The next pit stop for the 2024 Formula 1 season will be at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. The 10th race of the campaign is scheduled for Sunday, June 23rd.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen arrives in Barcelona with a 56-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship, having won six of the previous nine races. He’s also the pre-race favourite to prevail again here, although Ferrari prodigy Charles Leclerc will also be confident, having won in Monte Carlo on May 26th.
But are there other leading contenders to win in Spain, and who do we think will prevail here at talkSPORT BET?
Who is favoured to win the Spanish Grand Prix?
At the time of writing, you can back Verstappen to win the Spanish Grand Prix at odds of 1/2* (1.50). These odds imply a 66.7% probability of Verstappen triumphing, which is impressive given that 21 drivers will start on the grid.
However, Verstappen has been beaten in two of the previous four races, having won four of the first five at the beginning of the season. This includes Leclerc’s impressive win in Monte Carlo, while the Frenchman also placed third at Imola on May 19th. So, he’s in excellent form and offers exceptional value at a real-time price of 8/1* (9.00).
The same can be said for Lando Norris. The young Brit, who races for McLaren, is currently the second favourite to win in Spain at odds of 5/1* (6.00). This implies just a 20% probability of a Norris victory, but he did triumph in Miami back on May 5th. He also pushed Verstappen all the way in Canada last time out so that he may be appealing to fans of value betting.
Race info
Located in Montmeló, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya first opened on September 10th, 1991, and has undergone several revisions in recent years. After the most recent revamp in 2021, the circuit now combines a thrilling meld of fast and slow corners, while its varied elevation challenges make it one of the more challenging tracks for racers.
When is the Spanish Grand Prix?
Because of this, the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix is likely to be a hotly anticipated and fiercely contested race. The event commences on Friday, June 21st, with two rounds of practice scheduled for 12:30 and 16:30 GMT. A third practice session is scheduled for Saturday, 22nd June, at 11:30.
Formal qualification also gets underway later that day, with this set to start at around 15:00. This will determine each driver’s starting place on the grid, with Verstappen looking to claim pole position for the eighth time this season.
Then comes the race itself, which is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, 23rd June, at 14:00. Drivers will then compete over 307.362 km and 66 laps before the winner is confirmed.
Who won last year?
Unsurprisingly, given his dominance through 2023, Dutchman Verstappen won last year’s Spanish Grand Prix. This was one of a staggering 19 victories for the Red Bull driver last season, while it also saw him produce one of his more dominant performances.
In fact, polesitter Verstappen led from start to finish in Spain, with rivals Norris and Lewis Hamilton colliding as they approached the first corner and incurring significant damage.
Although Hamilton eventually recovered to finish in second, he was a distant 24.090 seconds behind Verstappen when the Dutch driver took the chequered flag.
Other Leading Contenders
As we’ve touched on, Leclerc and Norris are the most likely winners of the Spanish Grand Prix (aside from Verstappen).
However, Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz won once during the 2024 F1 campaign, triumphing by +2.366 seconds in Melbourne on March 24th. He also earned a third-place finish behind Verstappen and Sergio Perez in Japan two weeks later before claiming another podium finish in Monte Carlo in May. He’s priced at 25/1* (26.00) to win here.
Mercedes’ George Russell is another potential contender in Spain. He’s priced a little shorter at 20/1* (21.00), meaning he has just a 4.76% of prevailing. However, the British driver has accumulated 69 points from nine races while earning a podium finish in Montreal and coming in fifth in Monte Carlo.
Our Spanish Grand Prix Picks
Although there’s a clear betting favourite in the win market ahead of the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, there are several ways in which you can wager on this race. Here’s our key betting insights and Spanish Grand Prix picks.
- Back Verstappen to Win: Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the 26-year-old Max Verstappen has won 25 of the 31 Formula 1 races contested. This includes six victories from the nine races hosted in 2024, while the Red Bull driver also produced a dominant display when winning by more than 24 seconds at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last year. So, Verstappen offers immense value in the win market, even if you choose to wager with an increased stake in the pursuit of higher returns.
- Back Leclerc or Norris for a Podium Finish: Of course, you can also back Verstappen to achieve a podium finish, with the Dutchman achieving this objective in 77 of the previous 95 races since the beginning of 2020. However, Leclerc and Norris arguably offer greater value to finish on the podium, especially considering their longer starting odds. Both drivers have placed in the top three five times this season, although Leclerc may be in slightly better form, having won at Monaco recently.
- Back George Russell Each-Way: George Russell’s form has impressed of late, with his third place run in Montreal particularly eye-catching. He also came fifth in a high-quality race in Monaco, while his Mercedes team is placed fourth in the Constructors’ Championship and has amassed 124 points so far. Of course, Russell also tasted success in the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix and knows what it takes to win an F1 race, so he offers genuine value as an each-way pick in Spain.
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*Prices are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
