The 2021 Formula One season reaches a climax on the 12th of December with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This edition of the F1 World Championship has certainly been a thriller with tight races, and controversy on and off the track.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have enjoyed some healthy competitiveness to make the drivers’ championship one of the most exciting for a good while. Meanwhile, Red Bull and Mercedes have flexed their muscles in the constructors’ standings with the occasional snipe at each other to add to the drama.
When it comes to racing drivers, there are many who rise and fall in the racing ranks and some who stay at the top for just that little bit longer. In Formula 1 sports betting, it can be anyone’s race and the unexpected can always happen.
No matter who the favourite is to win, there are plenty of useful F1 bettings tips online that can help you further understand the racing odds.
This year has also seen plenty of excitement surrounding the ‘new generation’ of F1 talent as some key names have underlined their credentials. That alone bodes well for another exciting season come 2022 but right now, these are the best performing drivers in Formula One, in no particular order:
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari fans have been monitoring Charles Leclerc closely all season. The Monaco-based driver hit the heights in 2020 and while Leclerc hasn’t quite reached top gear as frequently during this season there have been some fantastic performances. Buoyed by sizable strides made by Ferrari since the previous year, Leclerc has managed two pole positions in what is essentially still a midfield car.
Having come close to winning at Silverstone, Leclerc’s bombing out on his home track was a disappointment when starting from first on the grid. Ironing out a few silly mistakes should ensure Leclerc is a fearsome contender in championships to come given his impressive raw speed.
Lewis Hamilton
The tension surrounding the championship fight this season may owe as much to Hamilton not entirely firing at his imperious best as Verstappen getting to grips with his new machinery. We may have become accustomed to Hamilton ominously heading towards another inevitable title as the year rolls on but the battle between Mercedes and Red Bull has been as enthralling as it has been extraordinary at times. Some excellent drives at Bahrain, Spain and an astonishing race in Russia to claim a 100th Grand Prix win have been notable highlights in Hamilton’s season.
There have been errors too and a handful of unfortunate events which have marred Hamilton’s points haul. Should the Brit claim an eighth title it will be an impressive one for somewhat different reasons to most of his others. Observers of F1 betting odds may well have jumped in when Verstappen knocked Hamilton off the standings.
Their faith could be rewarded. Nevertheless, in racing history, there have been many outstanding drivers on the track and Lewis Hamilton is one of those who is considered to be one of the best ever Formula 1 drivers.
Lando Norris
Quite possibly this season’s standout driver, Lando Norris has stepped up massively in his third F1 campaign. A handful of podium finishes early doors set the young Brit up nicely for the second half of the year. Consistency in point scoring has been notable for Norris and his McLaren has looked in excellent nick along the way. That bodes well for McLaren landing third spot in the constructor’s standings.
Backing Norris to finish in the top three or the top five has handed anyone who likes a bet on Formula One some decent value during 2021. A first pole of his career at the Russian Grand Prix also would have netted a healthy return for any follower of Norris and his F1 form.
Max Verstappen
One name that stands out in recent F1 racing news is Max Verstappen. Verstappen has answered his critics in style after being written off by some in 2020. The Red Bull ace has performed remarkably consistently to hover around the top of the standings having steadily improved as the season has progressed.
Verstappen had never really been in a title fight prior to 2021 but the Belgian has emerged as the favourite to win the championship in spells with a string of champagne cork-popping results.
That’s all the more impressive after a tyre pop at Baku, collision with Hamilton at Silverstone and start chaos having wrecked his Hungarian Grand Prix before it had barely begun. The odds on Verstappen and Hamilton to end the season with the title have stuck resolutely on around evens for most of 2021. Just who will sneak it remains to be seen.
Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez may remain something of an understudy to Verstappen at Red Bull but his points haul has been decent with a handful of podiums. One of the most popular bets ahead of the Mexico Grand Prix was for Perez to land the fastest lap, not surprising perhaps given the outing on his home track.
Perez is the added weapon in the Red Bull arsenal and his pace when storming through fields is impressive. The presence of Perez in the team has also benefited the title hopes of Verstappen with Red Bull better able to tweak tactics than in previous seasons.