talkSPORT betting tips – Best F1 bets and expert advice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Max Verstappen’s fourth world championship success came with more challenges than his comfortable second and third titles but he is finishing the season strongly with wins in two of the last three races and is looking for another in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver is 80 points ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris heading into the 24th and final race of the season but the runner-up spot is up for grabs with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc just eight points behind the British star. The constructors title will also be decided on Sunday, with McLaren holding a 21-point lead over Ferrari as they seek their first team title since 1998. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Tips Max Verstappen to win Abu Dhabi GP – 9/4 Charles Leclerc to win Abu Dhabi GP (each-way) – 6/1 Yuki Tsunoda points finish – 5/2 talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Get £20 in free bets Max Verstappen to win Abu Dhabi GP – 9/4 Max Verstappen has shown no signs of easing up since clinching his fourth world championship win in Las Vegas. The Dutch driver struggled in the sprint race in Qatar last week but was back at the front when it mattered, taking pole for the grand prix and then winning for the ninth time this season. Now he rounds off another successful campaign in Abu Dhabi, where he has taken pole and won the race in each of the last four seasons. Few F1 fans will need reminding that his 2021 success was hugely controversial and assisted greatly by some unprecedented late decisions by the race director which denied Lewis Hamilton an eighth world title. But there’s no denying that this is a venue Verstappen enjoys racing at and he could be hard to stop. His main rival Lando Norris was hit hard by a penalty in last week’s messy race in Qatar which dropped him from second place to last. He recovered to finish 10th, but he has not come higher than sixth in any of the last three grands prix after heading to Brazil looking to have a genuine chance of denying Verstappen the title. Mercedes have a temperamental car but Las Vegas winner George Russell could be a threat if they have a positive weekend, although Lewis Hamilton is having a miserable time as he prepares to leave the team to join Ferrari next season. Charles Leclerc to win Abu Dhabi GP (each-way) – 6/1 Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has every reason to try to summon up a strong finish to the season with second place in the championship in his sights. He has some excellent track form, having finished runner-up to Verstappen in Abu Dhabi in each of the last two seasons, starting from second on the grid last year and third in 2022. Leclerc will be joined by his brother Arthur Leclerc in an historic pairing for the first practice session this weekend and his consistent performances have seen him claim 11 consecutive top-five finishes. The Monegasque driver was runner-up to Verstappen in Qatar last week and has a solid chance of putting the pressure on Norris by securing his 13th podium finish of the season. Yuki Tsunoda points finish – 5/2 Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda has never been seriously considered for a Red Bull drive during his time in their junior programme but he has a major incentive to impress this weekend. Tsunoda will finally get the chance to drive the Red Bull car in the post-season test at this track and he would love to enhance his case for promotion with a strong weekend in the Visa Cash App RB car. Tsunoda has had a mixed campaign but is a steady 12th in the championship and scored back-to-back points finishes in Sao Paulo and Las Vegas before taking 13th in Qatar. He showed up well in Abu Dhabi last season, finishing eighth after taking sixth on the grid, and is a decent price to make the top 10 again this week. talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Get £20 in free bets 18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ via mobile on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 4x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org
Max Verstappen’s fourth world championship success came with more challenges than his comfortable second and third titles but he is finishing the season strongly with wins in two of the last three races and is looking for another in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver is 80 points ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris heading into the 24th and final race of the season but the runner-up spot is up for grabs with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc just eight points behind the British star.
The constructors title will also be decided on Sunday, with McLaren holding a 21-point lead over Ferrari as they seek their first team title since 1998.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Tips
- Max Verstappen to win Abu Dhabi GP – 9/4
- Charles Leclerc to win Abu Dhabi GP (each-way) – 6/1
- Yuki Tsunoda points finish – 5/2
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Max Verstappen to win Abu Dhabi GP – 9/4
Max Verstappen has shown no signs of easing up since clinching his fourth world championship win in Las Vegas.
The Dutch driver struggled in the sprint race in Qatar last week but was back at the front when it mattered, taking pole for the grand prix and then winning for the ninth time this season.
Now he rounds off another successful campaign in Abu Dhabi, where he has taken pole and won the race in each of the last four seasons.
Few F1 fans will need reminding that his 2021 success was hugely controversial and assisted greatly by some unprecedented late decisions by the race director which denied Lewis Hamilton an eighth world title. But there’s no denying that this is a venue Verstappen enjoys racing at and he could be hard to stop.
His main rival Lando Norris was hit hard by a penalty in last week’s messy race in Qatar which dropped him from second place to last. He recovered to finish 10th, but he has not come higher than sixth in any of the last three grands prix after heading to Brazil looking to have a genuine chance of denying Verstappen the title.
Mercedes have a temperamental car but Las Vegas winner George Russell could be a threat if they have a positive weekend, although Lewis Hamilton is having a miserable time as he prepares to leave the team to join Ferrari next season.
Charles Leclerc to win Abu Dhabi GP (each-way) – 6/1
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has every reason to try to summon up a strong finish to the season with second place in the championship in his sights.
He has some excellent track form, having finished runner-up to Verstappen in Abu Dhabi in each of the last two seasons, starting from second on the grid last year and third in 2022.
Leclerc will be joined by his brother Arthur Leclerc in an historic pairing for the first practice session this weekend and his consistent performances have seen him claim 11 consecutive top-five finishes.
The Monegasque driver was runner-up to Verstappen in Qatar last week and has a solid chance of putting the pressure on Norris by securing his 13th podium finish of the season.
Yuki Tsunoda points finish – 5/2
Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda has never been seriously considered for a Red Bull drive during his time in their junior programme but he has a major incentive to impress this weekend.
Tsunoda will finally get the chance to drive the Red Bull car in the post-season test at this track and he would love to enhance his case for promotion with a strong weekend in the Visa Cash App RB car.
Tsunoda has had a mixed campaign but is a steady 12th in the championship and scored back-to-back points finishes in Sao Paulo and Las Vegas before taking 13th in Qatar.
He showed up well in Abu Dhabi last season, finishing eighth after taking sixth on the grid, and is a decent price to make the top 10 again this week.
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18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ via mobile on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 4x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org
