How to Choose the Best F1 Betting Site?
We’ve revealed our top F1 betting sites for UK punters, so you could stop here and use our sign-up links to have some fun. However, there are plenty of alternatives if you want to explore the market. We believe educated punters are the best punters because they make sensible decisions.
So, in the interests of education, here are five things to think about when you’re choosing Formula 1 betting sites:
#1 – Odds and Offers
The first thing we’ll say is that all Formula 1 betting sites UK punters use should be licensed. We only recommend operators licensed and approved by the UK Gambling Commission. So, if an operator doesn’t have a UK licence, don’t use it.
Assuming it’s a legit sportsbook, make sure the odds and promo offers align with industry standards. There will be some variation between sportsbooks. However, you should be able to scan through an operator’s Formula 1 betting odds and compare them to others. Do the same for promotions to ensure there’s enough added value for racing fans.
#2 – Is the Software Slick?
Having generous odds and promo offers is great but, if you can’t find them within a few taps, they’re useless. The best online sportsbooks have software that’s optimised for all devices. The aesthetics should be appealing but not so distracting that you lose focus. We also like websites and apps that make use of tables, dropdown menus, and pop-ups.
#3 – You Need Safe Ways to Pay
Online sports betting is a real-money activity. It’s not like online casino gaming where you can play free demo games. The only way you can win money from F1 bets is to wager money. To do that, you need safe payment options.
All licensed UK sportsbooks are legally obligated to process payments securely and, in turn, hold your funds in ring-fenced accounts. To fulfil the first obligation, the top betting operators allow you to make payments using Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Skrill, Paysafecard and bank transfer.
#4 – Everyone Needs Support
You can’t overlook customer support. Even the best F1 sportsbooks have small glitches from time to time. In fact, even if the software is perfect, you might not know how to access certain features, or you may have questions about your account. Top operators know this, which is why they offer 24/7 customer support via email, live chat and phone.
#5 – Added Extras
The final things to look for in a Formula 1 online betting site are extras. Gambling is a competitive market, so every website and app needs a USP. For example, bet365 is big on live streams. BetVictor is best when it comes to F1 racing facts, while Betway allows you to create your own wagers. Put simply, you want sportsbooks that give you something extra. Some of the features to look out for are live streams, loyalty rewards, odds boosts, bet builders, custom bets and cashback deals.
Popular F1 betting markets
There are various ways to bet on Formula 1 races. Pre-race wagers are the most popular but, as we’ll explain in the following section, live F1 betting markets are available online.
Before we talk about that, here are the most popular pre-race F1 bets:
- Outright race winner
- Drivers’ championship winner
- Constructors’ championship winner
- Driver to start in pole position
- Driver vs. driver match-ups (pick the driver you think will finish higher than another)
- Podium finisher (similar to each-way bets in horse racing)
- Finishing/lap time over/under bets
In-Play Live F1 Betting
In-play Formula 1 betting markets aren’t only available before a race. Although live F1 bets aren’t as diverse as the in-play markets for sports such as football, there are ways to wager when races are in progress.
As it is with all live bets, the odds are constantly changing in line with a race’s dynamics. Therefore, you need to act and react accordingly to give yourself the best shot at making a successful bet. Some of the main ways to make live F1 bets are:
- X driver to finish the lap over/under a certain time
- X driver to complete the fastest lap
- X driver to overtake Y drivers in a lap
- X driver to lead the race after Y lap/s
It’s worth noting that you won’t be able to stream F1 races. TV rights are a big part of the sport, so online sportsbooks don’t offer F1 live streams like they do for football, tennis, cricket and other sports. You will, however, be able to keep tabs on the action using live updates and real-time animations.
Tips and Insights for Successful F1 Betting
We’d be lying if we said successful cricket betting in the long run is easy.
If we had a pound for every time someone has given us a Formula 1 betting tip, we’d be rich. We’re not implying that F1 betting tips are useless, but we are encouraging you to have a healthy amount of scepticism whenever someone says they’ve got a guaranteed way to win.
Sports betting is an uncertain activity. There are no guarantees. It’s gambling. Therefore, even if you’ve covered all the proverbial bases, anything can happen. Now that’s out of the way, we’ll tell you that it’s possible to improve your chances of success when you have a strategy.
