F1 Podium: Three Bets for the 2018 Italian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has won four times at Monza, including last year, and a win on Sunday would tie him with the legendary Michael Schumacher for most all-time at the historic race. Sebastian Vettel is coming off a win in Belgium and his Ferrari is the favorite less than 48 hours before the race. Vettel’s odds are -135 to win his fourth Italian Grand Prix while Hamilton can be locked in at +225. 

It’s a two-car race for the drivers championship, I think all sane individuals realize that, but each week brings with it a new set of bets and opportunities to cash in on the F1 championship circuit. Let’s examine some potential winners this week:

P1: Fastest Lap – Lewis Hamilton (+400)

Hamilton has set the fastest lap time at Monza in three of the last five Grands Prix. Prior to that, his former teammate Nico Rosberg had done the deed for the Mercedes team. Hamilton’s current teammate Valtteri Bottas set the fastest lap last week in Belgium. Daniel Ricciardo had the fastest lap on this track last year but has struggled mightily recently for Red Bull Racing as changes are afoot there. 

P2: Vettel vs Bottas combo podium finish (+200)

Sebastian Vettel has a permanent seat on the podium and Valtteri Bottas has been racing excellently this season. Bottas overcame a penalty, starting from the back rows, plus damage to his car in an early-race mishap, to finish fourth in Belgium while taking home the DHL Fastest Lap award in the process. At +200, I’m keen to make this selection on my F1 bet card this week. 

P3: Win Outright – lewis hamilton (+225)

Every time Lewis Hamilton has lost a race this year, it’s like he gets angry enough to will his way back into a top-of-the-podium finish the following week. As he and Sebastian Vettel go back and forth at the top of the drivers standings, it’s worth the +225 to bet on the four-time Monza champion. 

Below is the complete odds table for the outright winner of the 2018 Italian Grand Prix:

Odds as of August 31 at Bet365