A chaotic qualifying session puts George Russell on pole in Austria, with Verstappen recovering to fifth and several attractive F1 betting opportunities emerging
Mercedes is on pole position for another Formula One race, only this time the driver is not teenaged Italian superstar Kim Antonelli.
Briton George Russell came out on top in a chaotic qualifying session today for the Austrian Grand Prix, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen crashing in his final flying lap.
Russell made a late dash, leaving Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc behind by 0.236 seconds. Lewis Hamilton, who also drives for Ferrari, was the third fastest.
Hamilton won last week’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, his first win with Ferrari. Last year, Hamilton was driving for Mercedes but left the team.
Antonelli, who leads the F1 Drivers’ Standings, with 156 points, through seven races, 41 points ahead of second place Hamilton, finished fourth in qualifying. Antonelli has won five of the seven races this year so far.
Russell came under investigation for a double yellow flag violation after the Verstappen crash, one of most serious infractions a F1 driver can commit, but the investigation into whether Russell failed to slow sufficiently on the yellow was later called off.
Antonelli aborted his final lap following Verstappen’s crash, which he later told reporters was a mistake.
Verstappen took fifth place on the grid thanks to an earlier lap time.
In F1 betting at Betway, Russell is +120 for tomorrow’s race, which gets going at 9 a.m. EST, at Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Antonelli is +230, Leclerc is +450, then Hamilton +600, and Verstappen +1200 to win the race.
The race sets up as one of the most unpredictable of the season, which makes things interesting for sports bettors.
Mercedes is the team to beat – Antonelli led both Friday practice sessions with Russell converting that speed from his final practice into pole.
Antonelli’s fourth-place start gives bettors some intriguing opportunities in podium and head-to-head markets if he can work his way through traffic early. Antonelli to finish second is +160 at Betway, +275 to finish third.
There’s some value play with Ferrari – Leclerc starts on the front row and Hamilton, coming off that win last week, starts third, with that Ferrari upgraded power unit showing pace today.
Leclerc to finish second is +275, Hamilton +450, and to finish third, +220 and +300, respectively.
And what about Verstappen?
Don’t write him off just because he’s starting fifth after his qualifying crash. The Dutchman has an outstanding record at the Red Bull Ring, and if he can make quick work of the traffic ahead, he’ll remain a threat in podium, fastest lap and race-win markets.
Strategy calls, tire wear and potential Safety Cars are all likely to shape Sunday’s outcome.
Best bet: Verstappen is +325 to finish on the podium at Betway.
Ahead of Verstappen in podium finish odds: Russell -650, Antonelli -500, Leclerc -225, Hamilton -118.
Antonelli is +220 for fastest lap, with the Ferrari guys, Leclerc and Hamiton, at +500 and +550 for that, respectively.
