The Best Bets for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix
The Hungaroring is often called “Monaco without the walls”. Like the venue that is sat on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, the Hungarian track’s narrow and twisty layout makes overtaking extremely difficult. At this dated circuit, all teams need to apply high levels of downforce to their cars to achieve maximum performance.
In 2021, rain, before the had race started, contributed to a big accident on the opening bend. Resultantly, four drivers failed to complete a single lap. Two others were out of the race by lap three due to collision damage.
Lando Norris celebrates his stunning second place in the British Grand Prix. He could be spraying the champagne again in Hungary on Sunday. ©GettyImages
But this was something of a statistical anomaly. Last year every car that set out was classified as a race finisher. 19 of the 20 race starters finished the 70-lap contest in 2019 and 2020. Given the previous results, it should be no surprise that we recommend 18.5-plus race finishers in Sunday’s race. The best Formula 1 betting sites have this scenario priced on 7/4.
Double Points Predicted for Alpine
Two weeks ago in Silverstone, both Alpine cars were forced to retire. One had an oil leak, and the other suffered from collision damage. However, as the unfortunate Pierre Gasly had completed 90 percent of the race distance, he was classified as a race finisher.
This was a rare blip on the French team’s 2023 record. Its drivers have finished amongst the points 11 times during the season. Its best finish was an unexpected third – achieved by Esteban Ocon – in Monaco.
To understand the similarities with Monaco is to appreciate both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are likely to go well again this weekend in Hungary. At 7/1, Ocon is an attractive price for a top-six finish. After all, the Frenchman will have great memories of this venue having won this race in 2021 driving an Alpine.
Pay Back Time for Pierre Gasly
We believe Gasly, who claimed the fastest lap in that same contest, can take his fifth top-10 finish from his last seven starts. Motorsports betting sites quote this outcome on 4/6.
In a post-Silverstone interview Otmar Szafnauer, Alpine’s Team Principal, best summed up why the Gasly points finish proposition is over-priced. “Pierre was extremely unfortunate. He made a great start from tenth and was well in the fight for a good result. The Safety Car was ill-timed for him, seconds after his pit-stop, which meant a handful of cars were able to benefit from a free-stop to jump Pierre,” he explained.
“He [Gasly] made another good getaway at the Safety Car restart to climb his way towards the points but was twice unfortunate with [Lance] Stroll’s double infringement; the second of which led to Stroll hitting Pierre causing suspension damage and bringing an early end to our race. It’s certainly not been our weekend, but we must remain confident in our ability to bounce back in Budapest.”
Improving Norris Can Podium Again
However, Lando Norris – who finished last in the opening two races of the season – looks the best bet of the weekend. Bristol’s most famous sportsman is 5/2 to claim a podium step for a second successive race weekend. The 23-year-old qualified second and finished second in the British Grand Prix a fortnight ago. It was a result that demonstrated just how effective recent upgrades to his McLaren have been.
Dear the BEST fans in the world! 🧡 #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/d2OSgQ79co
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 9, 2023
“For Hungary, we have some further updates that will let more from the point of view of trying to improve the race pace. These will be available to both drivers,” said McLaren’s Italian Team Principle, Andrea Stella, after his team’s 2-4 finish in Silverstone.
“Once we started redesigning the car, now we kind of unlocked performance, and through iterations, we keep seeing the aerodynamic development being quite effective,” Stella added.
The Hungaroring will present the team with an interesting challenge compared to the relatively high-speed tracks of Austria and Silverstone. But, such is the transformation of the car, it would be no surprise if it were to devour the demands of this relatively low-speed track – namely high downforce levels.
Recommended Bets
- 18.5+ Classified Race Finishers 7/4
- Top-6 Finish for Esteban Ocon 7/1
- Top-10 Finish for Pierre Gasly 4/6
- Podium Finish for Lando Norris 5/2
