How to bet on F1 — A complete guide for types of bets, reading odds, best Formula One betting sites and more

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Betting on Formula 1 in the U.K. has come a long way in the last few decades.

Wagering on F1 actually began with changing gambling regulations in the 1990s, but the sport was very much a closed book for these types of pursuits for a long time. In those days, F1 was very predictable, with not enough regulation changes to keep it interesting from a betting perspective. However, times have definitely changed.

F1 as a betting sport has grown exponentially over the last few years in particular, and it now feels with a very data-heavy analytical approach that the stars have aligned.  

Now, you can bet not just on who will win the Drivers' World Championship or a specific race winner, but also head-to-head winner between specific drivers, drivers to finish in the top six of a race, top-10 positions and also props, such as whether a safety car will appear. 

Combined with the fact that sport overall has seen a rise in popularity thanks to shows like Netflix’s Drive to Survive, as well as the massive social media push from owners Liberty Media to introduce a younger and more online-savvy and agile audience, betting on F1 is just beginning to scratch the surface.

Here we take a look at everything you need to know about F1 wagering, and how to do it successfully.

MORE: Latest 2025 Formula 1 Results and Standings | Latest F1 Schedule

How to bet on F1: Types of Formula One betting

As mentioned, there are lots of different markets available to bet on in F1. Here's some of the main ones:

• Race Winner — Bet on who will win a specific Grand Prix race.

• Drivers' World Championship Winner — Bet on the driver who will win the entire season.

• Constructors' World Championship Winner — Bet on the team that will win the entire season. Sometimes bookmakers such as Sky Bet will also have "Without the Favourite" markets, and in recent years as teams have become more dominant this market has become increasingly popular.

• Fastest Qualifier — Predict who will qualify fastest and start the race on pole position.

• Sprint Race Winner — A market that has developed in recent times, with inclusion of shorter version of the full-length race, to add excitement but also jeopardy to the season. 

• To Win Qualifying and Race —Make a double bet on the driver to get pole position in qualifying and to win the Sunday race as well. 

As well as these main markets, bookmakers with a great F1 betting experience like Sky Bet, Paddy Power or Bet365 also offer several other interesting markets and opportunities to wager for serious F1 fans. For example:

• Fastest Lap — Bet on who will achieve the fastest lap of the race.

• Constructor Race Winner — Which team will have the winning driver at the chequered flag.

• Head-to-Head Winner (driver matchups) — Bet on which of two drivers will finish higher in the race.

• Podium Finish — Bet on a driver to finish in the top three in the race. 

• Finishing Position — Bet on a driver to finish inside the top six, top 10 or just in the points in a particular GP race.

• Number of Classified Cars — Bet on the number of cars that will finish the race. You can often find over/under markets which can give you a better chance of landing your bet.

• Safety Car — Bet on whether a safety car will be deployed during a particular race.

Live Formula 1 betting

Also known as in-play betting, live betting allows savvy punters to place a bet during a race.

In the case of Formula 1, this means the odds are constantly changing depending on what transpires during the Grand Prix weekend.

With F1 betting odds fluctuating so frequently, a sharp-eyed bettor may be able to spot a value opportunity while watching the race and place a wager before the chequered flag drops.

Live F1 betting strategies

If you do fancy an F1 flutter while a race is in progress, there are a few things to consider that can give you an edge over the bookmakers:

Watch time gaps closely: Use live timing tools (like F1 TV or the F1 official app) to spot undercuts or closing intervals.

Exploit pit windows: If you see a car staying out longer or another driver stuck behind backmarker traffic, odds may undervalue a driver.

Monitor team radio and weather updates: Real-time updates can give you the edge on bookies adjusting odds.

Key things to consider when betting on F1 

F1 betting is fairly straightforward when you understand the sport, but there can be things that will influence your betting decisions. 

There are factors beyond the obvious in-race performance that will impact the chances of particular drivers or teams being successful. 

Like any sports betting, staying informed about the off-track F1 news agenda is just as important to making smart wagers. You can stay up to date with all the latest F1 news with our expert coverage from TSN here.

Beyond that, you should think about things like:

Regulation changes

The FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, will every so often place regulation changes into sport.

The last major regulatory changes came in 2022, which introduced ground effect back into the sport, while teams, drivers and fans alike are awaiting the predicted 2026 shake-up.

These alterations in rulings can cause a dramatic change in a team’s performance, with the help of innovation and finding the edge over their rivals. 

You may see a team who won consecutively in one regulation era struggle to cope with changing factors and therefore it may be better to wait until pre-season testing is completed to make your ante-post bets.

Car upgrades throughout season

Especially in the mid-season break, teams have time to work on upgrades they can take to certain races throughout the season.

This can see a sharp uptick in race competitiveness and is something to consider when making Formula One prop bets.

Track characteristics

A certain track’s characteristics and setup will be vital to how a team and driver does each race weekend. Not every circuit suits every driver’s style or the characteristics of each car, and subsequently can be a major factor to consider when making your bets.

