Hamilton Spanish GP Streak on Line
Lewis Hamilton has rattled off five straight victories at the Pirelli Gran Premio De Espana Grand Prix for Mercedes.
This year it seems the victory will belong to someone else as Hamilton and Mercedes have yet to win a race in 2022.
Will championship leader Charles Leclerc take the victory or can Max Verstappen build on his momentum after his victory in Miami?
Let’s check the latest news, stats, reports and Formula 1 odds for the Pirelli Gran Premio De Espana. We’ve plenty of predictions for you to consider.
Red Bull Poised to Rip Championship from Ferrari
Max Verstappen and Red Bull are closer to winning a Constructors Championship than ever before. The team has never won a Constructors Championship with Verstappen but they are only six points back of Ferrari with plenty of races left in the season.
Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez have a chance to take the championship lead this weekend in Spain.
As the drivers head into the sixth race of the year, the focus will certainly be around Verstappen and Red Bull. Apart from DNFs by both Red Bull drivers in Race 1 and a DNF by Verstappen in Race 3, the Red Bull cars have only finished in fourth place or higher. It truly feels that Red Bull’s only competition is Ferrari.
Verstappen has won every race that he’s made it to the checkered flag, and Perez has been holding his own phenomenally. According to BetUs Formula 1 betting odds, Verstappen is +100 to win the Spanish Grand Prix.
Leclerc, Ferrari Setting Pace
Charles Leclerc has been incredible for Ferrari this year. The combination of Carlos Sainz and Leclerc paired with the tremendous car that the team has built is reaping the exact rewards Ferrari was hoping it would. They’ve won two of the five races this season and lead the championship standings by 19 points.
Despite that, the Formula 1 betting lines have Leclerc as a +125 underdog to Verstappen’s even line. This means that despite being the current No. 1 driver, Leclerc is not favored to win the race in Spain.
I’ve seen Leclerc’s skills grow over the past few years, but he’s not quite on the level of Verstappen. nNot to mention that Red Bull has much better straight-line speed, which will be important at this circuit.
Sainz and Leclerc have been great for Ferrari, but this weekend may be the biggest test yet. They’ve dropped two races in a row to Verstappen and need to bounce back with a vengeance in Spain. Sainz is from Spain and will hope to take a hometown victory.
Leclerc vs Verstappen Head-to-Head
Verstappen and Leclerc are the only two drivers to win races this season. They had traded off race wins until Verstappen made it two in a row with a W in Miami. Formula 1 betting odds usually have Verstappen favored around even to +110, with Leclerc usually being priced at +120 or +130.
Although I have a lot of admiration for what the Ferrari team has accomplished so far this season, I just think it is Red Bull’s time to shine. Verstappen has shown he’s the best in the world, and I expect him to continue in this direction.
Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio De Espana Race Information
- Game: Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio De Espana
- Location: Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
- Day/Time: Sunday, May 22nd, 9 a.m.
- Live stream: Formula1.com
Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio De Espana Betting Lines
| Max Verstappen | Ev |
| Charles Leclerc | +125 |
| Carlos Sainz | +1100 |
| Sergio Perez | +1600 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +2500 |
| George Russell | +2500 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +8000 |
| Lando Norris | +8000 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | +30000 |
| Fernando Alonso | +20000 |
| Esteban Ocon | +25000 |
Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio De Espana Prediction
The Spanish Grand Prix has been dominated for the past five years by Mercedes and Hamilton. In fact, since 2014, a Mercedes car hasn’t finished below third in Spain apart from DNFs in 2016 by both Nico Rosberg and Hamilton. Mercedes has won seven of the last eight Spanish Grand Prix races, but now it’s someone else’s time to shine.
Verstappen has won every race that he’s finished this year but still sits 19 points behind Leclerc for the championship lead. I expect Verstappen to win this race in impressive fashion and end the debate of who is the best driver on the grid.
Red Bull’s straight-line speed will be very important on the long straight in Barcelona and I believe that may be the difference-maker. Red Bull’s car is built for top speed in a straight line, which proved helpful in Miami, and I expect it to do the same in Spain.
If you’re looking for a longshot bet, try Sainz at +1100 or Fernando Alonso at +20000. Both drivers are from Spain and could potentially produce some hometown magic. That being said, the smartest play is Verstappen +125.
