The legendary Spa circuit hosts Round 14 of the F1 Drivers’ Championship this weekend. For the first time in over two seasons, Max Verstappen doesn’t start a Grand Prix week as the favorite, with Lando Norris leading the betting to win the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix. In our latest Formula 1 betting picks, we tell you if the bookmakers have got it right.
What: Belgian Grand Prix 2024 – Round 14
Where: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium
When: Sunday, July 28th, 2024
Time: 9 a.m ET
Laps: 44
Track Length: 7.004 km
Race Distance: 308.052 km
The 2024 Belgian Grand Prix is the final race before F1 takes a break for the summer. And with the battle between Red Bull and McLaren eventually tipping in favor of the latter, the scene is set for an exciting second half of the season when F1 resumes in the Netherlands at the end of August.
Before that though, we have the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. The race comes from the iconic Spa circuit, with McLaren looking to win back-to-back races after Oscar Pisatri scored an impressive win in Hungary last Sunday.
The victory for the Australian driver was not without incident. The McLaren No.2 driver had to rely on his team ordering – then leader – Lando Norris to move aside and let him win in the final few laps of the race.
Norris had benefited greatly from a more favorable pit strategy than Piastri had been given. But McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella made it clear that as Piastri was in the lead before the two drivers boxed, it would be him who was allowed to take the checkered should the two men continue to drive away from the rest of the field.
That’s exactly what happened, and after plenty of debate between Norris and the team over the radio, the No.1 driver eventually moved aside and allowed Piastri through to record the first F1 race win of his career.
McLaren now looks the team to beat in F1
Somewhat lost, thanks to the drama between Norris and his team, was the fact the two McLarens comfortably outpaced the Red Bull of Max Verstappen across the race weekend.
The McLarens locked out the front row of the grid, with Norris in pole, and Pisatri in second. The duo then also dominated the race, with Piastri taking the checkered flag, and Norris the runner-up.
How will that affect the betting as the drivers head across Europe to Spa for this weekend’s race?
Betting to win the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix
In recent weeks we have pointed out that the odds of a Verstappen win have drifted ahead of every race. But we’ve been waiting what seems an eternity for the Dutchman to go odds against.
So after a dominant weekend for McLaren, has Verstappen finally gone odds against to win a Grand Prix at the start of a race week?
Yes is the answer. But Verstappen hasn’t just gone odds against, he has gone odds against and to second favorite.
The betting favorite to win the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix is Lando Norris at +125.
Max Verstappen is now without a win in three races.
But he still holds a healthy lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. Verstappen has 265 points, 76 more than Lando Norris, who sits on 189 points.
Verstappen has won seven races this year. Norris has won just one.
Despite this, Max Verstappen has seen his odds to win the Drivers’ Championship drift from -1400 to -600.
As for Lando Norris, his odds have been cut from +800 to +350. And this, without even winning a race.
The reason behind this? The McLaren car now looks superior to the Red Bull.
This theory is further backed up in the betting to win the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, where the once unthinkable has now happened.
McLaren is the new favorite to win the Constructors’ Championship at -140 with BetUS. The same firm now has Red Bull at +100, Ferrari at +4000, and Mercedes at +5000.
As things stand, Red Bull leads the points table with 389 points. McLaren are 51 points behind on 338.
But with Norris and Piastri in the running to win nearly every race, and Max Verstappen virtually fighting them on his own given the struggles of Sergio Perez, a wager on McLaren to win the Constructors’ Championship looks like the way to go.
The Spa circuit won’t suit the McLarens as much as the Hungaroring did last weekend. That still doesn’t mean that one of Norris or Piastri won’t win.
So, with Verstappen now out at +200 to win a Grand Prix, is he now worth backing?
We’re not so sure. Okay, Verstappen has won here for the last three years. But his car is now not as quick as the McLarens. Verstappen is also at loggerheads with his team. He may come back refreshed after the summer break more focused on securing the championship, but for now, we are giving him a miss.
Lando Norris is our pick to win the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix.
Dean has been writing betting tips for websites now for over 15 years.
He started out writing and editing his own publications, but has now expanded to publishing articles on various well known websites where he covers everything from hot dog eating competitions to casino reviews.
Over the years Dean has learnt to adapt his skills. Using his extensive sports knowledge and his British sense of humor, Dean has developed into a trusted voice in the betting industry.