There are a few favorites that could snatch the F1 title from Max Verstappen this year: Ferrari’s duo of Leclerc and Sainz, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and even Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. This is what the front of the grid will probably look like. However, the heavy hitters tend to make us overlook the rest of the grid. A fair number of competent and experienced drivers are out there trying to make a name for themselves. That said, Nitrobetting gets the low-down on the 2023 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship early sleepers list for motorsport fans and bettors.

Which Drivers are Early Sleepers to Win the 2023 F1 Drivers’ Championship/h2>

Which rookie will shine the brightest in 2023? ✨#F1 pic.twitter.com/TDn0iAuDlD

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 18, 2023

READ MORE: Early 2023 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship Sleepers

Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

The former Alpine-backed racing driver Oscar Piastri hopes for a breakout rookie season. McLaren recently unveiled its latest car, the MCL60, and team principal Andrea Stella wants to give his young driver duo a competent machine to penetrate the frontrunner pack. They hope to beat rivals Alpine and come close to Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull in the coming months. Although it’s rare for a rookie to get acclimated in a snap, many have high expectations for the Aussie driver.

Oscar Piastri holds a commendable motorsport repertoire. He won the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup, the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship, and the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship. He also secured the 2021 FIA Rookie of the Year award on his way to becoming Alpine F1’s reserve driver for the 2022 season. Furthermore, he was also hired by McLaren as a reserve driver that year. After braving a contract dispute narrative with his former employers, the 21-year-old is ready to wear the papaya-colored suit this season as a +50,000 Drivers’ Championship sleeper pick.

Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen holds the most Formula 1 career starts on this list. After a strong comeback to the sport last year, many believe he can deliver better results in a more refined machine. Thankfully, the American constructor started developing its new car earlier last year. They were ahead of the competition in terms of testing new technology and hope to break the midfield pack in 2023 with an experienced driver duo of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg.

We’ve seen Magnussen shine after scoring his first-ever pole last year at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix. It was a glorious moment for the Haas after going through one disappointing season after another since joining the sport. The team collected 37 points and P8 in the Constructors’ Championship race as well, with the Danish race car driver collecting 25 of the said points. He outscored his former teammate Mick Schumacher at almost every race they finished and looks on track to register the best season of his career as a +100,000 Drivers’ Championship sleeper pick.

Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri)

Another Dutchman joins the grid as de Vries gets ready to live the Formula 1 dream as an AlphaTauri driver. The former Williams reserve driver is primed to score points in his rookie F1 season and build on an incredible performance in his only race last year. The 28-year-old steps up to F1 with Franz Tost as his team principal and Yuki Tsunoda as a teammate. After impressing the grid with a points-finish debut at last year’s Italian GP, there’s a good reason why he’s a +100,000 sleeper pick leading up to the season.

Before entering the top-flight motorsport circle, de Vries claimed the 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship title and the 2020-21 Formula E World Championship title. We know he has the winning pedigree to break through the pack. Furthermore, the rookie does have ample experience at a high racing level. We should see AlphaTauri getting points and even hope for their best finish ever with the Uitwellingerga-born man behind the wheel.

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.