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F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How to watch, betting odds, & best bets for Saturday’s season opener

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The new F1 season kicks off this weekend with a race around the Sakhir Desert. Bahrain International Circuit hosts the 2024 season opener and all eyes are fixed on what promises to be a weekend full of surprises. If you’re looking to bet on the action, you’ve come to the right place. How to watch F1 Bahrain Grand Prix When: Saturday, March 2nd, 10AM ESTWhere: Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, BahrainHow: ESPN, F1TV, Sky Sports F1 The 2024 F1 races will be broadcast on ESPN & ESPN+, while both of Friday's practice sessions and Qualifying sessions will be shown on ESPN2. Fans can also subscribe to F1TV for an unrivalled viewing experience. [sc name="Draftkings-banner" offer-title="Sign up here" offer-sub="Get $200 of bonus bets on F1" ][/sc] F1 Bahrain Grand Prix betting odds
Max Verstappen-360
Charles Leclerc+1000
Sergio Perez+1400
Carlos Sainz+1400
Lewis Hamilton+1600
Lando Norris+2500
George Russell+2500
Oscar Piastri+3500
Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix preview With pre-season testing taking place just one week before this race, and at the same circuit, it’s much easier to get a read on how things might shake out this weekend. Max Verstappen and Red Bull remain unchallenged at the top of the Formula 1 totem pole, but Ferrari have absolutely closed the gap. The Scuderia are often rapid around Bahrain, with 7 total Grand Prix wins to their name since the race was first introduced back in 2004. Can Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz take the challenge to the reigning constructors champs? If you want to bet on a wildcard this weekend, look no further than Lando Norris. McLaren burst out of the gates in testing and looked to be a real threat before the pace slowly dropped towards the end of the window. The Woking outfit has been quietly optimistic about their pace and at -120 to finish inside the top-6, Lando Norris brings some early value to the table.
British Grand Prix f1
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, leads Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, center, and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain at the start of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix, at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, July 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Some other wildcards include the newly-named Visa Cash App Red Bull (formerly Alpha Tauri) cars. Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda head up the team in 2024 and while they’re not really going to be challenging for podiums, a top-6 is viable. Alpine’s pace looks miserable, Aston Martin look much slower and the heat in Bahrain often brings up reliability issues early. All it takes is a couple of retirements for a VCRB to sneak into the top-6 and at +800 to do so, they’re bets worth taking.
Bahrain Grand Prix f1
Charles Leclerc conduce su Ferrari en el tercer y último día de prácticas de la Fórmula Uno en el circuito de Sakhir, Bahréin, el sábado 25 de febrero del 2023. (AP Foto/Frank Augstein)
Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix betting pick This is a circuit that has historically not been kind to Red Bull. Max Verstappen did win this race in 2023, but it has long been a playground for the Mercs and Ferraris. I never really like backing favorites here and feel like this could be a sneaky opportunity for Charles Leclerc. The two Ferrari drivers are very close in terms of raw pace and there's no reason why Leclerc won't be able to be in amongst the action this weekend. Team orders will likely be prevalent due to what’s happening to the team in 2025, meaning Leclerc is the only real option if you’re looking to back a red car this weekend. [sc name="Draftkings-banner" offer-title="Sign up here" offer-sub="Get $200 of bonus bets on F1" ][/sc] Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix betting offers [sc name="Fanduel-banner" offer-title="Bet $5" offer-sub="Get $200 to bet on the Formula 1 Bahrain GP" ][/sc] [sc name="betriver-sportsbook" offer-title="matched deposit bonus on Formula 1 Bahrain GP" offer-sub="up to $250" ][/sc]