Formula One Racing
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Formula One Racing

The 74th season of Formula One Racing officially began with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 3. The season will continue until Nov. 26, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the final event to decide the champion.

Who are the favorites to win the F1 racing crown? What are some intriguing storylines that fans should look out for? How many races will take place in the United States this year? Let’s explore these questions and take a closer look at Formula One’s 2023 season.

After two races it appears that the Red Bull team will be the one to beat. In the opening race reigning champion Max Verstappen took the checkered flag and his teammate, Sergio Perez finished second.

In the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, on March 19, the finishes were reversed. Perez came in first and Verstappen second.

Championship Favorites

Sports betting is one of the main reasons for Formula One’s recent worldwide popularity. Not everyone enjoys motorsports, but everyone likes betting on them. These are the latest odds-on favorites to capture Formula One’s 74th World Championship, courtesy of Covers and bet365:

  • Max Verstappen -400
  • Fernando Alonso +1,000
  • Charles Leclerc +1,200
  • Lewis Hamilton +1,200
  • Sergio Perez +1,600
  • George Russell +3,300
  • Carlos Sainz Jr. +4,000
  • Lance Stroll +20,000
  • Lando Norris +50,000

This lineup should be refreshing to see for F1 diehards. There’s a pleasant mixture of vehicles. Verstappen races with Red Bull’s Honda team, but Aston Martin, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and several other big-name automakers are also on this list.

Make sure you know your state’s sports gambling laws if you plan to bet on Formula One races this season. So far, 31 states and Washington, D.C., have fully legalized sports betting and provide resources to help people gamble responsibly.  If you are looking to place your bet, you can do so on BetUS, the world’s first online sportsbook.

Intriguing Storylines

Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team are the most interesting storyline heading into the 2023 Formula One season. Red Bull Racing received a $7 million fine for breaching its salary cap in 2022. Team principal Christian Horner believes the fine will cost the team a half-second per lap, but his concerns are unfounded so far. Verstappen won the first race of 2023 at the Bahrain Grand Prix without a hiccup.

The Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz racing teams also experienced setbacks in 2022, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton as their drivers, respectively. These two are the top challengers to Verstappen’s crown, along with the Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso.

Other racers like Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll face immense pressure entering the 2023 season. Perez has underperformed in recent years compared to his Red Bull teammate Verstappen, and Stroll is coming back from a wrist injury with high expectations. It remains to be seen whether they deserve to be among the odds-on favorites to win the championship.

As always, everyone is excited to see the latest developments in the performance and design of Formula One’s racing vehicles. The sport has seen amazing advancements in the last few decades, including the introduction of crumple zones and survivor cells that made race cars much safer. Every year seems to bring a new idea or technology to the table.

American Formula One Races 2023

Europe has always dominated the Formula One scene, but it has slowly gained a following in the United States. America has three races on the 2023 schedule:

Miami — May 7, 2023

The Formula One schedule makes its first stop at the Miami International Autodrome on May 7. This race should come as no surprise after a successful debut in 2022, in which Verstappen took first place. Will Verstappen repeat, or will the lone American racer Logan Sargeant defend his home soil in his rookie year?

Austin — Oct. 22, 2023

Austin’s Circuit of the Americas has become a mainstay on the Formula One calendar in the last decade. It’s known for its tight corners and massive fan presence, and this event will be among the most action-packed on the entire schedule. The Circuit of the Americas also hosts an annual NASCAR event, so the motorsports culture runs deep here.

Las Vegas — Nov. 18, 2023

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is the latest addition to the Formula One calendar — the first time F1 has come to Vegas in 41 years. It’s the season’s penultimate event, so the stakes will be extremely high. Part of the race will also go through the Las Vegas strip, making for a fantastic viewing experience.

Hop on the F1 Bandwagon

Those new to Formula One will be hooked after watching just one race. The speed, intensity and strategy are unmatched. No other motorsports league comes close. Hop on the F1 bandwagon in 2023 and see what you’re missing out on.