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Opening Odds to Win 2021 Formula 1 Constructors Championship

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in Racing

Updated Dec 16, 2020 · 3:20 PM PST

Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes
Led by Lewis Hamlton, Mercedes is a massive favorite to win the 2021 Constructors Championship. (Alberto-g-rovi/Wikimedia commons).
  • After claiming a seventh straight title, Mercedes have opened as massive favorites atop the odds to win the 2021 F1 Constructors Championship
  • Red Bull is reportedly working on technological improvements to their car, but need to find a worthy teammate for Max Verstappen if they are to contend
  • We’ve got you covered with all the odds as Formula 1 looks to the 2021 season

After setting themselves apart from the pack in 2020, Mercedes are poised to maintain their position as the dominant team in F1 racing next year. That is reflected in the F1 Constructors Championship odds, where the German automaker has opened as a clear -500 favorite to claim an unprecedented eighth straight title.

Odds to Win 2021 Formula 1 Constructors Championship

Team Odds
Mercedes -500
Red Bull +350
Ferrari +1200
Alpine +6600
Aston Martin +6600
McLaren +10000
AlphaTauri +50000
Alfa Romeo +10000
Haas +100000
Williams +100000

Odds taken December 16, 2020.

Can Anyone Catch Mercedes?

With Lewis Hamilton enjoying yet another dominant campaign, Mercedes quickly pulled away from the pack during the F1 season. Hamilton claimed victory in an astonishing 11 of 16 race appearances, and was well supported by teammate Valtteri Bottas, who picked up a pair of wins and finished second on six occasions.

That combination lifted Mercedes to an eye-popping 573 points, more than the combined total of second-place Red Bull and third-place McLaren. And with Hamilton and Bottas looking set to team up in the Mercedes paddock once again in 2021, the list of teams poised to challenge is shirt.

Verstappen Key to Red Bull’s Success

Max Verstappen emerged as the greatest threat to Lewis Hamilton’s dominance in 2020. The 23-year-old finished among the top two in eight of the 12 races he finished, and is the top reason while Red Bull Racing sit second to Mercedes at +350.

The same cannot be said of Alex Albon, who closed out a disappointing season by finishing among the top five just twice in his final 10 races. While a bust out 2021 season is not out of the question for Albon, Red Bull’s chances of keeping pace with Mercedes could be better served by bringing on a more experienced driver.

Is it Time to Replace Albon?

Providing Verstappen with a stable teammate that can be counted on to put points on the board is a must, if Red Bull is to have any chance of closing the gap on Mercedes. Could Sergio Perez be in line for the job? Perez finds himself out of work after Aston Martin (formerly Racing Point) opted to bring Sebastian Vettel on board for 2021, but has been reportedly in talks with Red Bull to team up with Verstappen next season.

The 30-year-old Mexican was a model of consistency at the wheel of the Pink Mercedes this past season. Perez finished top six on nine occasions, including his first career F1 win at the Sakhir Grand Prix, to claim fourth spot in the F1 Drivers Standings.

Technological Freeze Good News for Red Bull

With cost-cutting measures in place for next season in the wake of the disruptions to the 2020 campaign caused by the coronavirus pandemic, F1 teams face severe limits on changes that can be made to cars. That has not slowed down development at Red Bull, which has reportedly responded to demands from Verstappen to plow forward with much-needed improvements on their current car and engine.

The pursuit of improvements to keep pace with Mercedes has become an annual F1 team ritual, and has produced mixed results. Expected to mount a serious challenge to Mercedes following strong preseason testing, Ferrari has fallen flat in each of the past two years. And with four-time F1 champion Vettel getting replaced by Carlos Sainz, Ferrari’s value as a +1200 bet is diminished.

Stroll’s Dismal Season Cause for Concern at Aston Martin

Conversely, the addition of Vettel adds substantial value to Aston Martin’s +6600 odds. The UK-based team enjoyed a breakthrough in 2020 thanks to the impressive performance of their Pink Mercedes. Racing Point was penalized early this season following accusations that they had broken rules by reverse engineering Mercedes’ 2019 car. The penalty ultimately cost the team 15 points, and a shot at finishing third in the standings.

Aston Martin is free to use their current car in 2021, but will need a massive improvement from Lance Stroll if they are to make any gains in the standings. A combination of bad driving and bad luck derailed Stroll’s respectable start, with the young Canadian picking up points in just two of his final nine races. While a driver change could make all the difference, such a move is unlikely to happen while Stroll’s billionaire father is calling the shots at Aston Martin.

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