Belgian Grand Prix Betting Tips & Preview – Sunday 26th August 2018

After a month off, Formula 1 returns this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix. The lead up to the break was a pivotal part of the campaign, but how the drivers start the second half will also be key. Right now, Lewis Hamilton is out to press home his advantage and wrap up another title. Can anyone get close to him in this race, or is the champion going to extend his lead?

Time is ticking down, and Hamilton can now boast a 24 point lead at the summit of the standings. The title race between the Mercedes man and Sebastian Vettel has been thrilling thus far but if the Ferrari driver slips up here he risks handing away the title. However, the reigning champion is in fine form, and it’s going to be hard to stop him.

Race Info

We kick off the final nine races of the season here, with Belgium welcoming the world’s top drivers. The Belgian Grand Prix – an almost constant staple of the Formula 1 calendar – has been held in Spa every year since 1984. It’s a well-known venue, somewhere which has seen recent victories for both of the top two, so they’ll be aiming for a repeat.

Schedule

Previous Race Results (2017)

Hamilton should have fine memories of Spa, after picking up maximum points here 12 months ago. The Mercedes driver topped qualifying and held on to that spot throughout the race, ending up over two seconds clear of his nearest challenger. That win took him within seven points of leader Sebastian Vettel, and it was seen as a key point in the Brit’s push for another world title.

Elsewhere, Daniel Ricciardo came in after the top two, but he was 10 seconds off the lead as he took third. He was alongside the supporting drivers for Ferrari and Mercedes, who all struggled to compete with the top two. Valtteri Bottas in particular would have been disappointed with his race here last year, dropping from third on the grid to fifth in the race.

Race News: Alonso Retires to Spark Midseason Moves

Fernando Alonso has had a tough few years with McLaren, but he’s decided to bring that to an end. The Spaniard has called time on his career, as he’s set to retire at the end of the campaign. The two-time world champion is currently ninth in the standings, and that would be his best finish since returning to McLaren. His last three years have seen him struggle without the resources to challenge for success. The Spaniard did win in Le Mans earlier this year, securing the second of the triple crown of motorsport. However, his chances of completing that are now in doubt, following his retirement.

McLaren have moved for Carlos Sainz to replace Alonso. Stoffel Vandoorne and Lando Norris are in contention to team up with Sainz, as they look to make big changes next season. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly is set to replace Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull.

Analysis: Hamilton Returning in Form

The summer break arguably came at the wrong time for Hamilton, who had just won back to back races. However, he’ll be out to continue that form in Belgium this weekend. The gap that has opened up between him and Vettel should worry Ferrari, especially as the early season battle has now become incredibly one-sided in Mercedes’ favour.

The champion has a strong record in Belgium, winning two of the last three races here. However, his team maintain there’s no clear favourite for this race, and that the title battle will be close until the end of the season. However, the Silver Arrows have said this more than enough in the past. Given the swing in momentum they’ve had in their favour, it’s hard to think that they are thinking that way behind the scenes.

Final Verdict: Hamilton To Win

Hamilton is our pick to win, with his form and record at this circuit making him the clear favourite in our eyes. His price of 11/8 to win the race is great value, and we see the Mercedes man extending his lead at the top. In addition, he seems like a good pick to top qualifying at 6/5.

Meanwhile, we think that the second and third places will be claimed by Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen should follow Vettel home here. The Finn has recorded five straight finishes inside the top three, and at 8/11 for a podium finish we think Raikkonen is worth backing for another top three appearance.