Eric Uribe
Three races inside a one-month span will decide the 2021 F1 world champion. The first of those races goes down in Qatar on Sunday, November 21. In this article, we’re previewing the big race as well as giving you our own 2021 F1 Qatar Grand Prix betting pick to win.
But before we get to that, let’s take a look at the current F1 betting odds. Per the best Formula 1 betting sites, these are the top-five drivers favored to win at Qatar outright:
| Team |  |  |
| Lewis Hamilton | -145 | -145 |
| Max Verstappen | +145 | +145 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +1600 | +1600 |
| Sergio Perez | +2000 | +2000 |
| Charles Leclerc | +5000 | +5000 |
| Lando Norris | +6500 | +6500 |
Hamilton won the most recent Brazilian Grand Prix, outpacing second-place Verstappen by 10 seconds. As a result, Verstappen clings to a slim 14-point lead over Hamilton atop the standings for the world championship. Neither man can afford a bad result the rest of the way out, which sets up a dramatic time in Qatar.
2021 F1 Qatar Grand Prix Preview
Previewing the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix is tricky because it’s a brand-spanking-new course. The Losail International Circuit is a first-time addition to the circuit (and will be a staple for ten more years after). Therefore, it’s really tough to guestimate which driver, if any, will have an advantage come race time.
The Losail track does feature a bevy of medium-speed corners. On paper, one would think that best suits Red Bull’s speedy car. Then again, its tyres may not be suited for it — akin to what happened at the Turkish Grand Prix, a somewhat similar track in which Mercedes ultimately fared better than Red Bull. Expect tyres to be a constant talking point from now until Sunday’s conclusion. You see, the track’s litany of corners could lead to cars experiencing high-than-usual tyre degradation.
So to sum it up, Qatar is a wildcard race and you should “tread” carefully when betting on it — see what we did there? No, but seriously, you don’t want to lay a large sum of money when there’s no data/history to indicate what’s likely to happen at the track. With that said, when making a medium-sized bet, we have a clear idea of who should get that wager from you, which we’ll cover next.
Best Bet To Win 2021 F1 Qatar GP
Plain and simple, Hamilton dominated this past weekend in Sao Paulo. It really was an incredible performance from Hamilton that justifies him being the betting favorite to win the 2021 Qatar GP across the best-rated sportsbooks for motor racing.
Here’s a one-paragraph summary of Hamilton’s weekend: he was the best car in qualifying by a mile. Despite starting dead last in the sprint race (due to a rule violation), he finished in fifth. Then came the Grand Prix, another rule violation forced him to start from the tenth spot. But in the end, it didn’t matter as he won first place and held a comfortable advantage over Verstappen. The events were a reminder why Hamilton is an all-timer, even though he’s looked a tad slower than Verstappen much of 2021.
After that weekend, it’s tough NOT to bet with Hamilton. We’re sure not and we advise you to do the same. As we alluded to earlier, Red Bull’s tyres might become a disadvantage at this unpredictable track. Hamilton is the “safer” wager to make here, but again, don’t “bet the house” because of the natural unpredictability of a first-time event.
How To Watch The Qatar Grand Prix
This has been one of the best Formula 1 seasons in a long, long time. That’s why you almost need to watch the final stretch, even if that means waking up before the sun has risen (which will be the case for many since the final races are all in the Middle East and its opposite time zone). Here’s how you can watch the looming Qatar Grand Prix:
- What day is the Qatar Grand Prix? Sunday, November 21
- What time is the Qatar Grand Prix? 8 am EST sharp
- What channel is the Qatar Grand Prix on? For those inside the United States, ESPN2 is the exclusive TV broadcaster
- How to stream the Qatar Grand Prix? So long as you have a paying cable/satellite package that includes ESPN2, you can use the WatchESPN app to stream in real-time
After Qatar, the final two races happen on December 5 (Saudi Arabian GP) and December 12 (Abu Dhabi). The way things are trending right now, the finale might be a winner-take-all race for the world championship.
How To Bet On The 2021 F1 Qatar Grand Prix
You know who we’re betting on and why, now the question is: are you following our advice or betting against it? Hey, we won’t get offended either way, but if you need a trusty betting site to place your bets on the Qatar Grand Prix, then pay attention to the bottom table. We’ve listed the “cream of the crop” bookmakers, all of which will have betting lines for the Qatar event, as well as the final two races afterward.
While you’re on these same sites, be sure to explore the sportsbook sign-up bonuses currently available on them. We’ve listed the top deals in the table underneath. Any one of the offers could score you free play to the tune of hundreds to thousands of dollars. Get your free money by clicking the links below!
