Spanish Grand Prix F1 qualifying betting tips, odds and predictions: Russell value to crash pole party

Where to watch the Spanish Grand Prix

Practice three & qualifying
11.30am & 3pm Saturday, Sky Sports F1

Race
2pm Sunday, Sky Sports F1

Best bet

George Russell fastest qualifier
1pt each-way 16-1 bet365

Spanish Grand Prix qualifying odds

Odds correct at time of publication. Each-way 1/5 odds, 1,2,3.

Spanish Grand Prix qualifying predictions

The championship fight is well and truly on as just 25 points separate the top three drivers going into this weekend’s ninth round of the F1 season, the Spanish Grand Prix. 

Lando Norris’s victory in Monaco last week saw him move to within three points of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

Reigning champion Max Verstappen is third, and while he has claimed he doesn't feel as if he is part of the title fight, it would be foolish to discount him.

The McLaren pair are locked together at the head of the betting for this afternoon’s qualifying session, but Verstappen is a consistent factor over a single lap this year, with three pole positions to his name.

He was three-tenths of a second off Piastri’s leading pace in yesterday’s practice at the Circuit de Catalunya, but he tends to gain that amount of time as his Red Bull team run more aggressive engine settings on Saturdays.

Verstappen is tempting at the prices, but with three each-way places available, Mercedes’ George Russell makes more appeal.

Russell has four top-three grid spots to his name this season, and had qualified in the top five for every race up until last week, when a car failure condemned him to starting 14th in Monaco.

Home hero Fernando Alonso has still to score a point this season, but he has been unlucky the last two weekends when his Aston Martin has looked much more competitive.

The veteran was seventh-fastest in practice and is just 1-2 to earn his first top-ten finish of the season this weekend.

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