Azerbaijan will host their maiden ‘official’ Grand Prix this weekend when the Formula 1 rolls into town. The Baku City Circuit hosted a GP, titled the ‘European Grand Prix’ but will, this year, have their name added to the deed becoming the official Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the first time.
Practice, time trialing and qualifying will be held throughout the weekend with the main race set to kick off at 3am on Monday, the 26th of June.
Nico Roseberg won the GP in his Ferrari last year, so the race will be up for grabs with the reigning champion retiring at the end of last season. Lewis Hamilton unsurprisingly opens as a $1.91 favourite after winning two of the last three races while Sebastian Vettel, who finished outside the top two for the first time in Canada is the second favourite at $3.
Hamilton sits just 12 points behind Vettel in the race for the Drivers Championship heading into the Azerbaijan GP and will be hunting another win here to close the gap even more.
It’s been a two horse race all year, with either Hamilton or Vettel winning 6 out of the 7 races so far. Aussie Daniel Ricciardo has been the closest of the field lately, securing three podium finishes in the last three races.
TIP: Daniel Ricciardo podium finish - $6 at Sportsbet
Every time Hamilton has been able to win a race this year, Vettel has responded with a win of his own to shut down any advances made by the Brit in the Drivers Championship. With Vettel taking out 2nd at Baku last year and Hamilton struggling mightily on the course, falling to 5th, form dictates that this one is Vettel’s to lose.
TIP: Sebastian Vettel to win - $3 at William Hill
Mexican Sergio Perez is another smokey that could see himself on the podium at the end of the day. He hasn’t had the greatest of years so far, with a fourth place in Spain his top finish of the season. However, his only podium in a 2016 season that saw him finish 7th on the Drivers Championship was in the European GP at Baku, so he obviously knows the track well.
TIP: Sergio Perez podium finish - $11 at Sportsbet
Make sure to read full terms and conditions of any betting promotion before placing any bets - may not be available to residents of all states.
Always Gamble Responsibly.
