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With Max Verstappen running away with the 2023 F1 Driver’s Championship, we’re turning our attention to betting to win the driver’s championship without Max Verstappen. In this market, an exciting three-way battle is developing between Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton. And we’re taking a closer look at it in our latest Formula 1 futures betting picks.
- After six wins from eight races for Max Verstappen, the Dutchman is now unbackable to win a third successive world title
- The betting to win the world championship without Verstappen is now the best active market in F1
- This is a bet on who comes second behind Verstappen. Sergio Perez was the runaway leader, but now Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are closing in
Verstappen already out of sight
When Max Verstappen took the checkered flag in Montreal on Sunday, the win was his fourth in succession. The double-world champion has 195 championship points and is 69 ahead of second-placed Sergio Perez.
From that first win in China back in 2009…
To @Max33Verstappen claiming number 💯 on Sunday 👏 It's been one incredible journey for @redbullracing #CanadianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/JGGS9NHUsY
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 19, 2023
Perez is now second with 126 points, with Fernando Alonso third with 117 points. Lewis Hamilton is fourth with 102 points.
Verstappen is now almost sure to win the 2023 World Championship. It will now require something unsporting to prevent the Dutchman from completing the three-peat. As a result, the majority of Formula 1 betting sites are no longer offering a market on the championship, so attention has turned to betting without Verstappen.
Betting to win the World Championship without Verstappen
Sergio Perez is the -165 favorite with the best Formula 1 betting sites. And although odds of -165 on Perez sound good, ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, he was -1000.
Behind Perez in the betting now are Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton saw his odds trimmed to +300 after his second-place finish in the Spanish Grand Prix (Round 8). Then after another impressive drive from Fernando Alonso in the Canadian Grand Prix, where the Spaniard came second, the Aston Martin driver has also seen his odds slashed to +300. Before the Round 9 race in Montreal, Alonso was +850.
Behind the two veteran drivers in the betting is Charles Leclerc at +20000. Yes, that is four zeros, not three. This shows just how poor a season Ferrari is having – yet again!
More odds are available on our F1 betting table. We’ve taken our odds from the best online sportsbooks for Formula 1 betting.
| Betting to win 2023 F1 World Championship w/o Verstappen |  |  |  |
| Sergio Perez | -165 | -165 | -165 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| Fernando Alonso | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| Charles Leclerc | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| George Russell | +50000 | +50000 | +50000 |
| Carlos Sainz | +100000 | +100000 | +100000 |
| Lando Norris | +100000 | +100000 | +100000 |
| Esteban Ocon | +100000 | +100000 | +100000 |
| Pierre Gasly | +100000 | +100000 | +100000 |
| Oscar Piastri | +100000 | +100000 | +100000 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +100000 | +100000 | +100000 |
| Lance Stroll | +100000 | +100000 | +100000 |
Perez needs to up his performances
After two wins from the opening four races of the season for Sergio Perez, it looked like the Mexican might be going to give Max Verstappen a bit of a contest this year.
Perez was never competing with Verstappen in the eyes of the betting sites. But such were his performances, he was a red-hot favorite in the betting to win the Drivers Championship without Verstappen.
Now fast forward four races, and it looks like a different driver is currently occupying the second Red Bull car. And as a result, the Mexican’s odds have slipped from -1000 to -165.
In Miami, Perez did finish a respectable second. He followed that up with a disastrous 16th in Monaco and has since finished fourth in Spain, and then sixth last Sunday in Montreal.
And while fourth and sixth might not sound that bad, we have to remember Perez is driving a Red Bull, where far better is expected. To further highlight how bad the Mexican’s recent performances have been, he has even failed to make it to Q3 in his last three races.
Alonso and Hamilton are closing in
The experienced duo of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are closing in on Sergio Perez.
DRIVER STANDINGS 📈
A nice gap at the top for Max 🤏
The battle for second heating up! 🔥
A solid haul for the Ferraris 💪#CanadianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/rGm8OohcM8— Formula 1 (@F1) June 18, 2023
After his disappointing 7th-place finish in Spain, Alonso bounced back magnificently in Canada, finishing second. And what would have made this latest podium all the sweeter for the Spaniard, is that Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team were expected to build on their second-place finish in Barcelona.
In the end, Alonso comfortably held off the challenge from Hamilton.
As for Lewis Hamilton, although he may have been disappointed with his performance in Montreal, he still finished third and claimed his second successive podium finish.
After a second-place finish in Spain in the previous race, the British driver would have hoped to at least match that in Canada. But in the end, the seven-time world champion had to settle for third.
If you add Hamilton’s fourth place in Monaco to his recent second and third, you can see the British driver is showing signs of improvement. And this along with his car’s recent upgrades could be why he is just +300, despite the 24-point lead Perez has over him.
Our pick
Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are both experienced drivers, and both know that Sergio Perez will be starting to feel the heat after some below-par performances.
For our futures F1 betting pick, we’re opposing Perez for those reasons. We feel he could end up finishing fourth in the driver’s championship if he doesn’t up his game soon, and are going nowhere near placing a wager on him at -165.
At +300, it’s possible to wager on Alonso and Hamilton and profit. There is also the prospect that when one has a poor race, their odds will lengthen again. And it could be possible to get odds of +500 or better on both drivers if we bide our time. If we’re to pick one now though, it would have to be Lewis Hamilton.
Below, check out the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
