Best Bets: F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Pre-Event Odds Analysis

Schedule and How to Watch the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix

Finally, racing fans stateside can tune into the action at a reasonable hour, with all practice, qualifying, and racing scheduled for daylight hours in North America. The green flag drops on the practice session on Friday, April 11 from 7:30 AM ET at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The out-lap for Q1 is set for 12 PM on Saturday, April 12th, and the fastest qualifier will be decided by 1 PM on the East Coast. Lights turn green on the Grand Prix at 11 AM on Sunday, as Max Verstappen seeks to retain his crown. ESPN2 starts their live feed from Sakhir at 9:30 AM as we build up to the main event.

Weather Forecast for the Bahrain Grand Prix

A hot, moderately humid weekend is on the cards in the Persian Gulf, with temperatures expected to push into the mid-80s during the race and qualifying. Gusts may push up to 20 mph from the Northeast on Saturday and Sunday. Drivers must adapt to racing under lights, while the temperatures descend.

What is F1 DFS Betting

Formula 1 Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) gives you a chance to win if your drivers and constructor return more points than other players’ picks. You pick five drivers (one is designated as your captain), and a constructors team. Points are assigned to each driver based on how they finish, fastest laps, laps led, and starting grid position. The captain receives double the amount of points.

All points count towards your total, and the player with the highest points tally at the checkered flag wins the pot.

F1 Bahrain GP Odds

Top Picks 

Oscar Piastri (+174)

Australian Oscar Piastri produced another comfortable drive in Suzuka, grabbing the final spot on the podium. At one point he informed the team that he had the speed to haul in the Dutchman, but it wasn’t meant to be. Piastri has lined up on the grid at this circuit twice, claiming one top 10 and a DNF.

Lando Norris (+180)

Lando Norris fought bravely in Suzuka, finishing only 1.423 seconds behind Verstappen. The McLaren driver holds onto his series lead by a single point, heading to the Middle East. “Last Lap Lando” has yet to finish on the podium at this track after six attempts. His best return was fourth place in 2020 and 2021.

Max Verstappen (+376)

Four-time World Champion Max Verstappen showed his class in Japan to qualify fastest and win an uneventful race. The Red Bull top dog drove a flawless final lap in Q3 on Saturday that showed he had more control over his car than he has all season. Verstappen is the reigning King at this track, and he starts as the second-ranked driver in the Championship, one point off of Norris.

Outsider Bets

George Russell (+1525)

Briton George Russell missed out on his first podium of the season in the previous round. Russell lines up in Bahrain, having never finished outside the top 10 in a Mercedes. His worst return is 15th at this track back in 2019 when he was driving for Williams, but he’s crossed the line inside the top five twice in his last three outings here.

Charles Leclerc (+1555)

Charles Leclerc broke into the top five last weekend for the first time in this campaign. The Monegasque racer finished fourth on Sunday, greeting the stewards just over 16 seconds after the winner. “Il Predestinato” has endured a mixed formation at the Bahrain International Circuit, recording a DNF in 2023, a 12th place in 2018, and two podiums in his seven appearances here. The Ferrari driver will hope to replicate his 2022 strategy when he took the checkered flag here.

Lewis Hamilton (+1717)

Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton owns the record for the most wins at this venue, taking the checkered flag five times. Sir Lewis showed what he could do in the Sprint in Shanghai navigating his way into the Winner’s Circle, but he’s struggled to break into the top five in a Grand Prix this season. A win here will keep him as the only driver to pull off the hat trick in Bahrain, a record Verstappen is threatening.

Expert Pick for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix

Red Bull as a team has had their challenges early in the season, but despite instability in the cars and the driving lineup, Max Verstappen remains a threat. His confidence after last weekend combined with his record at this track makes him great value for money. Max is priced at +376 in the pre-event odds with a prospective return of $95.20 on a $20 wager.

Bahrain Grand Prix Event Winner Odds: All Drivers

Bahrain Grand Prix Podium Odds

Lando Norris is second in the podium betting with three top-three finishes in the opening races, including a win in Australia. The Championship leader is surrounded by Piastri and Verstappen who have stood on the podium twice and earned points in every Grand Prix this year.

Mercedes alpha George Russell provides value to bettors at +227 in the pre-event odds, despite finishing third in two races this season. The Briton missed a Champagne shower in Suzuka, settling for fifth, his worst return in the early part of the season.

F1 Bahrain GP Top 6 Odds

Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris line up at the Bahrain International Circuit as joint favorites for a top-six result. Norris and Verstappen are yet to finish outside the top six in 2025, while Piastri only missed the threshold once at Albert Park. He was in a podium position for most of the race, before spinning off the track, returning to the race and still finishing inside the top 10.

Ferrari drivers posted their best results of the campaign in Japan, courtesy of a fourth from Charles Leclerc and a seventh from Hamilton. Despite their improved performance, it’s the wunderkind Kimi Antonelli who is one to watch for a top six with three in three races. The teenager is a class above the rest of the rookies this season and starts this weekend ranked fifth on the standings. 

Bahrain GP Top 10 Odds

George Russell, Hamilton and Leclerc join Norris, Piastri and Verstappen as the favorites to cross the line inside the top 10. Both McLaren drivers, “Mad Max”, Antonelli and Alexander Albon have broken the top 10 barrier in every race this season, unlike their counterparts from Maranello. The Ferrari duo have only finished in the points twice this year, after they were disqualified in Shanghai, but still carry short odds entering Bahrain.

