The last Formula 1 race of the 2023 season will be held on Sunday. The season has been dominated from start to finish by Red Bull and Max Verstappen. The Austrian racing team won 20 of the 21 World Championship races, 18 of which were GP victories for the Dutchman.
With his 53rd career victory in Las Vegas, Verstappen is now on a par with Sebastian Vettel. At the final race in Abu Dhabi, he can leave the four-time world champion in his wake if he triumphs again.
Once again, Red Bull can only beat itself. Therefore, as de facto for every race weekend, there are only odds of around 1.20 for Verstappen to win
Don’t worry, I’ll give you much better odds in my GP Abu Dhabi betting tip. While Verstappen and Red Bull have long since been crowned drivers’ and constructors’ world champions, things are still exciting behind them.
Mercedes is just four points ahead of Ferrari in the race for second place. The battle for fourth place between McLaren and Aston Martin has also become close once again and positions at the other end of the field could still shift.
A few million US dollars are at stake! The battle between Mercedes and Ferrari is coming to a head in Abu Dhabi. Only four points separate the two Red Bull number one chasers. Charles Leclerc scored a huge haul of points with his second place on the street circuit in Las Vegas.
Carlos Sainz also made it into the Top 6 after his complicated start phase. For Mercedes, on the other hand, the world championship race in Nevada was a shot in the arm. Collisions and a penalty put the brakes on the former permanent winners
After a poor qualifying session and Lando Norris’ retirement, McLaren scored just one point in Las Vegas. As a result, Aston Martin moved back up to eleven points. Lance Stroll in particular has improved in recent races.
The Canadian has finished fifth twice in a row. Nevertheless, there are attractive 2.25 odds at Bwin for a place in the top 10. Although he benefited from rather chaotic laps in Brazil and Las Vegas, he had the pace for a points finish even without the hustle and bustle.
In Abu Dhabi, he will start the race from 13th place. Verstappen has secured the last pole position of the year
Norris and McLaren were also in outstanding form until the cold night race last weekend. The Briton previously had the best pace after Verstappen and was easily able to secure second place after a good qualifying session in Sao Paulo.
The team should get back on track in the final race of the season. Although the race will be run at a later hour, it will start much earlier in the evening. It is also much warmer in Abu Dhabi anyway
I definitely expect Norris to finish on the podium. Bwin is offering 1.50 odds for this. The driver, who is still waiting for his first GP success, has never finished on the podium in Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen has come out on top the last three years. He is still unbeaten on the new layout of the circuit. In 2021, two chicanes for long single corners were removed to give the track a more fluid character and improve overtaking opportunities
As a result, some passages in the final sector have also been defused. Verstappen also secured his first world championship title on the circuit in 2021.
On the final lap, he was able to overtake Lewis Hamilton and clinch the title after a controversial decision by race control during the safety car phase
The last 5 races at the Yas Marina Circuit:
Despite the dominance of Verstappen and Red Bull, the Formula 1 races were not boring. After all, it was close behind the high-flyer in almost every Grand Prix. Crashes and close duels added extra spice.
Racing has definitely improved since the introduction of the ground effect cars in 2022. Thanks to the new generation of vehicles, which generate a lot of downforce via the underbody, the grip when following an opponent has improved significantly
The statistics for the second half of the season show just how action-packed the races were. Bernd Mayländer had to maneuver his safety car out of the pits in eight out of ten races. Only in Spa and Austin did he remain out of action.
Interwetten has top odds of 2.05 for a safety car phase at the end of the season. At the same time, there are also great odds for under 17.5 drivers to finish: 2.20. This bet would have paid off in the last two Abu Dhabi races
Conclusion: Verstappen should also win the 22nd race of the season. He has already prevailed on the circuit the last three years and in race trim the Dutchman is in a league of his own. Even a bad grid position can’t stop him.
Behind him, I expect a very close battle between McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes. The difference will probably be made by Norris, who was the clear second behind under normal conditions, which we also have in Abu Dhabi.
However, I opt for the odds that Hamilton will finish in the top 6. Mercedes had a strong pace in the long run in the last races and the lowest tire wear next to Red Bull. As he starts from eleven, sports betting fans get strong odds for this bet.
Therefore, my betting tip is: Hamilton makes the top 6
