Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix betting tips and F1 predictions

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for this weekend's Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Where to watch

Practice One
Sky Sports F1, 5.30pm Friday

Race
Sky Sports F1, 7pm Sunday

Best bet

Valterri Bottas top-three finish
1pt 7-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

Lewis Hamilton finds himself backed into a corner in his Formula 1 title fight with Max Verstappen and there’s little hope of escape for the Brit via the Mexican Grand Prix.

Verstappen’s surprise victory in the United States in round 17 has seen him move 12 points clear of Hamilton - the Red Bull ace’s biggest championship lead since July - and the Dutchman is now a best-priced 4-9 to clinch his first world championship.

The 24-year-old's win in Texas was his eighth of the season and only once in F1 history has a driver who has won that many races failed to clinch the title.

Verstappen is a short-priced favourite to extend his lead at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit having previously twice won in Mexico City in 2017 and 2018.

He looked set for the hat-trick when setting the fastest time in qualifying in 2019 only for a grid penalty and an incident on lap one to ruin his chances as Hamilton took the chequered flag.

How the seven-time world champion would love a repeat of that race at a venue where he has twice clinched the world title, despite his Mercedes being consistently afflicted by altitude sickness.

Racing at 2,285 metres above sea level, the Mercedes power unit hasn’t coped as well with the thin air as Red Bull, leading to both Verstappen and team Sergio Perez being made odds-on to land a podium place this Sunday.

A top-three finish for home favourite Perez would certainly delight the crowd but there’s value to found in opposing Checo with Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn has nine podium finishes to Perez’s four this year and enjoys racing at this circuit, overcoming Mercedes’ limitation to register three top-three places in the last five appearances.

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