Best F1 bets and expert advice for the Bahrain Grand Prix

The first grand prix of the mammoth 24-race 2024 F1 season takes place in Bahrain on Saturday with motorsport fans across the world keen to see if triple world champion Max Verstappen will face more of a challenge this year.

The flying Dutchman won an incredible 19 of last season's 22 races and is hot favourite to win again this year but Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren in particular are hoping to put up more of a fight against the dominant Red Bull team this time.

• Charles Leclerc to win race (each-way) - 9/1
• Lance Stroll points finish - 4/6
• Under 17.5 classified finishers - 11/8

Charles Leclerc to win race (each-way) - 9/1

It's no surprise that Max Verstappen is the red-hot 1/3 favourite to win the first race of the season after sweeping all before him in 2023. However, he has won in Bahrain only once in his three world championship seasons and it may be worth taking a chance that his rivals can get off to a fast start.

Ferrari appear to have the most potential after showing up well on the timesheets in the pre-season test in Sakhir last week and the way they maintained their pace over long runs was particularly impressive and bodes well for a strong effort in the race.

The Italian team won this event in 2022 through Charles Leclerc and the man from Monaco again looks the best bet to challenge Verstappen in the race.

Leclerc is the 9/1 second favourite and backing him each-way at that price will provide a profit if he wins or comes home second. Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez has been fifth, 18th and second in his three seasons with Red Bull and the Ferraris should be capable of mixing it with the Mexican driver even if reeling in the champion proves beyond them.

Mercedes and McLaren should also be in the hunt this season but Lewis Hamilton's team are coming off a tough couple of years and while McLaren made great progress last season, other circuits should suit their car better than this track.

Lance Stroll points finish - 4/6

Aston Martin had a great start to the 2023 season as Fernando Alonso stepped onto the podium in Bahrain in his first race for the team. His team-mate, Lance Stroll, also managed a top-six finish in a brave effort after breaking both of his wrists and a toe in a pre-season cycling accident. The lingering effects of the injuries affected the Canadian for much of the season but he finished strongly with two fifth-place finishes in the final three races and should be seen to better effect this year.

The Aston Martin team as a whole may have lost a place or two in the F1 pecking order this season with McLaren and Mercedes raising their game after slow starts in 2023, but the green machines should still be challenging for points at every race and Stroll has a solid chance of opening his account for the season in Bahrain with a top-10 finish.

Under 17.5 classified finishers - 11/8

Modern F1 cars are unbelievably well engineered and far stronger than those of past decades but there will always be teething problems with brand new cars and several teams were affected by technical issues that cost them time during the test in Bahrain last week.

Three drivers were not classified in the opening race last season - cars must complete 90% of the race distance required to be classified even if they are not running when the chequered flag is waved.

Odds-against prices for 17 or fewer drivers to be classified appeal after Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri all failed to see out the race distance last year.

In 2022 there were 19 official finishers although both Red Bulls also retired late in the race, but in 2020 only 11 drivers completed the course in the first race of the year in Austria (13 classified finishers).

*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change

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