Betting Tips
Vroom! A Guide to Formula One Betting in Nigeria: Race Insights, Live Odds and Predictions
by Astorre Cerebrone
4 Nov 2024
Motorsport is one of the world’s most fascinating and exciting sports, especially for people with a love and need for speed.
Since the highest level of motorsport is Formula One, also known as F1, it’s the most popular motorsport event in the world. However, it’s not the most popular online betting event in Nigeria.
There are two ways to deal with an unfamiliar situation - stick to what you know, or learn about it and in this case,even potentially win a lot of money.
I am new to the sport myself and since I fall into the latter category, I decided to learn as much as I could about Formula One and expand my online sports betting options.
How’s it gone? I’ve had the time of my life discovering new things, and you are welcome to come along for the ride.
The Basics
The first question most people new to the sport ask is, “why is one car always in front of the others? Isn’t that unfair?”
Yes, the car in front is said to be in pole position, but it is not unfair. While the car in pole position has the best odds, it is ultimately up to the drivers to determine whether they achieve that position.
There are three qualifying rounds before the main day where the drivers get an opportunity to compete for that pole position based on who does the fastest qualifying time, by laps. In the first qualifying round, the slowest 5 drivers are eliminated.
In the second round, the slowest five are eliminated again. That leaves only 10 drivers competing in the third and final qualifying round. Whoever does the fastest lap time wins and gets pole position. The drivers have 18 minutes in the first round, 15 minutes in the second and 12 minutes in the third round to deliver their fastest possible lap times in each round.
They can try as many attempts as they can possibly fit into those minutes.
The Grid Formation looks like this:
Row 1: 1st (Pole) - 2nd
Row 2: 3rd - 4th
Row 3: 5th - 6th
Row 4: 7th - 8th
and so forth.
If you have casually seen anything related to Formula One, you would have heard names like Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, etc. Those are teams or constructors, and each team is represented by two drivers.
There are two championships every season; the Constructors’ Championship and the Drivers’ Championship. The two drivers for each team compete with all the other drivers to accumulate the most points across an F1 season.
At every race weekend or Prix (which is a race within the championship calendar), a driver picks up points on the standings based on finishing position.
The person with the fastest lap gets an extra point.
Points distribution:
Position Points 1st Place 25 points 2nd Place: 18 points 3rd Place 15 points 4th Place 12 points 5th Place 10 points 6th Place 8 points 7th Place 6 points 8th Place 4 points 9th Place: 2 points 10th Place 1 point 11th Place and below 0 points
The standings for both championships are determined simultaneously all season. For the Drivers’ Championship, all the drivers’ points are stacked up against each other on the standings. Whoever is top of the log at the end of the season wins that one.
For the Constructors’ Championship, the points scored by the drivers in each team are combined together to determine the team’s place on the log.
Motorsport is one of the world’s most fascinating and exciting sports, especially for people with a love and need for speed.
Since the highest level of motorsport is Formula One, also known as F1, it’s the most popular motorsport event in the world. However, it’s not the most popular online betting event in Nigeria.
There are two ways to deal with an unfamiliar situation - stick to what you know, or learn about it and in this case,even potentially win a lot of money.
I am new to the sport myself and since I fall into the latter category, I decided to learn as much as I could about Formula One and expand my online sports betting options.
How’s it gone? I’ve had the time of my life discovering new things, and you are welcome to come along for the ride.
The Basics
The first question most people new to the sport ask is, “why is one car always in front of the others? Isn’t that unfair?”
Yes, the car in front is said to be in pole position, but it is not unfair. While the car in pole position has the best odds, it is ultimately up to the drivers to determine whether they achieve that position.
There are three qualifying rounds before the main day where the drivers get an opportunity to compete for that pole position based on who does the fastest qualifying time, by laps. In the first qualifying round, the slowest 5 drivers are eliminated.
In the second round, the slowest five are eliminated again. That leaves only 10 drivers competing in the third and final qualifying round. Whoever does the fastest lap time wins and gets pole position. The drivers have 18 minutes in the first round, 15 minutes in the second and 12 minutes in the third round to deliver their fastest possible lap times in each round.
They can try as many attempts as they can possibly fit into those minutes.
The Grid Formation looks like this:
Row 1: 1st (Pole) - 2nd
Row 2: 3rd - 4th
Row 3: 5th - 6th
Row 4: 7th - 8th
and so forth.
If you have casually seen anything related to Formula One, you would have heard names like Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, etc. Those are teams or constructors, and each team is represented by two drivers.
There are two championships every season; the Constructors’ Championship and the Drivers’ Championship. The two drivers for each team compete with all the other drivers to accumulate the most points across an F1 season.
