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Valtteri Bottas a Top 3 Contender to Win F1 Drivers’ Championship After Australian GP Win

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in Racing

Updated Mar 31, 2020 · 12:18 PM PDT

Valtteri Bottas
Valtteri Bottas saw his odds improve significantly after winning the 2019 Australian Grand Prix and 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Photo by Morio (Wikimedia Commons).
  • Valtteri Bottas’ win at the Australian Grand Prix was his first victory on the F1 circuit since 2017
  • The Finnish star is under pressure to rebound after slumping to fifth on Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings in 2018
  • Former champions Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton represent the best bets on Formula 1 futures

Valtteri Bottas endured a disappointing second season driving for Mercedes in 2018. After recording three wins in his Mercedes debut two years ago, Bottas took a step back last season.

The 29-year-old failed to find the top of the podium in 2018 while slipping to fifth place in the standings. However, Bottas looks poised to regain his winning form after cruising to an impressive victory at last week’s Australian Grand Prix that has lifted his odds to win the 2019 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.

2019 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship Odds

Driver Odds to Win 2019 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship
Lewis Hamilton -110
Sebastian Vettel +275
Valtteri Bottas +600
Max Verstappen +900
Charles Leclerc +1200

*Odds taken 03/20/19. Click on the link in the table above to see a complete list of all betting options.

Bottas Facing Pressure to Win in 2019

Despite failing to claim a checkered flag, Bottas’ 2018 campaign was not without its highlights. The Finnish driver claimed the pole position on two occasions, at the Austrian Grand Prix and Russian Grand Prix, and recorded the fastest lap in seven races while tallying seven second-place finishes.

With young Frenchman Esteban Ocon joining Mercedes as a test driver after finishing 12th in the standings last season while driving for Force India, the pressure will be on Bottas to rebound in 2019.

2024 Formula 1 Constructors' Championship Odds Tracker
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Bottas Looks to Maintain Momentum at Bahrain Grand Prix

Bottas will get his next chance later this month in Bahrain, where he has recorded podium finishes in each of the past two years, and closely edges out four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel as a +250 second favorite on the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix odds.

Vettel’s victory at Bahrain last year was one of five victories that fueled his best performance on the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship since his last title victory in 2013. The 31-year-old German settled for a fourth-place finish in his season debut in Australia, where he had claimed victory in each of the past two years. Vettel also offers intriguing value on the 2019 Formula 1 Drivers Championship odds as a +275 wager, but only if Ferrari is able to overcome the technical issues they faced in Melbourne.

It will take a huge campaign from Bottas or Vettel if either driver is to knock off Lewis Hamilton in 2019.

However, it will take a huge campaign from Bottas or Vettel if either driver is to knock off Lewis Hamilton in 2019. The Englishman returns to action this season following a dominant performance in 2018, driving to 11 wins including victories in eight of his final 11 race appearances, and amassing a record 408 Drivers Championship points and 17 podium finishes.

Hamilton Returns from Record-Setting 2018 Campaign as Man to Beat

With five career F1 titles to his credit, Hamilton is now firmly entrenched among the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time. And that is reflected on the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship odds, where he is perched as a strong -110 favorite.

Following a fourth straight second-place finish in Australia, Hamilton heads to the Persian Gulf pegged as +150 chalk on the Bahrain Grand Prix odds. And while Hamilton has not claimed the win at Bahrain since 2015, this year’s race could set the tone for the rest of the season.

Strong performances by Bottas and Vettel in Bahrain could set the stage for the most interesting battle on the Formula 1 Drivers Championship standings since Nico Rosberg’s stunning victory three years ago. However, a dominating performance and return to the top of the standings by Hamilton could make it a long season for any driver looking to garner this year’s crown.

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