There are some tracks with longer straights and a lot of overtaking opportunities and others which may be tighter, where qualifying becomes ultra important. This is for especially true of street circuits like Azerbaijan, Monaco and Las Vegas.

There are also night races to consider, like Singapore and Abu Dhabi, where some drivers may perform better in these conditions.

Driver changes 

A team and or driver that performed at a high level last season may not be at the same level the next campaign and vice-versa.

It’s important to take into consideration driver changes that either happen mid-season or in the off-season when making your ante-post or race-by-race Formula One bets.

A real life example could be Carlos Sainz going from Ferrari, one of the front-running constructors, to Williams in 2025, where he has been fighting in the midfield. This will affect his points tally, regardless of his skill and nous behind the wheel.

How to read F1 odds

Fractional odds are most commonly used in betting in the U.K. and Formula One is no different. Fractional odds are expressed as a ratio, such as 5/1 (pronounced five to one).

Breaking it down, that means for every £1 you bet, you can win £5 in profit. In this instance, a £10 winning bet on a 5/1 play means you would receive £60, with £10 of that being your original stake. 

Not all sites use fractional odds, though, and you may also find prices in decimal format or also American format.

To get a full breakdown of how to read and understand odds you can read our guide here.

Best F1 betting sites

The U.K. is flush with different betting companies that punters can use, and many of them have really strong F1 offerings. 

From well-known brands such as Bet365 and Paddy Power to smaller websites online, like AK Bets, or exchange-based firms like Spreadex, betting is a huge part of the sporting culture, with millions gambling online, at events and in stores. 

As a punter, you really are spoilt for choice in F1. Sky Bet is our own personal favourite for F1 betting, thanks to the firm's close association with the sport. As the broadcaster of the F1 schedule in the U.K. Sky is pretty unbeatable. Their platform covers all the intricacies of the sport and the different betting markets with expert authority in a way that offers a versatile user experience across online and mobile.

But they are not the only option, and one of the best ways to decide on where to bet on F1 is often to look at what welcome bonuses, sign-up offers or free bet promos that are available.

Many firms will offer free bets or bonuses to new customers, which can help you decide where to bet.

Here's a look at some of the latest offers. This list is not exhaustive — and it's always worth scouring the market and doing your own additional research to see what value can be had before kick-off. 

Remember also to carefully check the Terms and Conditions for each of the offers listed below, so that you can fully activate your free bet or bonus.

Top tips for betting on F1 

Ultimately, F1 is one of the more strategic betting sports. Whether you win or lose still requires a degree of luck, but you can give yourself an advantage by following some basic principles and leaning into the core factors that will often decide a Grand Prix.

• Driver form: A driver may be on a hot-streak and their confidence with the car could mean they outdrive the team’s expectations. Alternatively, if a driver is on a run of DNFs (Did Not Finish) and their morale is low, this could have a detrimental effect on performance despite their natural ability.

• Historical performances: These can have a big part to play on race day. For instance, a driver may have positive past experiences to draw on around one track. Certain drivers favour certain circuits — For example, current Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto won many races around the Red Bull Ring in the junior ranks and proved his fondness for that circuit again in 2025 when he finished in eighth place, over-performing against what was expected of him based purely on the pace of his car alone. 

• Weather conditions: Be sure to look ahead to weather conditions, both pre-race and also mid-race, which can be decisive for both the race classification and your betting success. 

• Tyre strategy: Changeable weather conditions may also lead to multiple different tyre strategies, which can alter the fate of a team and driver’s race.

• Pit stop strategy: Is it a one-stop race or a two-stop race? Is there a realistic shot at making the podium or points finish depending on whether a team stays out longer or opts for shorter race stints? 

• Car upgrades: Has the team just implemented a new upgrade that they need to test for the first time? Car upgrades can add an X-factor for a team, and innovation from technicians and strategists may mean that teams decide to run one of their cars with the latest tech/aerodynamics and the other without as a "control sample". This can lead to varied race dynamics and performance.

• Race format: Is this a sprint weekend, where there is less practice reps for the teams and drivers to nail their strategy, or the traditional race weekend schedule? The sprint race allows for extra points to accumulate through the season, which could be crucial to the championships but also means teams may not have enough time to implement any tweaks they need. This may lead to surprise results where bettors could find variation and the edge in the markets. If we’re in a race weekend following the traditional format of Thursday Practice, Friday Practice, Saturday Qualifying and Sunday Race, then this may mean less unpredictability. 

F1 race weekend format

There are two types of race format in F1: 

Traditional Formula 1 Race Weekend Format

Friday: Free Practice 1 (FP1): Free Practice 2 (FP2) Saturday: Free Practice 3 (FP3): Qualifying: Sunday: Grand Prix Race Day

Sprint Race Formula 1 Weekend Format

Friday: FP1; Qualifying for Sprint Race Saturday: Free Practice 2 (FP2); Sprint Race Sunday: Grand Prix Race Day

Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship 2025 odds and betting

Here's the latest World Drivers' Championship odds and best prices from our selected partners. These will be updated regularly as the season progresses. Click the links below to bet.