The 2021 Formula 1 campaign boiled down to a tense showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, but at the first race of the 2022 campaign, neither of those two titans of the sport finished in the top two at the Bahrain Grand Prix. After a significant car redesign, Ferrari looks to be the elite car so far with their F1-75, which impressed in preseason testing, performed terrifically in qualifying and turned the pole position into a 1-2 finish. Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 champion, trailed Charles Leclerc, the eventual winner, for all but six corners. However, Verstappen had to retire with steering issues and a battery problem and left without any points. His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez also had to retire, which allowed Lewis Hamilton to sneak into third, barely onto the podium, followed by teammate George Russell. Is Mercedes’ dominance of Formula 1 done? Check out the Formula 1 betting odds for each driver heading into the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend as well as our suggestions for your wager cards.
Formula 1 News: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Preview
| Driver | Odds (Top 3 Constructors) |
| Charles Leclerc | +137 |
| Max Verstappen | +150 |
| Carlos Sainz | +700 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +1000 |
| Sergio Perez | +1600 |
| George Russell | +2500 |
This is the second running of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which runs on the Jedda Corniche Circuit, next to the Red Sea. The walls have no give, and the corners are tight, conditions that led to a suspenseful and at times chaotic race in 2021; things look like they will turn out much the same way this time around. Street circuits are often driver favorites because of the greater risks that are present.
The track runs 6.1 kilometers, and drivers will complete 50 laps. Lewis Hamilton holds the lap record (1:30.7), and given that cars seem to be running about two seconds slower this year, Hamilton should hold that record at least one more year. Jeddah Corniche has more corners than any other Formula 1 track, but it is also the fastest street circuit ever recorded in this promotion, as speeds average as high as 252 kph. The only faster track on the Formula 1 slate is Monza. The key points are the hard braking zone as you move into Turn 1 and the corner sequence coming after Turn 13, as both areas are great for passing – but also prone to mistakes.
Given the shift in regulations for cars, those teams that invested the greatest effort in car development would prosper the most, at least at first. Ferrari and Red Bull appear to have put significantly more into development than Mercedes and the lower constructors. Every car that had a Ferrari engine at Bahrain had a much more impressive race than expected. However, it is important to note that Adrian Newey, the chief technology officer for Red Bull, is the only person who has buit cars which create downforce with ground effect, like the Formula 1 cars that fit current specifications do. Newey has experience with Formula 1 and Indy cars from the 1980s, which both relied on a similar system to create downforce, and this has boosted Ferrari at least to this point.
Leclerc and Verstappen both have elite skills when it comes to racing wheel-to-wheel, so as long as their cars keep this performance advantage, it is hard to see anyone else overtaking them. Their similarities are what keep them at the top of the odds list. With the challenges inherent to this street circuit, the outcome will be fun to watch.
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