F1 Insider: French Grand Prix betting tips, odds and start times
Our F1 Insider is backing Valtteri Bottas for this weekend's French Grand Prix.
Valtteri Bottas to win the French Grand Prix at 7/1 (e/w at 1/5 1,2,3)
This is the first time in nearly three decades that the Paul Ricard circuit has seen a Formula 1 race, so there's an element of uncertainty heading into the weekend. What we do know is that the Mercedes and Ferrari teams are exceptionally evenly-matched on ultimate pace, with Red Bull joining them in race-trim on Sundays. Ferrari had a small but decisive edge in Canada two weeks ago but the Scuderia introduced their latest-specification engine while the world champions retained a power plant that had completed six race distances. The new Mercedes hybrid unit should be worth a minimum of a couple of tenths so we could see the pendulum swinging back towards the silver side this weekend. At 1/5 odds for three places, the 7/1 on Valtteri Bottas appeals more than the 13/8 for Lewis Hamilton.
Double-points finish for Toro Rosso at 14/1
Pierre Gasly managed to stay under the radar for most of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend but his race performance was quietly impressive. Gasly's car was fitted with Renault's upgraded engine and it was able to propel the Frenchman from the back of the grid to a creditable 11th at the (prematurely waved) chequered flag. The Gasly-Toro Rosso combination has previously shown flashes of genuine speed at times, most notably a fourth place on merit in Bahrain, and he looks a looks well-set for a strong showing on home soil this weekend. Team-mate Brendon Hartley is also due a break and the double-points finish market looks ripe for a speculative punt at a general 14/1.
Posted at 1600 GMT on 21/06/18; selections at best available price via oddschecker.com
French Grand Prix: Weekend Schedule & TV Guide
All times BST
Friday June 22
1100: Practice One
1500: Practice Two
Saturday June 23
1200: Practice Three
1500: Qualifying
Sunday June 24
1510: Race
TV Coverage
You can watch all the sessions of the French GP weekend live on Sky Sports F1.
French Grand Prix: Sky Bet odds
Race winner: pre-weekend:
- Lewis Hamilton: 6/4
- Sebastian Vettel: 13/8
- Max Verstappen: 7/1
- Valtteri Bottas: 7/1
- Daniel Ricciardo: 10/1
Fastest qualifier: pre-weekend
- Sebastian Vettel: 5/4
- Lewis Hamilton: 6/4
- Valtteri Bottas: 8/1
- Max Verstappen: 12/1
- Daniel Ricciardo: 14/1
Click here for all of Sky Bet's French Grand Prix odds
French Grand Prix: Track Guide
- Venue: Circuit Paul Ricard
- Circuit length: 5.842km
- Laps: 53
- Race distance: 309.69km
- Number of turns: 15
- Last winner: Felipe Massa (2008)
Related F1 links
MOST READ
