Formula 1 2021 Austrian Grand Prix Odds & Picks

• Following dominating win in last weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen returns to Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix as a heavy favorite
• Lewis Hamilton seeks to end a run of four straight races without a win trailing Verstappen in the Formula 1 odds
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Sunday morning’s running of the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen will be looking to follow up on last weekend’s dominating performance in the Styrian Grand Prix, when he returns to Red Bull Ring for this weekend’s running of the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix as a heavy -150 favorite.

Verstappen led from pole to flag last weekend on his way to his fourth victory of the season, padding his lead atop the Formula 1 Drivers Standings to 18 points over defending champion Lewis Hamilton. Now winless in four straight outing in a single season for the first time since 2016, Hamilton lags as a +200 second favorite. His Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, returns to Spielberg as the defending champion at this event, and is knotted with Red Bull rival Sergio Perez as a +1200

Here’s a look at all the odds and trends ahead of the 35th running of the Austrian Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring on Sunday morning at 9:00am ET.

Odds to Win 2021 Austrian Grand Prix

Odds as of July 1, 2021

Verstappen’s Dream Season Continues

Max Verstappen continued his relentless march towards his first F1 championship with a flawless performance last weekend. After seizing the pole position, the 23-year-old never looked back, setting a pace that led to subsequent calls from Hamilton for Mercedes to make upgrades in a bid to remain competitive.

Current Driver's and Constructor's Championship Standings #F1 #StyrianGP pic.twitter.com/WPTYK97xje

— ℝ𝕒𝕓𝕓𝕒𝕕𝕙𝕒𝕜𝕚® (@abadaaki) June 27, 2021

Verstappen’s victory marked the ninth time he has finished among the top two in 11 outings dating back to last season, a run that includes five wins. With teammate Sergio Perez also turning in steady results, Red Bull now sport a growing 40-point lead over Mercedes in the F1 Constructors Standings, and have soared to heavy -223 favorites to end the German team’s run of seven straight F1 Constructor title wins.

Tires, Weather a Factor

With Verstappen now turning in the best performances of his F1 career, and Mercedes making no secret of their concerns about keeping pace, can anyone stop Max this weekend? Mercedes have enjoyed their fair share of success at Red Bull Ring, earning the win in five of the past eight races held on this track, with Hamilton and Bottas each taking home the checkered flag on two occasions. But considering the challenges this team has faced in keeping pace, and in avoiding bad luck, they are likely to need some help.

@lewishamilton asked about Red Bull's pace. "They had around three or four tenths [a lap]. It was pretty impressive. They've made some pretty big steps in the last few races. We haven't bought any upgrades in recent races but they have. We need somehow to find performance."

— Byron Young (@byronf1) June 27, 2021

The move to softer tires for this weekend will impact the pit stop strategy for all 10 teams, with few drivers expected to make the run with just one stop. Weather could also be a factor. After enduring scorching hot conditions for last weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix, temperatures are expected to be much cooler this weekend, with rain a possibility. That should be fine with Red Bull’s rivals, who will take any edge they can get. However, barring a failure to finish, it is hard to see Verstappen slowing down.

Formula 1: Pirelli to trial new tyre at Austrian Grand Prix https://t.co/tILQh1PSmb pic.twitter.com/CbF050JOYZ

— Formula 1 News (@FormuIaOne) June 29, 2021

Accordingly, sports bettors are wise to seek out betting value elsewhere. Given Bottas’ recent strong performance on this track, where he has reached the podium in five of his past six appearances, the veteran Finn is a solid +100 bet to crack the top three once again. Perez’ recent steady results, which include four straight top four finishes including a victory in Azerbaijan, also make him worthy of a +100 wager to return to the podium.

Recent Winners at Red Bull Ring

Norris Poised for a Breakthrough?

But while the spotlight has been firmly fixed on Red Bull and Mercedes this season, it is important not to overlook the strong performances by Lando Norris. The McLaren driver has been a model of consistency this season, finishing top five in seven of eight outings this season. Norris has also finished no worse than sixth in four all-time appearances at red Bull Ring, capped by last weekend’s fifth-place run.

No wonder @LandoNorris is smiling 😃#F1 @McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/KyqS8kUEkV

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2021

And while McLaren’s focus on their tight battle with Ferrari for third place in the F1 Constructors Standings contributed to Norris ceding his hold on third place early in last weekend’s race, he has demonstrated form that makes him worth a +350 value bet to make his third trip to the podium this season.

The Picks: Valtteri Bottas top three (+100); Lando Norris top three (+350)