Every sport has something iconic that fans look forward to. In some sports, it is matchups between heated rivals, while others have specific events or races that are the highlight of the season. In Formula 1, there is just something a little more special about the Monaco Grand Prix. Rather than whipping around a track at high speed, the drivers are forced to try and maneuver their way around tight city streets. It’s precision driving at it’s finest and arguably the toughest challenge on the Formula 1 schedule. The 2022 version of the Monaco Grand Prix is set to go this weekend, so it’s time to take a closer look at the Formula 1 Betting favorites to get an idea of who might be ready to win.
F1 Betting Odds, Analysis and Prediction for the 2022 Monaco GP Race
Charles Leclerc (-114)
When you win or lose a championship, you want it to happen based on how you perform in each individual race. In F1, there are times when car issues force drivers out of a race, which means losing valuable points that might eventually make a difference when all is said and done. Leclerc had the lead atop the driver standings from Week 1 but being forced to retire in the last race in Spain means that he is now down in 2nd, albeit just 6 points off the pace. He has not had a lot of joy in Monaco, failing to either start or finish in each of the last 2 races there, yet the bookies have him in as the favorite this weekend.
Max Verstappen (+156)
There is a belief that the cream always seems to rise to the top, which is what we are now seeing with the defending F1 champion. After a poor start to the season in Bahrain, Verstappen bounced back with a win, only to be forced to retire in Race 3. Since then, Verstappen has been perfect, winning 3 races in a row, a run that has seen him move back to the top of the driver standings. Another win this weekend and you might have some other drivers ready to throw in the towel. Verstappen has not been great in Monaco during his time with F1, but he got the monkey off his back with a win there last season. In my opinion, he should be the favorite here, as he certainly looks like the driver to beat.
Carlos Sainz Jr. (+850)
Winning in Formula 1 is difficult, but even more so when you have one or two drivers dominating the sport, as Hamilton and Verstappen have done for quite some time now. It does feel like a shift is happening this season, with Carlos Sainz Jr. being one of the drivers who is benefitting from a down season by Lewis Hamilton. In 4 of the 6 races that he has managed to finish this season, Sainz Jr. has been on the podium in 3 of those races. The issue in wagering on this driver is that he is still looking for his first win in Formula 1. That said, he finished 2nd in Monaco last season, so it’s not a huge stretch to suggest that he might well win this weekend.
