F1 Picks: Austrian Sprint Race Predictions, Preview, and Odds (July 1)
- Second Sprint Race of the 2023 season takes place at the Red Bull Ring
- Sergio Perez won the first Sprint Race of the season in Baku
An exciting weekend of Formula 1 racing is in store this weekend, as the Austrian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. However, before then, the second Sprint Race of the campaign takes place at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday. Red Bull has dominated every race this term, but will they come out on top in the shorter Sprint set-up?
Schedule and How To Watch
- When: Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. ET
- Where: Red Bull Ring, Styria, Austria
- How To Watch: ESPN
Austrian Sprint Race Odds
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | |
| Sergio Perez | |
| Charles Leclerc | |
| Fernando Alonso | |
| Lewis Hamilton | |
| George Russell | |
| Carlos Sainz | |
| Lance Stroll |
Event Preview
The Sprint Shootout has been one of the best new additions made to the F1 calendar in recent years, with the mini race replacing the third practice session. The first Sprint race of the season was staged in Baku, with Red Bulls dominance continuing following Sergio Perezโs victory in the first sprint to be staged on a street circuit.
Red Bull will have home field advantage this weekend, with the Austrian weekend of races taking place at the Red Bull Ring. A total distance of 100km will be covered in the sprint race on Saturday, meaning that drivers will have to move quickly if they are to gain positions. However, unlike the Grand Prix itself, drivers will not need to make a mandatory stop to change tires.
READ MORE: F1 Picks: Austrian Grand Prix Prediction, Preview, and Odds (July 2)
Unsurprisingly, the Red Bull pair sit at the top of the betting third weekend, with Perez and Max Verstappen likely to be among the leading contenders. Verstappen experienced huge success in the sprint races last season, while Perez has already shown this term that he is capable of winning races over this shorter format.
We would be surprised to see Mercedes get involved in the Sprint, as we feel that their car is better tailored to the extended distance in the Grand Prix. However, the opposite could be said of Ferrari, who clearly boasts speed in short bursts, as we saw at qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. Therefore, that makes Charles Leclerc a major player this weekend.
Austrian Sprint Race Prediction
Despite Verstappen and Perez setting the standard this weekend, we will be taking on Red Bull on their home field. We like the chances of Leclerc, who looked back to his very best in his Ferrari after upgrades in Canada.
Free Pick:
