It’s safe to say that Formula 1 is absolutely thriving at the moment.
After “Drive to Survive” grew the series’ popularity in the U.S. and worldwide, 2024 was a remarkably intriguing season with the most parity we’ve seen in years. Though Max Verstappen still ran away with the driver’s championship, the dominance of Red Bull as a whole faded as the season went on. McLaren took the constructors’ title by 14 points over Ferrari, their first since 1998.
The 2024 season saw seven different drivers – all from the series’ top four teams – claim victories. Each of Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes will plan to top the series again in 2025. This quartet features well on the books, as would be expected.
(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)
Can Anyone Catch Max Verstappen? | 2025 Formula 1 Picks & Predictions
- Max Verstappen Driver’s Champion (+190)
- Ferrari Constructor’s Champion (+135)
- Lando Norris Over 5.5 Wins (+110)
- George Russell Under 1.5 Wins (+165)
Max Verstappen Driver’s Champion (+190)
If it hadn’t already been made clear to all of us, 2024 showed that Verstappen is far and away the best driver on the grid. Obviously, he’s shown that he can win with the best car. The 2023 season saw Verstappen win 19 of 22 Grands Prix (GPs), as Red Bull won all but one that year.
Early in the year, it looked like more of the same as Verstappen won four of the first five and seven of the first 10 GPs. However, as Red Bull lost some of its advantage as 2024 rolled on, the Dutchman showed he has what it takes to win even without the best car underneath him.
Verstappen’s drive in the rain to win in Brazil was among the top highlights of his career. The No. 1 won once more for good measure in the season’s penultimate race in Qatar.
2025’s quest for a fifth consecutive drivers championship will be the toughest yet for Verstappen. I trust that he’s still as good as it gets on the grid and overcomes his competition.
Ferrari Constructors’ Champion (+135)
Ferrari came just short of earning the 2024 constructors’ championship, finishing just behind McLaren. They’ve long been criticized for poor strategy and have seen both Charles Leclerc and their former driver, Carlos Sainz, have inconsistent streaks.
Enter one of the greatest drivers in series history, Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time Formula 1 champion makes the move to Ferrari in 2025 and could be just the push the Italy-based team needs.
Hamilton topped the podium twice last season, earning his first wins since 2021. Ferrari took home five wins last season, a trio of those coming from Hamilton’s new teammate Leclerc. Even without still being in his prime, the 105-time winner in Formula 1 should make an immediate impact on this team.
If you also favor Ferrari over McLaren, there is also a matchup pitting the pair where Ferrari is at +100.
Lando Norris Over 5.5 Wins (+110)
Though I’m expecting McLaren to come just short of the constructors’ title, it won’t be for lack of effort from its No. 4 car.
Lando Norris finally earned his first GP win at Miami last year, and the floodgates opened shortly after. The Brit won four races in total, claiming the top perch in the Netherlands, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. He would have had a fifth as well but swapped the lead in Hungary for teammate Oscar Piastri’s first of two GP wins.
Now that the monkey is off of his back, Norris will have all the confidence in the world to continue those winning ways. Six wins may seem like a lot, but the Formula 1 schedule once again features a more extensive 24 rounds. Top drivers and teams, like Norris and McLaren, are trying to get it done.
George Russell Under 1.5 Wins (+165)
Last but not least, at least for now, is Mercedes. The departure of Hamilton will certainly affect this team, but George Russell stepped up in 2024 to take his place as its top driver.
The Brit returned to the top of the podium three times after a winless 2023, though his win at Spa in Belgium was later disqualified. That win went to Hamilton, who also won once more at Britain’s Silverstone GP.
So it’s not that Mercedes is in that bad of shape to warrant obviously taking the under on the No. 63. The odds of +165 are just quite appealing when considering the market overall. It’s important to note that 2024 was Russell’s only multi-win season. And his 18-year-old rookie teammate, Kimi Antonelli, naturally won’t be as helpful as the seven-time champion was in that building.
Compared to the other top competitors, it’s just easier to be bearish on Mercedes.
Thanks for reading my 2025 Formula 1 season best bets. If you’re into NASCAR betting, be sure to catch us live every Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. EST on The Backroad!
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*Photo Credit: Jerome Miron – USA TODAY Sports*
