Formula 1 2019 Chinese Grand Prix Odds & Picks

• Ferrari team of Leclerc and Vettel emerge as co-favorites to claim victory at Chinese Grand Prix
• Ferrari has been plagued by car problems in first two races of the season
• Mercedes has dominated the podium so far in 2019, boosting the value of Hamilton and Bottas on the odds board

It’s been a tough start to the 2019 Formula 1 season for Ferrari, but despite being frustrated by technical problems in the first two races of the campaign, a pair of Ferrari drivers lead the way on the odds to win next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel perched as +175 co-favorites on the Formula 1 odds.

2019 Chinese Grand Prix Odds

*Odds taken 04/06/19

Ferrari SF90 Fails to Meet Expectations Set in Preseason testing

Ferrari emerged from preseason testing with the fastest car, with the newly unveiled SF90, outpacing defending constructors champion Mercedes’ AMG F1 W10. However, Ferrari’s ride failed to live up to expectations in its debut at the Australian Grand Prix. The Italian team finished off the podium, with Vettel lagging in a distant fourth place, while Leclerc turned in a career-best fifth-place performance.

Ferrari sends out a statement of intent by setting by far the quickest lap times of Winter Testing on the penultimate day of Formula One preseason action at Barcelona. #NTVAtOne @IdahWaringa pic.twitter.com/IgyJrAgJNb

— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) March 1, 2019

Cylinder Failure Derailed Leclerc’s Breakthrough in Bahrain

Ferrari’s troubles deepened two weeks later in Bahrain, where Leclerc took full advantage of his pole position, establishing a wide lead over the first 49 laps of the race before a cylinder failure compromised his ride, leaving him helpless to stop a second straight one-two finish by Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton taking the checkered flag, and paying out as a short +150 favorite.

https://twitter.com/thepopgun/status/1114591575319904262

Despite being denied his first career F1 victory in Bahrain, where he was forced to settle for a third-place finish as a +900 bet, the 21-year-old Frenchman has firmly established himself as Formula 1’s fastest rising star. That is reflected on the F1 Drivers Championship odds, where Leclerc now sits second only to Hamilton, joining Vettel as a short +300 bet.

Vettel Aims to Overcome Frustrating Start in Shanghai

After opening last season with wins in Australia and Bahrain, Vettel has yet to reach the podium in the young 2019 season, closing out a frustrating run in Melbourne with a fourth-place finish, and falling to fifth in Bahrain after starting the race on the front row alongside teammate Leclerc.

Vettel has enjoyed previous success on the Shanghai International Circuit, reaching the podium at the Chinese Grand Prix on five occasions, including a race win in 2009 while driving for Red Bull-Renault. However, the four-time Formula 1 champion has work to do, not only to overcome this season’s early struggles, but also to atone for a disappointing eighth-place performance in last year’s Chinese Grand Prix, which he started on the pole.

Recent Winners at Chinese Grand Prix

According to reports, Ferrari engineers claimed to have identified and addressed the source of the cylinder failure that doomed Leclerc last time out. But with confidence shaken in the Ferrari following the SF90’s unflattering debut, can better value be found further down the odds board?

Ricciardo Poorly Positioned to Defend in China

Plagued by engine problems in his first two race appearances with his new team this season, Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo lags as a distant +100000 to claim a second straight Chinese Grand Prix win.

✾ Australian GP┊Daniel Ricciardo reacts after retiring from the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 17, 2019 pic.twitter.com/VXG858WiLt

— Daniel Ricciardo News | fan (@RicciardoItalia) March 18, 2019

The 29-year-old Australian powered to the first of two wins last wins last season, taking the checkered flag in Shanghai while driving for Red Bull, but was forced to retire in Melbourne and did not finish in Bahrain, further tempering expectations for a Renault team that had aspired to be the best of the rest this season.

Mercedes Poised to Extend Podium Dominance

Meanwhile, Mercedes has dominated the podium. Sebastian Bottas picked up his first victory since 2017 at Melbourne, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who took the checkered flag at Bahrain, less than three seconds ahead of Bottas.

Cruel conclusion for @Charles_Leclerc who dominated the race, but he will have the opportunity to win a lot of Grand Prix in the future. Congratulations @LewisHamilton & @ValtteriBottas #F1 #BahrainGP 🇧🇭 pic.twitter.com/hCMwejKXNm

— Jean Todt (@JeanTodt) March 31, 2019

Bottas turned in a steady performance in Shanghai a year ago, finishing second after starting from the second row. Currently perched atop the Formula 1 Drivers standings, the 29-year-old Finn is pegged as an intriguing +1000 bet to claim his second win of the season in China.

Bottas turned in a steady performance in Shanghai a year ago, finishing second after starting from the second row

However, the man most likely to derail Ferrari’s hopes in a third straight race is Hamilton, who prepares for Shanghai as a +250 bet. The 34-year-old has been a model of consistent dominance since midway through last season, taking home the checkered flag in nine of his past 13 race appearances including his recent victory in Bahrain.

Vettel spins as Hamilton passes him at Turn 4. #BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #F1 pic.twitter.com/zEpbh1ODIB

— Jason Lim (@jas0nsg) March 31, 2019

Pegged as a short -110 favorite to claim a third straight Formula 1 crown this season, Hamilton has also claimed victory in three of the past five editions of the Chinese Grand Prix, and five times overall since 2008, and will remain the man to beat until Ferrari shows tangible evidence that it has overcome its early-season woes.

The Pick: Hamilton (+250)