Chris Boline
The Formula 1 Drivers Championship isn’t too far off from starting up again in 2023. With the first race of the campaign set for March 5, 2023, at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Early odds have been released for the 2023 F1 season, and there are some intriguing futures bets already. We’re going to dive into some Formula 1 Driver futures picks, highlighting what racers have the best chance at taking home the title in 2023.
Before diving into the Formula 1 Futures betting action, make sure to check out our Formula 1 betting guide, which is filled with useful resources and information. Additionally, our “How to” guide for Formula 1 betting offers plenty of tips and tricks.
Let’s check out the preseason F1 championship odds.
Formula 1 Drivers Championship Odds
 | To Win 2023 Drivers Championship |
| Max Verstappen | -140 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +300 |
| Charles Leclerc | +500 |
| George Russell | +800 |
| Sergio Perez | +2500 |
| Carlos Sainz | +2500 |
| Lando Norris | +12500 |
| Fernando Alonso | +15000 |
| Esteban Ocon | +25000 |
| Pierre Gasly | +50000 |
| Kevin Magnussen | +100000 |
| Lance Stroll | +100000 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | +100000 |
| Oscar Piatri | +100000 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +100000 |
| Alex Albon | +200000 |
| Guanyu Zhou | +200000 |
| Logan Sargeant | +200000 |
| Nyck De Vries | +200000 |
| Yuki Tsonada | +200000 |
Ahead of the 2023 F1 season, the drivers’ favorites are the reigning champion Max Verstappen (-140), who drives for Red Bull, longtime F1 star Lewis Hamilton (+300) of Mercedes, Charles Leclerc (+500) of Ferrari, and up-and-comer George Russell (+800) of Mercedes. These are the only four drivers who are currently under +2000 odds.
Why Max Verstappen can win
The reigning champion had a historic season in the F1 2022 campaign, during which he recorded the most single-season points in the sport’s history. Verstappen was outstanding for Red Bull in 2022. Across the 22-race schedule, Verstappen topped the charts with a record 15 wins and 17 podiums. It was the second consecutive year that Verstappen had won the F1 championship, having done so in 2021 with 10 wins under his belt.
Now, Verstappen is on the verge of a three-peat, and he’s the early betting favorite once again. The Dutchman built off a strong 2021 season in 2022, and while it’d be a shock to see him outrace the masterclass he strung together last year, he figures to be at the top of his game once again in 2023, content in his Red Bull car.
There’s plenty of reason to think Verstappen will repeat as the F1 champion in 2023, and I certainly think he has the best shot of anyone to do so. He was the clear-cut best driver on the circuit last season, and when he was at his best, races often weren’t even close. With that type of dominance, it’s hard to bet against Max Verstappen in 2023. This is my favorite pick, and at (-140), Verstappen to win it all is an outstanding selection.
Why Lewis Hamilton or George Russell can win
Lewis Hamilton is one of the most successful racers of all time and a Formula 1 legend. Last year, however, he had a difficult go throughout the season. For the first time in recent memory, Lewis Hamilton failed to win a single race across the 2022 campaign. The Mercedes star finished sixth in the F1 standings, the worst finish of his entire professional career. That begs the question of whether it was the car that was insufficient, or if Hamilton may be losing his touch.
As for George Russell, the young Mercedes driver earned the first win of his career in 2022, adding eight podiums and finishing fourth in the standings.
If the Mercedes car simply wasn’t up to satisfactory levels, then Hamilton could be in line for a big bounce-back season in 2023. Mercedes will ensure their legendary driver has the best possible vehicle heading into the season, so it’ll be up to him to get the results. That could also suggest a big year for Russell.
Personally, I think Hamilton is beginning to fade, and I have a hard time seeing him win the championship this year. In fact, I find it more likely that the Mercedes driver suffers another finish outside of the top three, or potentially the top five. George Russell is ready to take the Mercedes torch, and I believe he’ll finish ahead of his veteran teammate.
Having Hamilton as the second-favorite to win the Championship only confirms my belief that Verstappen will run away with it once again this year, but George Russell at (+800) could be worth a look, though it’s a longshot.
Why Charles Leclerc can win
Across the entire 2022 season, there were only five races that Max Verstappen didn’t win. Of those five races, three were won by Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver, in my opinion, is the second-best driver in the field, and if there’s anyone who is going to upend Verstappen it’ll be the Frenchman.
In addition to his three wins, Leclerc placed second in the standings and finished the season with 11 podiums, placing in the top three in 50 percent of his races. Consistency will be key for Leclerc as he looks to solidfy himself as the runner-up behind Verstappen, and potentially eclipse the Red Bull star in 2023.
If Leclerc gets off to a strong start, he could potentially rival Verstappen for the title down the stretch. At (+500) odds, Leclerc has some solid value to sprinkle a futures bet on.
Before diving into the Formula 1 Driver’s Championship futures betting action, make sure to check out our top sportsbook reviews in order to get all the info you need.
