Belgian Grand Prix race betting tips and F1 predictions

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for the Belgian Grand Prix, which takes place at Spa Francorchamps on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports F1, 2pm, Sunday

Best bets

Sebastian Vettel podium finish
1pt 7-1 bet365, Boylesports

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris combination tricast
1pt 12-1 bet365

Race preview

Max Verstappen secured a last-gasp pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix, claiming first blood at Spa Francorchamps – the latest battleground in the Dutchman’s championship fight with Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen trails seven-time champion Hamilton by eight points but is odds-on to hit back with victory after losing a lot of ground at Silverstone and Hungary before the summer break.

In a rain-affected and interrupted qualifying session, Verstappen denied George Russell a maiden pole position at three-figure odds. The Williams driver had cannily saved a fresh set of intermediate tyres for late in the session when the track had dried slightly.

Hamilton lines up third and the title protagonists are likely to fight it out for the race victory, but a mixed up grid provides a fascinating battle for the last step of the podium.

Another mixed bag of weather is forecast, which should add further spice.

Sebastian Vettel was cruelly denied a second podium finish of the season in Hungary last time. The four-time world champion’s Aston Martin crossed the line second, but finished the race without the required amount of fuel remaining in the tank, so he was disqualified.

Starting fifth will give the German veteran a good chance to make swift amends.

Daniel Ricciardo qualified less than a tenth of a second ahead of Vettel after enjoying the best of track conditions as the last driver to complete a qualifying lap.

While keeping Pierre Gasly and Sergio Perez behind him won’t be easy – especially if the race is dry – Vettel is worth a bet at the odds for a top-three finish.

Lando Norris led the way in the first two segments of qualifying before his heavy crash early in the top-ten shootout.

The McLaren driver has three podium finishes this year and starting ninth won’t stop him adding to that tally if he shows the same kind of wet-weather pace on Sunday.

Norris has been a model of consistency this season, finishing six of the last seven races in the top five.

Putting the young Briton in a combination tricast with Verstappen and Hamilton could be the best way to support him.

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