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

Schedule and How to Watch the F1 Chinese Grand Prix

The first sprint race weekend in 2025 kicks off in Shanghai on Thursday, March 20th at 11:30 PM ET, with the initial practice session. Drivers line up on the grid for the sprint on Friday, March 21st at 11 PM. Set your alarm clocks for an early wake-up call on Sunday, with a 3 AM green flag on the cards.

ESPN has you covered for the weekend, broadcasting all the practice and qualifying sessions and the sprint and grand prix races.

Weather Forecast for the Chinese Grand Prix

After Albert Park was battered with rain on Sunday,  drivers will earn a reprieve in China. Windy predicts clear conditions with moderate temperatures throughout the weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach between the high 60s to low 70s on Saturday and Sunday.

The only concern is the moderate to high gusts entering from the Southwest and West during the sprint and grand prix showdowns.

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 Chinese GP Odds

Top Picks 

Lando Norris (+100)

McLaren number one, Lando Norris lived up to bettors expectations driving down victory lane in the Australian Grand Prix. The Brit qualified fastest to bring the qualifying winner bet into play, and he pulled off the quickest lap. Lando finished second here last year on the Sunday.

Oscar Piastri (+300)

Oscar Piastri looked good in Melbourne for the lion’s share of the grand prix, before hitting gravel and spinning onto the grass. He managed to get his car back onto the track and somehow finished ninth, to collect two points for McLaren. The Aussie qualified second fastest in Melbourne, behind his teammate Norris.

Max Verstappen (+330)

Reigning Chinese GP Champion Max Verstappen dominated every aspect of this event in 2024, except for Sprint Qualifying. “Mad Max” started in fourth in the sprint, but still managed to win with a 13-second advantage. He replicated his gap over the field in the Grand Prix, taking his second checkered flag of the weekend.

Outsider Bets

Charles Leclerc (+2000)

Ferrari and Charles Leclerc will want to put the Australian Grand Prix behind them, after finishing eighth. The Italian team decided to stay out on slicks when the rain started to bucket, while their rivals pitted for intermediates. It initially looked promising but turned out to be the wrong call as the Monegasque driver finished eighth. Charles completed the grand prix and sprint in fourth on his last journey to China. 

Lewis Hamilton (+2000)

The highly anticipated debut of Lewis Hamilton in a  Ferrari was anti-climatic as the Brit settled for the last point on offer in Melbourne. He will take comfort in driving around a circuit where he is the winningest F1 driver in history, lifting the trophy six times. Lewis last won in 2019, back when Valtteri Bottas was his teammate at Mercedes.

George Russell (+2000)

George Russell deserves praise, after coming into the Australian Grand Prix with hardly any attention. McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari drivers dominated the conversation, but Russell rained on their parade to grab the final place on the podium in the Victorian Capital. Thanks to his work, Mercedes are now joint leaders in the Constructor Championship.

Expert Pick for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix

With clearer conditions on the horizon in the Orient, Lando Norris is our preferred driver heading into this race. Yes, it was a close tussle between him and Max in Melbourne, but the conditions made it any driver’s race. Max and Lando both made costly errors, but in the end Lando’s were less severe. Norris is priced at +100 to take the win in Shanghai, with a payout potential of $40 on a $20 wager.

F1 Chinese Grand Prix Event Winner Odds: All Drivers

F1 Chinese Grand Prix Podium Odds

There are no surprises in the podium odds, with Lando, Oscar and Max carrying short odds to stand on the platform on Sunday. Lando Norris is priced at -350 in the pre-event betting, with a low payout expected. 

Max Verstappen is a worthy choice at -225, considering his dominant return at this track in 2024. Charles Leclerc is well priced at +185 for a podium, but Ferrari will need to craft a better strategy in China if he is to finish inside the top five.

F1 China GP Top 6 Odds

Lando continues to curry favor with punters for a top-six finish, closely followed by his title challengers, Verstappen and Piastri. With clear conditions forecast one expects the favorites to deliver.

Charles Leclerc and George Russell should challenge for the top six positions on Sunday. The Mercedes driver impressed in Australia, grabbing the final spot on the podium. Carlos Sainz Jr is an interesting choice in this bracket, as he finished fifth in Shanghai on his last visit. Despite switching to Williams, his team appears to have a superior vehicle allowing him to keep up with the pack. 

F1 Chinese GP Top 10 Odds

The odds of drivers from the “Big Four” teams to claim a top 10 result are too short to consider with Norris, Verstappen and Piastri priced at -1800.

Alex Albon makes for an interesting choice for a top 10 bet, giving his odds of -350. The Williams driver put in a team performance to finish fifth in the season opener after his companion Sainz Jr crashed out.

F1 China GP Team Fastest Lap Odds

McLaren started the season with their foot on the gas, collecting the fastest lap of the Australian Grand Prix, courtesy of Lando. The British establishment have now clocked the fastest lap in three of the last four grand prix races.

Red Bull Racing produced the second and third fastest times in Melbourne. However, Liam Lawson, who recorded the second fastest lap, was just over 0.800 seconds shy of Lando’s quickest loop of the day.

F1 Chinese Grand Prix Race Winning Car Odds

Joint constructor leaders, McLaren are the clear favorites to deliver the winning car in China. The Woking stationed team has won the last two F1 Grand Prix events, taking first prize in Abu Dhabi last year and in Australia.

While McLaren has the edge based on current form, you can’t rule Verstappen out, who won the sprint and grand prix at this circuit 12 months back.

Where to Bet on the F1 Chinese GP

Visit our partner sportsbooks to access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you prepare for the F1 Chinese 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.

After an entertaining, but messy affair in Melbourne, the sunny forecast sets the scene for a world-class weekend of racing. Can Max Verstappen retain his Sprint and Grand Prix titles at the Shanghai International Circuit or will Lando Norris continue his winning form?