Formula 1
Betting Guide
Formula 1 World Championship
Formula 1 has exploded in popularity in the US since the launch of Drive to Survive on Netflix in 2019. F1 now hosts three Grand Prix races in the US each season (Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas) and betting on the sport has grown dramatically at major US sportsbooks.
What You Should Know
- 24-race schedule spanning the globe
- 3 US races: Miami, Austin (Circuit of the Americas), Las Vegas
- Max Verstappen has dominated recent seasons
- Qualifying, race winner, podium, and head-to-head matchups are standard markets
- Drive to Survive transformed US F1 viewership since 2019
How to Bet on Formula 1
The main Formula 1 markets you'll find at any legal US sportsbook, with a one-line take on each.
Race Winner
Pick the Grand Prix winner. F1 fields are 20 cars across 10 teams. Top-3 favorites (currently Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc) account for ~80% of race wins.
Podium Finish
Top 3 finish. Tighter payouts than outright winner but resolves on far more drivers. Useful for backing strong qualifiers without picking the winner.
Pole Position
Saturday qualifying winner. Separate market from race winner. Pole sitter wins the race ~40% of the time on standard circuits.
Head-to-Head Matchups
Two drivers, pick which finishes higher. Often within the same team (e.g., Verstappen vs his Red Bull teammate) or between rival teams.
Drivers Championship
Season-long futures on the championship winner. Best value early in the season; odds compress quickly as a lead builds.
Formula 1 Season Calendar
- Mar: Season opener (Bahrain or Australia)
- May: Miami GP (US race #1)
- Oct: Austin GP (US race #2)
- Nov: Las Vegas GP (US race #3) + Brazil GP
- Dec: Abu Dhabi GP (season finale)
Most-Bet Formula 1 Markets
The markets that drive the bulk of Formula 1 handle at US books.
- Race Winner
- Podium Finish
- Pole Position
- Head-to-head
- Drivers Championship
- Constructors Championship
Formula 1 Betting FAQ
How many F1 races are there in a season?
Currently 24 Grand Prix weekends across the calendar year, the most in F1 history. The US hosts three: Miami in May, Austin in October, and Las Vegas in November.
Are F1 races held on weekends?
Yes. Practice runs Friday, qualifying is Saturday, and the race is Sunday. The Las Vegas GP runs Saturday night for time-zone reasons.
What is the best F1 bet for new bettors?
Podium finish. You pick a driver to finish top 3, which gives you wider room than picking the winner. Top-tier drivers (Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc) sit at -200 to +150 for podium finishes most weekends.
Why is Drive to Survive important?
The Netflix series (launched 2019) is widely credited with the F1 popularity boom in the US. Race-day handle at US books has tripled since the show's debut, especially for the Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas Grand Prix weekends.