F1 2018 Spanish Grand Prix Betting Preview

In the last Formula 1 race on April 29, Lewis Hamilton took his first win of 2018 down in Azerbaijan, and that vaulted him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings, four points ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Daniel Ricciardo has just two finished but has picked up 37 points. Hamilton could be about to turn 2018 into another run for Mercedes, but Red Bull and Ferrari still stand as contenders. Check out our F1 betting preview for this Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

F1 2018 Spanish Grand Prix Betting Preview

Hamilton also won here in 2017, and given that he won last week, he appears to have some momentum going, as he finally got some payback against Sebastian Vettel in Azerbaijan. At Barcelona last year, Hamilton not only w0n qualifying, he won the race, and he also had the day’s fastest lap. It is worth noting that it was an untimely collision that set the stage for Hamilton’s win in Azerbaijan. The Red Bull crash started a series of events that led to Mercedes winning the race. In qualifying, Mercedes took the whole front row in 2017 — and in four of the last five seasons — but they have missed out on the pole position in qualifying for three straight races. But we’re already seeing that the rivalry between Mercedes and Ferrari will no longer dominate the outcome, as Red Bull is a serious player. The clash between Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo in Azerbaijan showed that they will play a significant role in the outcome. Even though they have each suffered DNFs in two of the last three races — breaking a streak that dated back to the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, they will drive with more care in Barcelona. Of the 27 Grands Prix that have been contested in Catalonia, 24 of the winners have come from the front row, which is the highest proportion for any track on the Formula 1 calendar that has a minimum of 10 races. The Spanish track is difficult when it comes to passing. However, with that said, there have been many different drivers who have won here, such as Pastor Maldonado, in 2012, and Max Verstappen, who won here in 2016 in his debut race for Red Bull. There have been ten different winners in each of the last ten years, and there could be another new winner this year, if Valtteri Bottas or Ricciardo can follow up on solid recent form and finish a race strong. Many of the teams bring in consequential upgrades at this point in the season. McLaren is one example this year, bringing in cars with hefty changes. They are currently battling with Renault in the middle of the pack, so those changes could end up shifting the scene. Renault’s Carlos Sainz could be a dark horse here, as he has finished in the top nine in each of his last three races. Force India, who made it to the podium in Baku, with Sergio Perez finishing third, got a shot in the arm from that result, and Toro Rosso saw Brendon Hartley finish in the points for the first time this year. Charles Leclerc also posted points for the first time a week ago, as did Lance Stroll for Williams. I would include Hamilton on my wager card, as he has the chance to join a select group of Formula 1 legends who have won here three times. That would tie him with Mika Hakkinen move him three wins behind Michael Schumacher. He has started in the front row each year since 2013 — the year before, when he was racing with McLaren, he won qualifying but was kicked off the front row because he did not have enough fuel. Vettel has never started on the pole at this track, but he has won qualifying at three races in a row. Can he make it four?