At every race weekend or Prix (which is a race within the championship calendar), a driver picks up points on the standings based on finishing position.
The person with the fastest lap gets an extra point.
Points distribution:
| Position | Points |
| 1st Place | 25 points |
| 2nd Place: | 18 points |
| 3rd Place | 15 points |
| 4th Place | 12 points |
| 5th Place | 10 points |
| 6th Place | 8 points |
| 7th Place | 6 points |
| 8th Place | 4 points |
| 9th Place: | 2 points |
| 10th Place | 1 point |
| 11th Place and below | 0 points |
The standings for both championships are determined simultaneously all season. For the Drivers’ Championship, all the drivers’ points are stacked up against each other on the standings. Whoever is top of the log at the end of the season wins that one.
For the Constructors’ Championship, the points scored by the drivers in each team are combined together to determine the team’s place on the log.
The Schedule
Unlike other sports, the F1 schedule can change from season to season, depending on contracts with race tracks, political situation as well as several other factors. Last year, there were 22 Grands Prix but there are 2 more this year.
So far, we have seen 20 races already completed, the latest being the Mexico Grand Prix from last weekend. On that occasion, Carlos Sainz Jr of Ferrari got pole position – his first of the season – even though Lando Norris of McLaren had taken four of the previous five.
Unlike Norris who blew that advantage twice, Sainz Jr took full advantage to emerge the winning driver. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, had the fastest lap, ultimately leading to Ferrari emerging the winning constructor.
Current Drivers’ Championship standings:
● Max Verstappen -362 points
● Lando Norris - 315 points
● Charles Leclerc - 291 points.
Current Constructors’ Championship standings:
● McLaren - 566 points
● Ferrari - 537 points
● Red Bull - 512 points
The next racing event weekend will be held in Sao Paulo this weekend. One thing to keep in mind is that different racing venues have unique characteristics and produce distinct challenges to the drivers.
The Mexico Grand Prix, for instance, is a high altitude venue that can impact the outcome because there is less oxygen, leading to more dehydration on drivers while the cars themselves will have their engine performance significantly affected.
Some drivers and cars handle these issues better than others, depending on their ability to adapt to these conditions.
Just like Football, the terrain affects gameplay and drivers/cars tend to perform better in certain conditions. Red Bull had won there 5 times since 2017, which is even more remarkable considering that McLaren hadn’t won there since 1989 and Ferrari hadn’t won there since 1990.
What is clear is that Red Bull are typically better in these high altitude circuits. Their driver, Verstappen, had the lead in Mexico, despite Sainz Jr taking pole position, but lost it due to two ten-second penalties he received for violating the rules to gain advantage after forcing his main rival for the title, Lando Norris, off-track.
A typical racing weekend consists of activities over three days, from Friday to Sunday. On the first day, there are two practice sessions that help the drivers and teams get accustomed to the conditions and track, and how they impact their cars, ahead of the race.
On the second day, there is a third practice session before the qualifying rounds begin. The three rounds are completed on that day. The third and final day is race day.
The Factors
Of course, a very common misconception about motorsport by people who do not actively follow it is that the fastest car wins, especially if it is in pole position. That is not necessarily the case. So many other factors determine the outcomes of the Grands Prix.
Sure, being in pole position gives you a strong chance of winning, but there are no sure odds in sports, as we know. While pole position wins in F1 history are around the 40% mark, the numbers show that it is far from guaranteed. In fact, in the current season, only 9 of 19 the Grands Prix have been won by drivers in pole position.
Also, it is not enough to have a fast car. The skill of the driver is absolutely important. There is a reason why two drivers from the same team often have completely different outcomes.
If the speed or engine of the car was significant enough for the skills of the drivers to not matter, it would be marginal every time. Even being in pole position isn’t as useful if the driver does not know how to use the advantage.
This brings me to race strategy, which is a very important factor. A skilled driver or fast car cannot save a poor strategy.
There is something called a pit stop, where the car goes to get quick servicing during the race, a chance for drivers to change their tyres, refuel their cars or repair any faults. What makes the pit stop so significant and integral to race strategy is that the timing of it can significantly impact race outcomes. Going too early or too late can destroy a driver’s chances of winning.
It is also not advisable to do it too many times so they typically do 1-3 pit stops. The driver has to know how to manage fuel as well.
Things like weather and track condition, as well as unforeseen circumstances like mechanical failure can impact a race. This is where a good pit crew can give a driver an advantage. Their ability to adapt to these unforeseen circumstances and the speed with which they do could be the difference at a circuit.
It is worth noting that McLaren has the world record for the fastest pit stop, so it is no surprise that they are top of the Constructors’ Championship.
