F1 Picks: Max Verstappen favorite to win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Updated November 15, 2022
Updated November 15, 2022By Daniel Feliciano

The F1 returns for final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates where Max Verstappen enters the track looking to make history as a two-time F1 world champion.

Last time out in Brazil the Dutch driver struggled and finished in 6th place as George Russell claimed his maiden victory of the season with Mercedes claiming a one-two.

We’ll take a look ahead to the next race and see if we can provide you with some extra cash for the rest of the summer with our best free F1 betting picks.

Sbs F1 Picks Max Verstappen Favorite To Win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Sbs F1 Picks Max Verstappen Favorite To Win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Learn more about how to bet on Formula 1 here.

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Information

Favorites to win F1 race

Below you’ll find a list of the drivers favored to win in Abu Dhabi.

Max Verstappen – Red Bull – (+125)

There is no doubt that Verstappen has been the best Formula 1 driver in the world this year. The Red Bull star has won 14 of the 21 races in 2022 and claimed 15 podium finishes in the last 18 races, showing his true dominance on the track.

Verstappen finds himself miles clear atop the F1 World Drivers’ Championship standings thanks to his unrivalled performances but will want to continue that dominance with another win here. He has already been crowned champion, and will want to show why on one of the more entertaining tracks on the calendar.

With this being the final race of the season and everything already settled, Verstappen is arguably the most motivated man on the track as he looks to extend his record for most wins in a season.

He’s got the best car, is the best driver, and has shown countless times that he can overcome adversity and it seems like an easy bet. He got the win here last time out, and he’s our F1 betting pick for the race.

Max Verstappento win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
+125
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Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – (+250)

The seven-time world champion has won five times on this track before, more than anyone else in history, and this is his final chance to stop himself going the entire season without a win.

Following three successive third-place finishes in Canada, Britain, and Austria, the Englishman secured back-to-back P2 finishes in France and Hungary.

He loves this track as previously mentioned, but he hasn’t won here since 2019.

Sitting in fifth place of the Driver’s Championship standings is unfamiliar for the Brit, but he knows how to win races and if he can get to the front he’ll be confident of staying there despite Verstappen’s recent successes.

He does have history against him, with no driver ever winning a race beyond their 300th F1 appearance, but if anyone can topple that statistic, it’s the man who will be in the argument for greatest of all time when his career is done so that it could be worth a flutter.

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Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – (+1000)

It’s not been the best of seasons for Leclerc, and he saw his final chances of becoming champion go up in smoke when he was overtaken on the line in Japan.

If the 25-year-old performs to the best of his ability and Ferrari picks the right strategy, he could certainly take the chequered flag if things fall his way. But if he makes another mistake or the team lets him down once again, he will struggle to compete for P1 and potentially even the podium. The latter seems to be the most likely as it has been the story of the season.

Leclerc won two of the first three races this year, and on top of that, he notched a couple of P2 finishes across the opening five outings. But with two DNFs in the next five, he failed to secure a single podium in any of those races.

The Monegasque won the Austrian Grand Prix in July, but the good times didn’t last long. A fortnight later, Leclerc crashed out of the French GP while leading the race – adding another error to his catalog and gifting Verstappen the win. He finished second, second, third and third in each of the last four races behind the Red Bull cars every time prior to Mexico, where he finished sixth and then finished fourth last weekend in Brazil.

This season is essentially over already, but expect him to come back strong next season and really push Verstappen all the way.

Sergio Perez – Red Bull – (+1200)

Perez ended a run of just two podium finishes in his last eight races, with two DNF’s also in that run, by winning the Singapore GP in a race that was rather uneventful to say the least, and then sealed the title for Verstappen when he overtook Leclerc on the line in Japan. He also finished third in the USA and Mexico to keep his momentum going.

He is performing well and driving like the talent we all know he is, making all the right decisions at the right times and being rewarded for it currently with good performances and results. It’s a shame for him that this wasn’t the pattern of his season.

Red Bull have a brilliant chance to claim victory in Abu Dhabi to celebrate their Constructers’ championship win, but if anyone is going to get that joy it’ll be the reigning champion. After their mega dispute last week where Verstappen didn’t allow him to pass despite team orders, it’s hard to see him being victorious here.

Sergio Perezto win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
+1200
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About the Author

Daniel Feliciano
Daniel Feliciano

A soccer and MMA fanatic who believes the eye test far outweighs statistics, apart from when it comes to betting. With experience writing for several years, Daniel is an avid sports fan but also enjoys obstacle courses, music and views from a height.

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