The following F1 betting tips should help you devise a strategy and become a smarter punter:
- Tracks matter: no two F1 tracks are the same and some drivers are better on certain circuits than others. Look at a driver’s record to see where they’ve had success before and use that as a guide.
- Don’t ignore the weather: expert horse racing punters will consider the weather before every race because it affects the track. The same is true in Formula 1 racing. Rain could affect play just as much as searing heat, so take this into account before you place a bet.
- Practice laps and qualifying count: betting on F1 races without watching the qualifiers is like putting petrol in a diesel engine: it doesn’t work. The preliminary rounds will give you valuable insights ahead of the big race.
- It’s a team sport: the outcome of a race is, ultimately, determined by drivers. However, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. If a team’s tactics are off, they pit at the wrong times or something on the car isn’t quite right, it can affect the results. Therefore, you need to consider a team’s recent performances and not just the driver’s.
- Get added value whenever you can: sports betting is hard enough as it is, which is why you should claim as many bonuses as possible. Each offer is a way to lock up a guaranteed return that can either help offset losses or boost your bankroll when results go your way.
- Don’t blow it all on one race: bankroll management is a skill every sports bettor needs to master. As a general rule, you should never stake more than 3% of your total bankroll on a single race.
Major F1 Races
| Location |
Dates |
| Bahrain Grand Prix |
March |
| Saudi Arabian Grand Prix |
March |
| Australian Grand Prix |
April |
| Azerbaijan Grand Prix |
April |
| Miami Grand Prix |
May |
| Monaco Grand Prix |
May |
| Spanish Grand Prix |
June |
| Canadian Grand Prix |
June |
| Austrian Grand Prix |
July |
| British Grand Prix |
July |
| Hungarian Grand Prix |
July |
| Belgian Grand Prix |
July |
| Dutch Grand Prix |
August |
| Italian Grand Prix |
September |
| Singapore Grand Prix |
September |
| Japanese Grand Prix |
September |
| Qatar Grand Prix |
October |
| US Grand Prix |
October |
| Mexican Grand Prix |
October |
| Brazilian Grand Prix |
November |
| Las Vegas Grand Prix |
November |
| Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
November |
Walking the walking involves talking the talk. With this in mind, here are some of the top terms Formula 1 fans use when they’re discussing cars, driving and anything else race related:
- 107% rule: a driver who fails to set a lap time that’s within 107% of the fastest Q1 time won’t qualify for the main race.
- Apex: the middle point around a corner that drivers aim for in order to get the fastest exit speed.
- Backmarker: the driver in last position who must yield to the right and allow others past when shown a blue flag.
- Blistering: when parts of a tyre breakaway due to overheating.
- Chassis: the main part of a racing car onto which the engine and suspension are attached.
- Chicane: a series of tight corners.
- Cockpit: the place where a driver sits.
- Downforce: the force applied downwards when the car is in motion.
- Drive-through penalty: a penalty given to drivers who enter/exit the pit lane at an unacceptable speed.
- DRS: drag reduction system.
- ERS: energy recovery system.
- Formation lap: a parade lap before each driver takes their position on the grid.
- Grid: the starting positions for a race.
- Jump start: when a driver goes before the lights have fully changed.
- Lock-up: when the wheels lock because a driver has hit the brakes too hard.
- Marshalls: officials who oversee races.
- Oversteer: when the rear end of the car tries to overtake the front end.
- Pits: where F1 teams work on cars and manage their drivers.
- Pole position: the driver in first place.
- Safety car: a car used to slow down drivers after an incident.
- Torque: the force (i.e. power) of an engine.
- Understeer: when the front end of a car doesn’t turn properly around a corner.
Formula 1 is one of the most popular sports out there. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the UK’s leading online sportsbooks are constantly vying for pole position. That, of course, is good news for you as a punter because it means there will always be competitive odds and promo offers.
So, for our final F1 betting tip, we encourage you to check out all of our recommended sportsbooks. Each one has its own strengths and, by using them all, you can give yourself the best chance of getting great odds and added value for every Formula 1 race.
Extremely user-friendly interface
