Verstappen vs. Leclerc Prediction on March 2, 2023

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With Max Verstappen leading the pack, the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix is a highly anticipated start to the 2024 season. The main race is scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 2, at 6 p.m. local time at Sakhir’s desert-based Bahrain International Circuit.

For the sixth time, the Bahrain Grand Prix has opened the Formula One schedule. The first Grand Prix event in the Middle East is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

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The longest Formula One season ever, with a record 24 races, gets underway in Bahrain on Saturday. Expecting to overtake Max Verstappen’s strong Red Bull squad and cut the gap, opponents may have a difficult road ahead of them. 

The Kingdom’s first Saturday night event, the highly anticipated Bahrain Grand Prix (known as the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix for sponsorship reasons), adds even more excitement to the weekend’s events at Sakhir. You can find our comprehensive guide below, which contains all the information you need to start the F1 season with the first race.

The name of a driver who’s currently considered the betting favorite in Bahrain isn’t surprising when looking at the GP Bahrain futures at the newest bookmakers with Android apps. That particular driver is expected to finish at the top of the Formula 1 standings for the entire season, and he’s Max Verstappen.

Even though the odds for this race could change before race day, Verstappen is now the favorite among bookies, and given his domination in 2023, who are we to argue? The Dutchman is expected to be a favorite in most races and a popular pick among predictors for the entire Formula One season.

Even though this is still a very unpredictable sport, Verstappen has a proven track record of winning the majority of his races. That does make him a huge target, but it’s not really a good idea to bet on Verstappen at such a low value though.

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Charles Leclerc is to start the race as the second favorite ahead of Sergio Pérez despite having retired from the Bahrain International Circuit the previous year. The Monégasque finished tied for fourth in the Drivers’ standings with 206 points in 2023 despite never winning a race. Ferrari and Leclerc will be hoping that he doesn’t have to retire from the Bahrain race for the second consecutive year due to a mechanical issue. Verstappen is expected to win this weekend’s Formula One race, and while that expectation is hard to dispute or wager against, there’s a value play at the Bahrain Grand Prix in the top-six finishing market.

Lance Stroll ended the previous season 0.4 seconds outside of a top-five finish, and his odds of repeating the feat from the previous season and placing in the top six are currently very reasonable (5.50 on BetFlip), and that’s something you should try your luck at.