We have one more race on the calendar before the second midseason break of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship and it’s coming from the Hungaroring this weekend.
McLaren’s dominance continued last weekend in Spa and it sure looks like it will be more of the same with the Papaya drivers heavily favoured for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Passing is tough on the narrow circuit which makes qualifying all the more important in the likely head to head battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
However George Russell and Max Verstappen have both topped qualifying in recent races, and the chasing pack will be hoping to find a way to out qualify the dominant pairing of season 2025.
Track Stats
- Direction: Clockwise
- Lap Distance: 4.381km
- Total Laps: 70
- Race Distance: 306.630km
- Lap Record: 1:16.627 (Lewis Hamilton, 2020)
- 2024 Podium: Oscar Piastri (MCL), Lando Norris (MCL), Lewis Hamilton (MER)
- Most Event Wins: Lewis Hamilton (2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Race Winner
There really is no point trying to make a value case for any of the 18 non-McLaren drivers here, it is going to be a two-horse race once again.
While there might have been some outrage over the British slanted commentary from the British focused, British broadcast for a British network and British audience we watch week in, week out, David Croft and Martin Brundle had a point saying that Lando Norris was driving much faster than Oscar Piastri to close out the Belgian Grand Prix.
While we all would have loved to see Piastri get his deserved plaudits, the big question for this race is whether or not Norris is starting to get the yips.
A couple of mistakes prevented him from closing the gap on the Australian and it is a reputation that has plagued Norris throughout his career, he does seem to find ways to shoot himself in the foot in the big moments.
This could be where Piastri’s slightly more measured personality compared to his Aussie predecessor Daniel Ricciardo could work in his favour.
He has shown an ability to keep his cool when it matters and he appears to be well placed to claim his seventh race win of the season.
Oscar Piastri to Win @ $2.50
Podium Finish
Sadly the podium SGM that has been a profitable play over the last three weeks has been priced down and the value has gone.
Backing both McLarens to finish in the top three is at just $1.67 so the best bet in this market will have to come from elsewhere.
The natural default option here would be Max Verstappen, but the reigning world champion has not made the podium since Canada and has just five top three finishes all season.
George Russell’s record is even worse in recent weeks with just one podium from his last seven starts, which was his win in Canada.
It all points towards Charles Leclerc who has been the best of the rest in recent weeks, recording a trio of third places and a second from his last six.
Otherwise you might have to throw the darts at one of the fringe contenders like Fernando Alonso and hope for a miracle.
Charles Leclerc Podium Finish @ $2.40
Points Finish
While the guy might come across as thoroughly unlikeable a lot of the time, Liam Lawson’s recent efforts deserve some praise.
His last four races have been hit and miss with two retirements either side of a sixth place in Austria and most recently an eighth at Spa.
Having had 11 races to adapt to the new car, the Kiwi might be finding his feet and he is starting to out perform his teammate.
There is also some phenomenal value to be had on the Frenchman Pierre Gasly who has back to back points finishes, which makes his price in this market incredibly surprising.
Liam Lawson Points Finish @ $2.60
Pierre Gasly Points Finish @ $3.20
Driver Head to Head Bets
After three straight retirements, Alex Albon has started to produce some encouraging results in the Williams.
An eighth at Silverstone before the break was backed up with a sixth at Spa, while his teammate Carlos Sainz has not been in the points since Spain.
And given he is the pick to win the race, why not double down on Piastri to finish ahead of Norris.
Alex Albon to beat Carlos Sainz @ $1.83
Oscar Piastri to beat Lando Norris @ $1.91
Number of Finishers
All 20 cars finished last week’s race for just the second time this season, but the nature of this track suggests that the only retirements might come from mechanical issues rather than drivers misjudging a corner.
Over 18.5 Finishers @ $2.30
Same Game Multi
Piastri to Win, Norris Podium, Albon and Lawson Points @ $21.58