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F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021 Betting Tips & Predictions (December 12)
The chaotic and highly entertaining Formula One World Championship 2021 season comes to a close on Sunday, December 12, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (F1 UAE GP).
In this betting preview, we will look at what the season’s final race holds for us and provide our thoughts and predictions with top odds courtesy of the top-rated betting sites.
Race History
The first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix happened way back in 2009 as the 17th and final round of the Grand Prix season. Sebastian Vettel emerged as the inaugural race winner and added another W a year later, in 2010, when the German driver would claim his first world championship title.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been on the F1 calendar ever since, and all the races were held on the Yas Marina Circuit, which will host its 12th Grand Prix this weekend.
Throughout its 11-year-history, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix featured 6 winners and only 2 who have won the race more than once. The list of the most successful drivers includes:
- Lewis Hamilton – 5 wins
- Sebastian Vettel – 3 wins
- Kimi Räikkönen – 1 win
- Nico Rosberg – 1 win
- Max Verstappen – 1 win
Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Odds – Bookies’ Favourites
With so much chaos this season, it was never easy to guess the winner of the upcoming race. And we can assume that F1 sportsbooks haven’t had an easy job creating the odds either.
However, the betting odds for the 2021 Abu Dhabi are out, and the bookmakers have a pretty good idea of who will win.
Lewis Hamilton (8/15 to Win)
The 7-time Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton, heads to Jeddah Corniche Circuit as the top favourite to win the race and claim his 8th crown. Widely regarded as one of the most significant F1 drivers in the world, it’s difficult not to mention Hamilton when you talk about 2021 Abu Dhabi GP betting tips and predictions.
Installed at 8/15, Hamilton has all the momentum he needs coming into the race. He won 3 straight races, including a controversial win in Jeddah this past weekend, to force the championship title battle to the edge.
Max Verstappen (15/8 to Win)
Max Verstappen seemed like he would be the driver to end Hamilton’s era of dominance. And things looked perfect for the 25-year-old until November’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
After losing to Hamilton on Autódromo José Carlos Pace, everything went downhill for Verstappen, who had to settle for 3 back-to-back runner-up finishes, which effectively removed all the lead he accumulated over the season.
The 2 drivers are not tied at 369.5 points, and while Verstappen won more races (9) than the Brit (8) this season, he hasn’t been able to catch up to Hamilton for over a month.
Valtteri Bottas (16/1 to Win)
Valtteri Bottas won’t be competing for the title on Sunday, and his chances to win the race seem pretty slim. Although a highly experienced driver, Bottas has managed only one win this season and 11 podiums.
The 32-year-old has proven he can compete with the best and won in Abu Dhabi in 2017. However, he was not nearly as fast as Verstappen or Hamilton this season, and that’s unlikely to change on Sunday.
Sergio Perez (28/1 to Win)
Sergio Perez’s stats this season aren’t too flashy, with only one win and 5 podiums. While he deserves respect for his performances this term, it is hard to find a solid case to add Perez to our betting picks for the upcoming race.
Admittedly, he has been solid with 3 third-place and 2 fourth-place finishes across the last 6 races, but like Bottas, he hasn’t been fast enough to compete with the 2 frontrunners. And even if he finds himself in a position to win, Perez would likely have to make room for his teammate to pass him and round up the season with a win.
Past Winners of the Race
Formula One first came to Abu Dhabi in 2009, and the race has since seen many different champions. However, the list of winners across the last 5 races has only featured 3 names.
- 2016 – Lewis Hamilton
- 2017 – Valtteri Bottas
- 2018 – Lewis Hamilton
- 2019 – Lewis Hamilton
- 2020 – Max Verstappen
Date, Place, and Time of the Event
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, December 12, at Yas Marina Circuit. The flag is set to drop at 17:00 local time (GST).
F1 Abu Dhabi GP Predictions 2021
If you want to bet on F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021 and need a prediction, you have come to the right place. But instead of providing just one pick, we have 3 worth considering at the offered 2021 Abu Dhabi GP betting odds.
Qualifying with the fastest time and grabbing a pole position for the upcoming race will be extremely important since the track doesn’t offer many overtaking opportunities. However, speed is another feature that the track has and will heavily impact how it plays out.
While both Verstappen and Hamilton can finish races with fast time, it is very evident that Mercedes tend to perform better on fast tracks. Red Bull might have better aerodynamics, but their cars are not as fast as the Silver Arrows.
Even last weekend, we saw Hamilton claim both the fastest qualifier and the race, which should make you start to believe that Verstappen will struggle to stop the Brit en route to his 8th championship title. Of course, there is a world where Hamilton doesn’t claim the pole position, but that shouldn’t discourage you from making a live bet on the Brit to win the race.
Lewis Hamilton to Win – 8/15
Based on everything we have seen across the last 3 races, it’s hard not to recommend Hamilton as our 2021 Abu Dhabi GP prediction. He is swift and has the needed experience to lock in the title.
Max Verstappen to Win – 15/8
His car might not be as fast as Hamilton’s, but you should never underestimate Mad Max. He has been more consistent than the Brit this season, and you can be sure he will have a few tricks up his sleeve to steal the crown.
Valtteri Bottas to Win – 16/1
You could say that Valtteri Bottas’ chances to win are slim, and they might be under normal circumstances. But this season has had anything but ordinary circumstances.
There is a chance – while slim – that Hamilton and Verstappen engage in another scuffle which could easily see them both finish the race in the grass. And if that happens, the battle for the W will come down to the “best of the rest,” of which Bottas has the fastest car.
It’s a total longshot bet, but at 16/1, it’s a solid one.
With that, we conclude our 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi GP betting preview, equipping you with everything you need to know to place a bet on the season’s final race.