Formula 1 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Odds & Picks

• Max Verstappen is a slight favorite in the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix odds
• Following last week’s 1-2 finish, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell closely trail Verstappen
• See the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix predictions and betting trends ahead of Sunday’s race at Yas Marina Circuit

The 2022 Formula 1 season will come to a close on Sunday with the running of the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The two-time defending champion at this race, Max Verstappen, returns to the desert atop the F1 odds as a somewhat diminished +115 favorite. Verstappen has already clinched a second straight title while rewriting the record book with 14 race victories. He can expect to face stiff competition this weekend from a number of rivals with scores to settle.

Here’s a look at all the odds and trends ahead of Sunday morning’s running of the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit, with race time set for 8:00am ET.

Odds to Win 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of November 17, 2022.

Verstappen, who’s been an odds-on favorite to win every race over the past several months, comes to Abu Dhabi as +115 chalk. Hamilton is next at +260, with Russell a close third at +330.

Growing Red Bull Feud Overshadowing Championship Season

Max Verstappen saw his three-race win streak come to an end in controversial fashion last weekend in Brazil. In addition to incurring damage to his front wing following a collision with archrival Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen was also handed a five-second penalty from which he never recovered on his way to a sixth-place finish.

Perez over the team radio after Verstappen didn't let him past 😳 pic.twitter.com/piL9ZI54HJ

— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) November 13, 2022

Apart from denying him yet another victory, the race had little meaning for the 24-year-old has already wrapped up a second straight title. However, both his collision with Hamilton and his subsequent refusal to allow teammate Sergio Perez to move past him into sixth place so he could maintain his slender lead over Charles Leclerc in the battle for second place has dragged a simmering feud between the two Red Bull drivers out into the open.

The war of words has done little for Verstappen or Perez in the F1 odds. A strong favorite sporting negative odds in each of the past six races, Verstappen looks to Sunday’s race as +115 chalk, while Perez has sunk to a lengthy +1400 wager after closely trailing his teammate at recent events. Indeed, when these two drivers are in sync, they make a formidable team.

That was particularly evident at this event a year ago, when Perez impressively ran interference for Verstappen while the Flying Dutchman stormed to his second straight win in Abu Dhabi and his first career title.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Recent Winners

Can Mercedes Repeat?

Last weekend’s shenanigans provided Mercedes with a shot at a breakthrough, and the Silver Arrows didn’t disappoint. After seizing the pole with an impressive performance in sprint qualifying, George Russell enjoyed a masterful drive, holding off a late charge from teammate Lewis Hamilton, on his way to his first career F1 victory.

Ice cool over the airwaves ❄️📻@GeorgeRussell63 & his race engineer kept it cool under pressure 👊#BrazilGP @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/GFEsN7i7gu

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 15, 2022

Russell’s highly anticipated breakthrough comes in the penultimate race during a season where he has been the most consistent driver not named Max Verstappen. The 24-year-old Englishman opened the campaign with nine straight top five finishes, and with last week’s victory he has now reached the podium eight times.

Accordingly, he has emerged as a strengthened +330 bet to make it two wins in a row. However, considering his terribly disappointing track record at Yas Marina, where he has never earned a point, and the potential for him to once again go head-to-head with Hamilton, who has yet to earn a victory this season, the greater value can be found in his -165 odds to tally another podium.

Don’t Sleep on Hamilton

As for Hamilton, a second-place finish behind his youthful teammate and any chance to spoil Verstappen’s bid for a record 15th win of the season are all the seven-time champion needs going into Abu Dhabi.

Overall, Hamilton has settled for second place in each of his past three outings, but enjoys a spectacular track record in Abu Dhabi, where he has reached the podium in eight straight appearance, including four wins. That makes him not only worthy of consideration as a +260 bet to finally take home the checkered flag, but also a +135 wager on Mercedes to claim their fifth double podium of the season.

The Picks: Lewis Hamilton to win (+260); Mercedes double podium (+135)