When betting on Formula 1, you can predict much more than just the winner of a Grand Prix. You can place bets on podium finishes, points, qualifying results, the fastest lap, retirements, and even the deployment of a safety car. Furthermore, throughout the season, you can bet on who will become the Drivers’ or Constructors’ World Champion. In this article, we explain the most popular F1 bets and how they work.
Most Popular F1 Bets
| Bet Type | What are you predicting? |
|---|---|
| Race Winner | Who will win the Grand Prix |
| Top 3 | Whether a driver will reach the podium |
| Top 6 | Whether a driver will finish in the top six |
| Points Finish | Whether a driver will score points in the race |
| Qualifying Winner | Who will start from pole position |
| Fastest Lap | Who will set the fastest lap |
| Both Cars in Top X | Whether both drivers from the same team will finish in the specified positions |
| Retirement | Whether a driver will fail to finish the race |
| Safety Car / Red Flag | Whether a specific event (safety car or red flag) will occur during the race |
| Season Bets | Drivers’ or Constructors’ World Champion |
Race Winner
The simplest F1 bet is predicting the race winner.
For example:
- Max Verstappen
- Lando Norris
- Charles Leclerc
- Oscar Piastri
To win the bet, the chosen driver must win the Grand Prix. It does not matter which starting position they begin from, nor whether the victory is achieved through pure driving performance, pit-stop strategy, or the misfortune of rivals.
While a bet on the winner is easy to understand, the odds for favorites are usually quite low, which often leads bettors to look at other markets.
What are “Top X” bets?
In F1, you don’t always have to predict the winner. At OlyBet, you can also bet on whether a driver will finish, for example, in the top two, top three, or top six.
For example:
- Lando Norris to finish in the Top 2
- Charles Leclerc to finish in the Top 3
- George Russell to finish in the Top 6
A “Top 3” bet is essentially a prediction that a driver will reach the podium. Such markets can be a good choice when you consider a driver to be strong, but don’t necessarily want to bet on them winning the race.
Will a driver finish in the points?
In Formula 1, the top ten drivers earn World Championship points. Consequently, it is popular to bet on whether a specific driver will finish in the points.
This can be particularly interesting for mid-field drivers—those with a low probability of winning or reaching the podium, but who have a realistic chance of breaking into the top ten.
For instance, a bettor might evaluate:
- the car’s speed;
- the driver’s current form;
- the starting position;
- how well the track suits the car;
- weather conditions.
How to bet on F1 qualifying?
An F1 weekend offers betting opportunities even before the main race, with markets available for free practice sessions and qualifying.
The most common qualifying bet is: Qualifying Winner
The bet wins if the chosen driver achieves the best result in qualifying and starts the main race from the first position.
Other betting options include, for example:
- The car that wins qualifying;
- The margin of victory for the qualifying winner (in seconds);
- A driver winning both qualifying and the race.
When placing bets on qualifying, it is worth paying close attention to free practice sessions and single-lap pace.
Combination bets for qualifying and the race
For more experienced bettors, there are also more specific combination markets available.
For example:
- Wins qualifying and the race
- Wins qualifying, the race, and sets the fastest lap
- Sets the fastest lap and wins the race
The more conditions that must be met simultaneously, the higher the odds offered—but the lower the probability of the bet winning.
Fastest Lap Bets
The fastest lap is one of the most exciting special markets in F1.
You can bet on, for example:
- the driver who sets the fastest lap;
- the car that sets the fastest lap.
In this market, the favorite is not necessarily the driver who wins the race.
The outcome of the fastest lap can be significantly influenced by tire strategy, a late pit stop, having a clear track, and a situation where a driver has the opportunity to chase a fast lap time on fresh tires toward the end of the race.
Will both cars achieve a high-ranking finish?
In F1, you can also place bets on the performance of both cars from a single team.
For example:
- Both McLarens finish in the Top 6
- Both Ferraris finish in the Top 10
For this type of bet, both drivers must meet the specified condition. You can also bet on which team will score the most points during a Grand Prix weekend.
These markets allow you to assess the overall strength of a team, rather than focusing on an individual driver.
Will a driver finish the race?
In Formula 1, a technical failure, a crash, or another issue can quickly bring a driver’s race to an end.
Therefore, you can place bets on outcomes such as:
- Whether a driver will finish the race
- Whether a driver will fail to be classified (receive no result)
- Which driver will retire first
- Which car will retire first
When considering retirements, it is worth analyzing both the reliability of the car and the driver’s historical risk of being involved in a crash.
Safety Car, Virtual Safety Car, and Red Flag
F1 also offers special event-based bets. For instance, you can predict whether the race will feature:
- A Safety Car
- A Virtual Safety Car
- A Red Flag
When evaluating these markets, factors such as the characteristics of the track, the weather, and previous races held at the same circuit can be significant.
On narrow street circuits or in races with changeable weather, the risk of interruptions and the deployment of a safety car may be higher.
Bets on the First Pit Stop
Another unique F1 betting market concerns pit stops. You can bet on which driver will make the first pit stop.
This can be influenced by:
- tire choice;
- starting position;
- tire wear;
- weather;
- an early safety car;
- team strategy.
This is a more complex market, where it is worth following the weekend’s practice sessions and observing how the tires perform before placing a bet.
F1 Season Bets
F1 betting is not limited to individual Grand Prix races. At OlyBet, you can also place season-long bets:
Drivers’ World Champion
Constructors’ World Champion
It is worth keeping an eye on season-long bets throughout the year, as odds fluctuate based on race results, car development, and the standings.
How to analyze F1 bets before a race?
Before placing a bet, consider at least the following factors:
- Qualifying results
- Pace during free practice sessions
- Track characteristics
- Tire wear
- Weather forecast
- Car reliability
- Starting position
- Past performance at the same circuit
A fast car and driver are not necessarily the favorites at every circuit. Some machines are better suited for long, fast straights, while others perform better on technical tracks with slow corners.
How to bet on F1 responsibly?
- Gamble responsibly. 18+
- Set a strict budget
- Do not try to chase losses
- Analyze qualifying and practice sessions before placing bets
- Do not bet solely on your favorite driver
- Only wager amounts you can afford to lose
F1 betting offers a wide range of options, from predicting the race winner to special bets on qualifying, the fastest lap, pit stops, and the safety car. Throughout the season, you can also track the odds for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships. The better you understand the structure of a race weekend and the various betting markets, the more informed your betting decisions will be. All of OlyBet’s Formula 1 betting markets are gathered on one page.
FAQ About F1 Betting
What can you bet on in F1?
In F1, you can bet on outcomes such as the race winner, a podium finish, qualifying results, the fastest lap, retirements, and various special bets.
What is an F1 “Top 3” bet?
A “Top 3” bet wins if the selected driver finishes the race among the top three—in other words, reaches the podium.
Can you bet on F1 qualifying?
Yes. You can bet on outcomes such as the winner of qualifying, the winning car, or combined results for qualifying and the main race.
What F1 season-long bets are available at OlyBet?
At OlyBet, you can place bets on the Drivers’ World Champion and the Constructors’ World Champion.
Which F1 bet is suitable for a beginner?
For a beginner, the simplest markets are those for the race winner, a Top 3 finish, and finishing in the points, as their terms are easy to understand.
