This season introduces the 74th Formula 1 season with a record-breaking landscape for motorsport and betting fans to enjoy. The premiere open-wheel racing event features ten teams and 20 top-tier drivers fighting for a shot at glory. Max Verstappen is the man to beat while his team Red Bull has a target on their backs. This will be an interesting season as other constructors start to bridge the gap. With that, let’s check out the 2023 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship early favorites and what’s in store for us in the coming months. Be sure to check the latest F1 odds for the upcoming season.

2023 F1 Drivers’ Championship Favorites

Pre-season testing starts in 10 days!

Hands up who can't wait to see all the 2023 cars on track #F1 pic.twitter.com/osT32L4A4W

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 13, 2023

READ MORE: Early 2023 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship Favorites

Max Verstappen – Red Bull

Belgian-Dutch driver Max Verstappen dominated the circuits last year. He successfully defended his 2021 title and scored his second Drivers’ Championship title. That alone makes the 25-year-old the early favorite to win the season. He won 15 of the 22 races and made the podium 17 times. Teammate Sergio Perez added another two titles and eleven total podiums to Red Bull’s 2022 campaign, earning them the Constructors’ Championship title in the process.

Although many expect the fight at the top of the standings to be tighter with Mercedes and Ferrari closing in, Verstappen stands strong on top of it all as a -130 favorite to win the 2023 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship title. He remains superior to the rest of the grid. Upsets might come here and there as the aforementioned frontrunners try to take advantage of any difficulties Red Bull will encounter moving forward.

Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes

The British driver will try to reclaim the throne after missing out on the Drivers’ Championship for two straight years. His current contract with Mercedes expires at the end of next year, which means it’s crunch time for him. Hamilton is also not getting any younger. At 38 years old, he is likely to be the oldest driver in the top five. But make no mistake here, his experience and determination bring him up there with the very best. We might see a few more years of intense racing coming from the seven-time World Champion.

At +250, Hamilton is at the tail of Verstappen. With a better-developed car that hopes to discard last season’s issues, the W14 might just be the machine he needs to become the first eight-time champ. The failures of this past season will push him to work harder with his team in 2023 as the constructor is expected to provide more reliable cars moving forward.

Charles Leclerc – Ferrari

Last year was filled with ups and downs for Leclerc. Nevertheless, it was the best season of his career as he scored three GP wins, 11 podiums, eight pole positions, and a total of four fastest lap times. His 2022 achievements added up to second place in the Drivers’ Championship race with 308 points. While this looks like a stretch compared to Verstappen’s 454 points, the Monegasque driver was the only one that could get close to the Dutchman last season.

There’s still plenty of improvement for Leclerc. We all know he has the talent and the grit to become a champion. He scored 18 poles in 103 entries on top of five career titles. The Scuderia driver will have his time soon, and 2023 might be the year he puts more pressure on the defending champion. Furthermore, he has the talent and potential to bring Ferrari back on the winners’ map as a +600 favorite.

Where to Bet on F1 with Crypto

Formula 1 features a continuously growing betting market for veteran and novice punters. Motorsport lovers will get a kick out of our F1 odds selection, which features Drivers and Constructors’ Championship futures and outright winners of each Grand Prix.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more Formula 1 previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest sports betting odds at our crypto sportsbook.