Antonelli’s odds continue to shorten after he became the youngest driver to ever lead an F1 Grand Prix last weekend. A gap has opened up for Alex Albon who offers the best bang for buck at +138. Isack Hadjar is another youngster worth keeping an eye on after his eighth-place performance at Suzuka.

H2H of Interest

Bahrain GP Qualifying Winning Car Odds

Max Verstappen drove arguably the finest qualifying lap of his career in Q3 at Suzuka to prevent McLaren from a third consecutive pole position. The double winner at Sakhir edged out Lando by 0.012 seconds for the front of the grid, en route to his fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix.

Red Bull Racing have taken the first spot on the grid at this venue in the last two races, claiming the first two spots in 2023. Their closest challengers Ferrari found themselves second and fourth after qualifying in 2024 and 3rd and fourth in 2023. Charles Leclerc led the Italian car to a pole in 2022.

McLaren has their best opportunity to take pole position in Bahrain, with their best start being a second position in 2012 with Lewis Hamilton. Despite their favourite tags, Red Bull Racing and Ferrari appear to thrive on this track, and they offer favourable odds to the market.

Bahrain GP Race Winning Car Odds

Constructor title leaders McLaren enter as the favorites to provide the race-winning car, after two wins in three races. The “Papaya” team fought valiantly on a tough overtaking track to finish second and third last weekend. Lando crossed the line only 1.423 seconds behind Verstappen.

Red Bull Racing are the defending Champions at this track and are looking to guide Verstappen to a hat trick this weekend. The Austrian-flagged team has triumphed on four occasions at this track, third, behind Ferrari and Mercedes.

The Italian outfit last tasted ultimate success in Bahrain in 2022, when Charles Leclerc took the checkered flag and Sainz finished second. They are the winningest team at this venue, with seven titles.

Bahrain GP Car Fastest Lap

Young Andrea Kimi Antonelli spoiled McLaren’s flawless record of fastest laps when he zipped around Suzuka in 1:30.965. He joins Lando Norris as the only two drivers to win the award this campaign after the McLaren driver claimed the honor in Melbourne and Shanghai.

“Last Lap Lando” and his MCL 39 are always a threat to the fastest time award. He and his British team are deserved favorites for the award in Bahrain, but Mercedes carry longer odds of +550, despite their recent success. 

Bahrain GP Car Fastest Speed

Antonelli’s fastest lap last weekend and Russell’s third-fastest speed in Shanghai make Mercedes a favorite for the fastest speed. Red Bull Racing have recorded the fastest speed in every Saturday qualifying since Australia. Liam Lawson, despite his challenges set off the speed trap at 332.3 km/h in Melbourne, followed by Leclerc and Albon at 331.7 km/h. 

Max Verstappen continued the momentum in Shanghai clocking 339.6 km/h, almost a kilometre faster than Mercedes’ George Russell in second.

Verstappen joined Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Norris with the fastest time in Suzuka of 299.4 km/h. The speed down the straight of the Red Bull is impressive, but their odds are long for this weekend at +750.

Bahrain GP Team Double Podium Finish Odds

McLaren makes the journey to Bahrain fresh from consecutive double podiums. The British outfit took the 1, 2 in China and settled for second and third in the “Land of the Rising Sun.” They are the only team to see two drivers on the podium this year, highlighting their dominance in the constructor race.

Mercedes made a run for a double podium in Australia, but Russell finished third and Antonelli in fourth. The UK-based team is currently the only team besides McLaren who demonstrated the ability to compete for the highest points offering.

Bahrain GP Team Double Top 6 Finish Odds

McLaren continues to hog the headlines in the team odds, this time for a double top 6. The team struggled in Australia when Oscar crossed the line in ninth, but since then the “Papaya drivers” have navigated inside the top six.

Mercedes is the only team to secure the double top six in every race this campaign. George Russell has earned a podium in two races, while Kimi Antonelli has finished inside the top six in all three starts.

Bahrain GP Team Double Top 10 Finish Odds

Mercedes and McLaren start the Bahrain F1 weekend as joint favorites to earn a double top-10 finish. The German and British-owned teams are the only two to watch their drivers cross the line inside the top 10 in every Grand Prix. 

Both Ferrari drivers have collected points in Australia and Suzuka, giving them the third most doubles this season. The Italian outfit is trailed by Williams and Haas who have earned one double top 10 apiece in 2025.

Bahrain GP Fastest Pit Stop Odds

Ferrari is the undisputed ruler of the pit stop in 2025, recording the fastest changeover in all three rounds. The quickest stop of the season was Charles Leclerc in Shanghai, who clocked 2.05 seconds in the pits. “il Cavallino Rampante” holds a 71-point buffer in the Fastest Pit Stop Award over Racing Bulls and McLaren.

Team Red Bull Racing enters this side contest as second favorites, despite lying fifth in this challenge. The Austrian-flagged team recorded their fastest change in China when Max Verstappen entered and exited in 2.15 seconds.

McLaren entered the Fastest Pit Stop fray in Japan with the second-fastest stop. The McLaren mechanics sent Oscar Piastri on his way in 2.19 seconds. Mercedes produced the third fastest pit stop times in Melbourne and Suzuka, but they carry long odds of +1600.

Where to Bet on the Bahrain GP

Visit our partner sportsbooks to access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you prepare for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix. If you’re a newbie in the world of F1 betting, our comprehensive F1 Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.

Max Verstappen taught us why you never write him off after a dominant weekend in the “Land of the Rising Sun.” Can the four-time Champion join Lewis Hamilton as the only two drivers to win three in a row in Bahrain? Will the McLaren drivers break their podium duck in Bahrain and extend their Constructor Championship lead?