Best bets and predictions for the F1 race in Baku. We provide our Azerbaijan Grand Prix picks for the race winner, podium finishers, points scorers and more.
With an 81-point lead in the World Championship, Kimi Antonelli could be forgiven for sitting back, putting himself into cruise mode and just focusing on picking up the points required to secure his sensational maiden F1 title.
However, there is no indication that the Italian has any interest in that tactic, with the Italian beginning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend as the 11/10 (2.1, +110) favourite for a third successive victory and ninth overall this season.
The Mercedes driver was aided to the win in Spain last time out by the timing of a Virtual Safety Car as defending World Champion Lando Norris looked in control to win the race, with the McLaren man next in the Formula 1 betting at 4/1 (5.0, +400).
The Baku City Circuit invariably produces an action-packed race and we’ve got you covered in all the main markets for Saturday’s race.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix race winner tips
Kimi Antonelli to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 7/2
The Madring, which hosted the Spanish Grand Prix, is characterised by a seemingly never-ending sequence of corners, but a lap of Baku is completely different.
While the lap begins with a series of right-angle turns down narrow streets, the corners get faster as the lap progresses and it ends with a prolonged flat-out blast down a 2.2km home straight.
That will be where the most lap time is to be gained and it should suit Mercedes and Antonelli based on what we have seen throughout the season so far.
Antonelli won in both Belgium and Italy, which are tracks featuring extended periods at full throttle.
It has been a phenomenal season for the Italian, who was still a teenager at the start of the 2026 season. He has secured eight wins from 14 Grands Prix this year, and it only looks like his dominance is set to continue.
Everything seems to be in his favour at Baku, where he finished fourth in his debut season last year, and odds-against quotes look well worth taking.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix podium finish tips
Lewis Hamilton to finish on the podium 5/2
After winning in Barcelona-Catalunya in June, there was talk of Lewis Hamilton mounting a serious title challenge, but things have not gone as planned for the Ferrari driver since then.
The seven-time World Champion has had a particularly unlucky run of late. He lost places after being forced off the track on the opening lap in Italy, and was running third in Spain last time out before a brake failure caused his first retirement of the season.
It is clear that Hamilton’s recent results are far from being reflective of his potential, and he was in the thick of the fight for pole position at the Madring before ending up fourth.
Hamilton and team mate Charles Leclerc qualified third and fourth at Monza, which suggests an outright speed test could suit them, with Hamilton looking to have decent odds to end a five-race absence from the podium this week.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix top-6 finish tips
Isack Hadjar to finish in the top 6 6/5
Isack Hadjar will be raring to go after missing the last three races with a wrist injury, and the Frenchman could be in for a strong weekend.
He finished sixth in Belgium despite starting from 21st and that was one of seven consecutive top-six finishes he recorded immediately prior to his absence.
Team mate Max Verstappen finished third in both Belgium and Italy suggesting that the circuit could play to Red Bull’s strengths, and Hadjar can mark his return to action by continuing his sequence of top-six finishes.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix points finish tips
Gabriel Bortoleto to finish in the points 7/1
The midfield battle this year has been as intense as ever, with the advantage swinging between several teams.
There hasn’t been much to choose between Audi, Alpine and Racing Bulls in recent races, and they should all be in the hunt for points this weekend.
Audi have added to their tally in four of the last five races, and while Gabriel Bortoleto has been absent from the top-10 in the last four races, he does have two 11th-place finishes in that time.
Bortoleto qualified 10th in Italy but just missed out on a point, while he started and finished eighth in Belgium, so the Audi power unit clearly has plenty of muscle.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix fastest lap tips
Kimi Antonelli to have the fastest lap 5/2
Full of youthful exuberance, Antonelli likes to stamp his authority on an F1 weekend, with five of his eight victories being accompanied by a Fastest Lap Award too.
He has taken two further fastest laps in races he didn’t win, so statistically the 11/5 on offer for him to set the quickest lap this coming Saturday is a value bet.
Add in the fact that his Mercedes is expected to be the pace-setting machine around Baku and it doesn’t seem worth looking any further down the list.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Team points tips
Both Alpine drivers to score points 13/10
Alpine have emerged from a slight lull in form to return to the head of the midfield pack and another strong result is expected from the Mercedes-powered team.
They finished seventh and ninth at Monza, but considering Pierre Gasly started the race from pole position and Franco Colapinto ran as high as fourth before going off the track, that result underplays their competitiveness.
Colapinto has had a solid year in what is his first full season of F1 and has recorded four top-10 finishes in the last six races.
At five races, both cars have come home in the top-10 and it is worth betting that happens again with odds of 13/4 on offer.
Visit the Betway Insider’s F1 betting tips page for picks and predictions throughout the Formula 1 season.
