Search

show me:

F1 betting tips: Can anyone stop Max Verstappen at Italian GP?

3 minute read

F1 punters are once again in the familiar position of choosing between backing a prohibitive favourite and looking for some each-way value about his increasingly distant challengers.

Picture: AAP Image

Max Verstappen is the 1/4 favourite to win what would be his 10th consecutive race on Sunday, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

A victory at the iconic track would see the Dutchman add another career record to his portfolio, surpassing Sebastian Vettel's mark of nine successive wins, set for the same Red Bull team back in 2013.

Verstappen negotiated a rain storm at either end of his home race at Zandvoort last Sunday but barely broke a sweat as he equalled Vettel's record. Perhaps an 8/5 punt on the weekend treble – fastest qualifier, fastest lap and race win – may be the value to back the Dutchman.

And it's a measure of his team's dominance that the only other driver to win a race this year, Sergio Perez, is the second favourite to take victory this weekend, albeit at a double-figure price.

Perez, a 12/1 shot, briefly looked to have brought himself in contention in the last race thanks to a decisive opening-lap change to intermediate tyres that vaulted him into the lead.

But Verstappen effortlessly whittled away his margin and leapfrogged ahead of the Mexican when the pair stopped for slick tyres a few laps later.

And it was Perez who slipped up when the rain fell again at the end of the race, sliding straight on at Zandvoort's Turn 1 and suffering a pit lane speeding penalty to leave him fourth at the flag as his team-mate masterfully kept control of the race.

The only other driver on the same planet as Verstappen in that race was Fernando Alonso, who guided his Aston Martin to second place after another flawless weekend for the Spaniard.

He's the 25/1 fourth favourite, behind 20/1 shot Lewis Hamilton, the five-time Monza winner who trailed home sixth for Mercedes at Zandvoort.

The field is 33/1 bar but, arguably, Lando Norris is a few points too long at that price.

We flagged up the potential of the McLaren man last week but Norris failed to capitalise on a front-row starting slot after he stubbornly stayed on slick tyres in the first rainstorm on Sunday.

His pace was impressive as the track dried out, so it's a case of what might have been for the young Brit.

He's a triple-your-money price to put that right and finish on the podium at the super-fast Monza Speedway this weekend.

This probably represents the best bet in a limited betting heat as the world watches Verstappen rewrite the history books.


Racing and Sports

What are you really gambling with?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au