How to Bet on Formula One Games
In order to extract great value from F1 betting, you need to do your research ahead of a racing weekend. Pay attention to form, history on the track and position on the standings especially. There are so many markets you can bet on across the three days on racing weekends, not just on race day.
You can bet on who will win a Practice or the Qualifying rounds. You can even bet on Practice head-to-head, which is basically which of two drivers will post a faster time during a Practice session.
For the main race, there are options like Winning Margin, Top 10, Top 6, Top 4, Fastest Lap Winner, Last Finisher, First Driver to make a pit stop and more. There is the option of a combination, betting on Any Driver to win Race, Pole Position and Fastest Lap.
Betting on this weekend’s Grand Prix event
Ahead of this weekend’s activities, there are things to note. Even though Red Bull are typically great at high altitude circuits, they may not win here because Max Verstappen could serve a grid penalty due to the engine-related concerns from last weekend.
It is reflected in his odds of 11.oo to win it. That said, Verstappen has won previously despite a grid penalty. In the Belgian Grand Prix back in 2023, he started 6th but finished as the winning driver.
The good news for him here is that this particular circuit is overtake-friendly due to the track layout and elevation changes.
That means he still stands a good chance of overcoming the disadvantage and getting in front. He is the defending champion at this venue.
The last time he served a grid penalty was also at the Belgian Grand Prix this year, where he started in 11th place. He was able to still finish 4th after some skillful driving.
Lando Norris is the favourite to win this race, as he looks to close the gap on Verstappen further. His rival has not won any of the last 10 races, but Norris himself has blown pole position advantage four times this season.
Still, he is the more in-form driver of the two and would be looking to take full advantage of Verstappen’s grid penalty. It could be a significant boost for him. McLaren’s excellent pit crew could once again help him here.
Lando Norris is also the favourite to take pole position, but Carlos Sainz Jr is the next favourite. At 5.00 Odds, he has a great shot at it. He got it just last week in Mexico, in a higher altitude venue than the upcoming Sao Paulo venue, and he will be hoping to continue that good form by doing it again.
In four of the last five races, Charles Leclerc has gotten one of Fastest Lap Winner, Qualifying Winner or Winning Driver. He has never won on this track, but he was Fastest Lap Winner the last time in Mexico. He could repeat that.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris is the favourite to be Fastest Lap Winner, Qualifying Winner as well as Winning Driver. There are 7.0 Odds on him to get all three.
If you have never bet on Formula One before, this weekend could be a great time to test the waters, armed with your newfound knowledge of the sport.
With BetKing, the best betting site in Nigeria with the best betting app and the best odds, you have so many markets to explore and enjoy.
If you don’t already have an account, Sign Up now, book a bet and add another string to your online sports betting bow!
The Schedule
Unlike other sports, the F1 schedule can change from season to season, depending on contracts with race tracks, political situation as well as several other factors. Last year, there were 22 Grands Prix but there are 2 more this year.
So far, we have seen 20 races already completed, the latest being the Mexico Grand Prix from last weekend. On that occasion, Carlos Sainz Jr of Ferrari got pole position – his first of the season – even though Lando Norris of McLaren had taken four of the previous five.
Unlike Norris who blew that advantage twice, Sainz Jr took full advantage to emerge the winning driver. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, had the fastest lap, ultimately leading to Ferrari emerging the winning constructor.
Current Drivers’ Championship standings:
● Max Verstappen -362 points
● Lando Norris - 315 points
● Charles Leclerc - 291 points.
Current Constructors’ Championship standings:
● McLaren - 566 points
● Ferrari - 537 points
● Red Bull - 512 points
The next racing event weekend will be held in Sao Paulo this weekend. One thing to keep in mind is that different racing venues have unique characteristics and produce distinct challenges to the drivers.
The Mexico Grand Prix, for instance, is a high altitude venue that can impact the outcome because there is less oxygen, leading to more dehydration on drivers while the cars themselves will have their engine performance significantly affected.
Some drivers and cars handle these issues better than others, depending on their ability to adapt to these conditions.
Just like Football, the terrain affects gameplay and drivers/cars tend to perform better in certain conditions. Red Bull had won there 5 times since 2017, which is even more remarkable considering that McLaren hadn’t won there since 1989 and Ferrari hadn’t won there since 1990.
What is clear is that Red Bull are typically better in these high altitude circuits. Their driver, Verstappen, had the lead in Mexico, despite Sainz Jr taking pole position, but lost it due to two ten-second penalties he received for violating the rules to gain advantage after forcing his main rival for the title, Lando Norris, off-track.
