Formula 1 heads to visit our friends up north this week. The Canadian Grand Prix has been held annually since 1967, except in 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Max Verstappen took the pole, and race win in the 2022 running, while Carlos Sainz snagged the fastest lap along with second place. Lewis Hamilton rounded out the podium finish.
Two weeks ago at the Spanish Grand Prix, to nobody’s surprise, Max Verstappen picked up his 40th Formula One victory in just his 170th career start. 24 seconds behind him, Lewis Hamilton picked up his 193rd podium finish, and teammate George Russell rounded out the Spanish Grand Prix podium.
The biggest questions heading into the Canadian Grand Prix revolve around upgrades. Mercedes looked good last race grabbing two podium finishes. Aston Martin looks to keep pace with them after Fernando Alonso finished seventh in Spain, his only finish outside of the top four all season.
Haas team boss Guenther Steiner says the team has made “fantastic” gains in key areas. All eyes will be on them to see where the Haas cars stack up. For more betting analysis and picks, be sure to tune into this week’s episode of the F1 Gambling Podcast.
Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix Best Bets
Total Drivers to be Classified in the Grand Prix Over 18.5 (+250 DraftKings Sportsbook)
The gift that keeps on giving. We hammered all sorts of bets in this direction the last few races, and we’re back for more. Be sure to tune into the F1 GAMBLING PODCAST, where I’ll have multiple different ways to play this one. This season, we’ve had at least 17 classified drivers in each race, with 18 or more consecutively in the last three races.
Last season saw 17 classified at this event, and it’s hard to look back any further with there being no races here in 2020 or 2021. The trend has been great this season for classified finishers, and we will keep riding it.
Lewis Hamilton Podium Finish (-110 Caesars Sportsbook)
The seven-time champion hasn’t finished worse than sixth through seven races so far. Last race in Spain, Lewis was second only to Max Verstappen. Mercedes recently took on some upgrades, and that showed in Spain. I’m looking for Hamilton to do Hamilton things and land on the podium once again.
Alpine – Both Drivers to Finish in the Points (-106 Barstool Sportsbook)
Three Grand Prix in a row, both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have scored the double top 10 finish. At Monaco two rounds ago, Ocon even scored his first podium finish since August 2021, when he won his first race at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Last season with Ocon and Fernando Alonso, Alpine cars scored sixth and ninth-place finishes. Alpine seems to have hit on something as of late, and I expect both drivers to score points again this weekend.
Will Fernando Alonso Finish Top Three – NO (-135 MGM Sportsbook)
Fernando Alonso has arguably been the story of the year in F1 so far in 2023. When he scored a podium finish to open the season in Bahrain, it was only his second podium since 2014. He’s now got five podium finishes in seven races this year. So tell me again, why are we taking the no option on this one?
A couple of reasons. The last race was his worst run of the season, coming in seventh at the Spanish GP. Alonso has made some comments about how Aston Martin needs to increase their rate of development to keep up with some of the competition. With Red Bull’s dominance and Mercedes’ latest upgrades.
Going to a circuit that hasn’t always been treated well, with eight did not finish in 17 races. I’m leaning towards it not being a perfect day, and all that means is fourth or worse for the oldest driver in the field this week.
