Threats

Of course, second favorites Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas cannot be overlooked. Born just an hour away from Spa-Francorchamps, the Belgian Grand Prix represents somewhat of a homecoming for Verstappen, who represents the greatest threat to Mercedes’ dominance in Formula 1.

Currently sitting second to Hamilton in the F1 Drivers Standings, Verstappen has one win among his five straight podium finishes and has reached the podium in each of the past eight races he has finished. However, success has eluded him in Belgium, where he has failed to finish in two of the past three years. Verstappen has also struggled in qualifying at this event and has started from either the third or fourth row in each of the past three years.

Bottas has also been somewhat of a disappointment in Belgium, with his third-place finish a year ago marking a career-best on this track. However, the 31-year-old claimed the fastest lap at Spa-Francorchamps two years ago and has been a constant threat to do so at every race this season, making him worthy of a +275 wager to set the pace on Sunday.

Racing Point Returning to Form

Racing Point’s Pink Mercedes returned to contention two weeks ago in Spain, with teammates Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Stroll offers the most value as a -150 bet to return to the top six.

But for those sports bettors not averse to risk, the +450 odds of the young Canadian claiming his first podium spot are worthy of consideration.

Picks: Valtteri Bottas – Fastest Lap (+275); Charles Leclerc – Top Three Finish (+500); Lance Stroll – Top Six Finish (-150)

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