A typical racing weekend consists of activities over three days, from Friday to Sunday. On the first day, there are two practice sessions that help the drivers and teams get accustomed to the conditions and track, and how they impact their cars, ahead of the race.
On the second day, there is a third practice session before the qualifying rounds begin. The three rounds are completed on that day. The third and final day is race day.
The Factors
Of course, a very common misconception about motorsport by people who do not actively follow it is that the fastest car wins, especially if it is in pole position. That is not necessarily the case. So many other factors determine the outcomes of the Grands Prix.
Sure, being in pole position gives you a strong chance of winning, but there are no sure odds in sports, as we know. While pole position wins in F1 history are around the 40% mark, the numbers show that it is far from guaranteed. In fact, in the current season, only 9 of 19 the Grands Prix have been won by drivers in pole position.
Also, it is not enough to have a fast car. The skill of the driver is absolutely important. There is a reason why two drivers from the same team often have completely different outcomes.
If the speed or engine of the car was significant enough for the skills of the drivers to not matter, it would be marginal every time. Even being in pole position isn’t as useful if the driver does not know how to use the advantage.
This brings me to race strategy, which is a very important factor. A skilled driver or fast car cannot save a poor strategy.
There is something called a pit stop, where the car goes to get quick servicing during the race, a chance for drivers to change their tyres, refuel their cars or repair any faults. What makes the pit stop so significant and integral to race strategy is that the timing of it can significantly impact race outcomes. Going too early or too late can destroy a driver’s chances of winning.
It is also not advisable to do it too many times so they typically do 1-3 pit stops. The driver has to know how to manage fuel as well.
Things like weather and track condition, as well as unforeseen circumstances like mechanical failure can impact a race. This is where a good pit crew can give a driver an advantage. Their ability to adapt to these unforeseen circumstances and the speed with which they do could be the difference at a circuit.
It is worth noting that McLaren has the world record for the fastest pit stop, so it is no surprise that they are top of the Constructors’ Championship.
How to Bet on Formula One Games
In order to extract great value from F1 betting, you need to do your research ahead of a racing weekend. Pay attention to form, history on the track and position on the standings especially. There are so many markets you can bet on across the three days on racing weekends, not just on race day.
You can bet on who will win a Practice or the Qualifying rounds. You can even bet on Practice head-to-head, which is basically which of two drivers will post a faster time during a Practice session.
For the main race, there are options like Winning Margin, Top 10, Top 6, Top 4, Fastest Lap Winner, Last Finisher, First Driver to make a pit stop and more. There is the option of a combination, betting on Any Driver to win Race, Pole Position and Fastest Lap.
Betting on this weekend’s Grand Prix event
Ahead of this weekend’s activities, there are things to note. Even though Red Bull are typically great at high altitude circuits, they may not win here because Max Verstappen could serve a grid penalty due to the engine-related concerns from last weekend.
It is reflected in his odds of 11.oo to win it. That said, Verstappen has won previously despite a grid penalty. In the Belgian Grand Prix back in 2023, he started 6th but finished as the winning driver.
The good news for him here is that this particular circuit is overtake-friendly due to the track layout and elevation changes.
That means he still stands a good chance of overcoming the disadvantage and getting in front. He is the defending champion at this venue.
The last time he served a grid penalty was also at the Belgian Grand Prix this year, where he started in 11th place. He was able to still finish 4th after some skillful driving.
Lando Norris is the favourite to win this race, as he looks to close the gap on Verstappen further. His rival has not won any of the last 10 races, but Norris himself has blown pole position advantage four times this season.
Still, he is the more in-form driver of the two and would be looking to take full advantage of Verstappen’s grid penalty. It could be a significant boost for him. McLaren’s excellent pit crew could once again help him here.
Lando Norris is also the favourite to take pole position, but Carlos Sainz Jr is the next favourite. At 5.00 Odds, he has a great shot at it. He got it just last week in Mexico, in a higher altitude venue than the upcoming Sao Paulo venue, and he will be hoping to continue that good form by doing it again.
In four of the last five races, Charles Leclerc has gotten one of Fastest Lap Winner, Qualifying Winner or Winning Driver. He has never won on this track, but he was Fastest Lap Winner the last time in Mexico. He could repeat that.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris is the favourite to be Fastest Lap Winner, Qualifying Winner as well as Winning Driver. There are 7.0 Odds on him to get all three.
If you have never bet on Formula One before, this weekend could be a great time to test the waters, armed with your newfound knowledge of the sport.
With BetKing, the best betting site in Nigeria with the best betting app and the best odds, you have so many markets to explore and enjoy.
If you don’t already have an account, Sign Up now, book a bet and add another string to your online sports betting bow!