United States GP Prediction and Betting Odds

Max Verstappen has won two consecutive races and will be aiming for a third at a track he likes, having won the United States Grand Prix four times.

This year’s edition of the race will get underway on Monday, October 26, with the lights going out at around 05:00 AEST at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Can Verstappen make it three on the bounce?

Quick Picks

Our pick: Verstappen to win

Value bet: Antonelli each-way

Long shot: Leclerc to have a Top 3 Finish

Betting Preview

Verstappen has been in red-hot form in recent weeks, having won the Bahrain GP (in Malaysia) and the Singapore GP last time out, his first win at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

His rise has come during a testing season for Red Bull, but he now returns to a track after a week off where he knows what it takes to win, having done so four times before.

Last year, he won convincingly in the heat, and similar conditions could be present in Austin once again. Pre-race assessments suggest Red Bull’s improvement now translates across different circuit types, which matters at Austin because a car cannot rely on strength in just one corner type.

COTA rewards an all-round car. The fast direction changes through turns 3-9 demand stability and rhythm, while the slower corners and long back straight require a workable compromise between cornering performance and straight-line speed.

McLaren specifically identifies finding balance across the full range of corner types as a priority, which is why there will be some interest in what Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are able to achieve here.

Antonelli has finished 3rd and 2nd in his last two races behind Verstappen, while Russell has had trouble. He had a DNF in Malaysia after his power unit failed on the last lap, while he only managed a ninth place finish in Singapore.

Betting Markets to Watch

Unsurprisingly, Verstappen has been made the early favourite. His return to winning form over the last two races and Red Bull’s ability to get the car right has provided confidence in their ability to win after a disastrous season.

Championship leader Antonelli remains his most likely challenger, given his own season form. He can win the Championship in Austin, but would need Russell to finish ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton to finish fifth or lower, while also taking the chequered flag.

If Antonelli does get it done, he joins a select group, and it is worth a look at who has won the most F1 titles to see the company he would be keeping.

An interesting outside pick is Ferrari. They have implemented an upgraded package ahead of the race, which could work in their favour here.

Charles Leclerc could be the interesting play here, as he could have the pace. Still, Hamilton won the inaugural race here in 2012, and having had a decent season, he could be a legitimate contender.

With the win, each-way and podium markets all in play across these contenders, it is worth knowing how to place a Formula 1 bet before locking in your selections.

Our Prediction

Check the latest F1 betting odds at Sportsbet.

Our prediction is for Verstappen to win, with Antonelli offering value.

Our long shot is Leclerc to have a Top 3 Finish. Ferrari’s Monte Carlo-born driver has five this season (one win, two seconds and two thirds) and ended a six-race run without a podium in Singapore (P2).

If Ferrari’s changes play out as desired, he could challenge the top drivers once again after a positive run last time out.