Formula One Betting Preview – Hamilton, Raikkonen set to slug it out in Spain
Online sports betting – Lewis Hamilton (+125), Kimi Raikkonen (+250), Felipe Massa (+260)
WHAT: The European Grand Prix
WHO: The best drivers in Formula One
WHEN: Sunday, August 24, 9:00 AM ET
WHERE: Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia, Spain
KEY STATS: Michael Schumacher has the record with six wins in this event
This week's stop on the Formula One circuit is the European Grand Prix, which will be held on the Valencia Street Circuit in Spain. This is the first time this race has been held anywhere other than Germany since 1997, when it was held in Jerez, Spain.
Fernando Alonso is the defending champion at this event, but Formula One betting odds expect it to be a duel between the top two in the standings, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen (the defending series champion).
Hamilton is the favorite at +120 online sportsbook odds, but he had a rough time in his first European Grand Prix, finishing a lap down in ninth place after he was caught up in a first-lap wreck. However, the points leader has won two of the last three races, including a fifth-place run in Hungary three weeks ago. Hamilton needs a good run to keep Raikkonen behind him.
Speaking of the defending champion, Raikkonen also has bad memories of last year's European Grand Prix, as he was forced to retire with hydraulic problems to his Ferrari. This spoiled a qualifying effort that put the Finnish driver on the pole, but he only lasted 34 of 60 laps. Raikkonen trails Hamilton by only five points in the standings, and he enters with Formula One betting odds of +250.
Felipe Massa trails his Ferrari teammate by three points in the table and he comes in with +260 odd. Of the top three, Massa had the best day at this event last year by far, notching a runner-up finish, but he has two finishes of 13th or worse in his last three starts, including an 18th-place run in Hungary.
A good darkhorse pick is BMW's Robert Kubica and, although this race isn't at the same track, he has good memories of the event after finishing seventh last year, one of only eight cars still on the lead lap. Kubica owns a nice eight-point lead for fourth in the standings over teammate Nick Heidfeld and he's been insanely consistent this season, racking up 10 top-10s in 11 races.
Lee-Roy's Analysis: This race is difficult to handicap since it's not a regular track, although it will host the European Grand Prix for the next seven years. Qualifying is key, especially for anyone outside of the Ferrari/McLaren juggernaut?Hamilton, Raikkonen and Massa have won nine of the 11 races so far this year.
Bet on Raikkonen to become the first Finn since Mika Hakkinen in 1997 to take the checkered flag in the European Grand Prix.
Full list of Formula One betting odds
Born in the betting capital of Las Vegas, Lee-Roy has grown to appreciate the likes of IndyCar and Formula 1 racing, but his first love is the high-speed ovals of NASCAR and he is a HUGE Tony Stewart fan. When it comes to motorsports handicapping, Buckles takes the checkered flag. Thoughts or questions?
