FORMULA 1 BETTING SITES

List of the Best Formula 1 Sportsbooks & Apps Online in May 2023

Formula 1 is a global sport that attracts over 70 million viewers every single Grand Prix weekend. Many of those viewers back their favorite drivers and teams with a wager, and there is no shortage of top F1 sportsbooks ready to take those wagers.

Before the drivers line up on the starting grid, check out our Formula 1 betting guide to discover the best F1 sportsbooks. Below is our list of US legal online gambling apps.

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Qualifying and Race Day Bets

It’s not just about the race! Formula 1 betting also covers the qualification stage on the day before the race. There are practice rounds as well, although these don’t offer as many betting lines.

Team and Driver Betting in F1

Grand Prix betting lines cover both drivers and teams and the same is true for the entirety of the Formula 1 season. For instance, you can wager on Max Verstappen to win the Grand Prix and/or Red Bull Racing to do the same. With the latter, not only will you win with Verstappen but you’ll also secure a payout if his teammate takes the plaudits. It’s a good way to add some variety to your Formula 1 wagering.

Best Formula 1 Betting Odds

We do extensive research on all of the sites that we review. Not only does this mean you have access to the best Formula 1 betting bonuses and promotions, but it also gives you the best odds on the most sought-after betting lines. Better odds mean greater payouts, improving your total earnings.

Formula 1 Betting Online

The best F1 sportsbooks are available online. They offer fast, streamlined, and problem-free gambling direct from your desktop or mobile device. It’s the best way to gamble and it’s something you can do from the comfort of your own home or on the go. Just be careful, as all that convenience increases the risk of problem gambling.

Popular Formula 1 Betting Trends

Formula 1 bettors are paying more attention to the practice rounds and qualification. They are also focusing on the head-to-heads, highlighting key rivalries and picking their side. If you’re a keen F1 fan and watch every Grand Prix, these Formula 1 betting trends are the best ways to gamble. There are many other F1 betting lines though.

Formula 1 Betting Bonuses and Promotions

From matched deposit bonuses to no-deposit bonuses and loyalty offers, there are a number of betting bonuses and promotions available to F1 bettors. These come with their own Terms and Conditions, including wagering requirements, cash-out limits, and minimum deposits. Take a look at our Formula 1 betting guide below to learn more about these offers and how you can benefit from them.

Formula 1 Betting Tips

As with all sports, there are no Formula 1 betting strategies that promise guaranteed success. If it was that easy, betting sites would be out of business and we’d all be full-time professional gamblers.

However, there are a few Formula 1 betting tips that will improve your chances of success and could turn you into a profitable gambler. These are the next best thing to a Formula 1 betting strategy—check out the tips below for more information.

Learn Formula 1 Rules

Before you place your first Formula 1 bet, make sure you understand the rules. You could be forgiven for thinking that the rules are pretty self-explanatory. A Grand Prix is a race, after all, so surely it’s all about who crosses the line first. But Formula 1 is actually more complicated and technical than that.

You can still follow the basics without fully acknowledging all of the rules, but a lack of understanding could make for some frustrating viewings and wagers. In the worst-case scenario, you might lose money on a live betting outcome you think is a certainty because you have overlooked one of the rules.

Some of the rules that might surprise you include:

• Tires: All drivers must change their tire compounds at least once during a race. This doesn’t simply mean that they need to make a pit stop and get new tires. The actual type of tire needs to change, such as when they switch from one designed for wet weather (at the start of a wet race) to one designed for dry weather (at the end when the racing line has removed water from the track).

• Safety Cars: A Safety Car appears when there has been a major accident and a car or debris must be removed from the track. Everything slows down, the drivers must trail behind the Safety Car, and there is no overtaking allowed until the Safety Car disappears.

• One Move Only: Formula 1 drivers are not allowed to aggressively defend an overtake. They are allowed “one move” only, which means they can move to the right to block an overtake but they can’t then switch to the left to block an undertake. It reduces the risk of serious accidents but also gives faster drivers more freedom to overtake.

• Mandatory Practice: If a driver or team doesn’t participate in practice, that makes it harder for you to judge their performance and make a bet, right? Well, it would, but it doesn’t happen. If a driver doesn’t participate in the final practice on Saturday, they will be disqualified from the race itself.

• Can’t Force a Driver Off the Track: Drivers are not allowed to force each other off the track. Formula 1 cars move at a frightening pace and if the drivers were allowed to use their cars in this manner, it would greatly increase the risk of serious accidents and death.

• Fastest Lap Point: A few years ago, a law was introduced that awards a point to the drivers who have the fastest lap. This applies to the laps in the race as opposed to the qualifying laps, the latter of which grants them pole position.

• Penalties: If the driver is found to be speeding in the pit lane, changing engine parts during the race, or breaking any of the other rules, they may be given a penalty. These penalties are often imposed during the race itself and will either require the driver to pass through the pit lane at a fixed speed (thus slowing them down and allowing others to overtake) or have a fixed time penalty added to their final race time.

Last but not least, you should learn what the different colored flags mean in Grand Prix races. You’ll see many of these flags being waved throughout the race and the drivers/teams are required to watch for them and abide by them.

• Green Flag: Normal racing conditions have resumed and the drivers are free to continue.

• Red Flag: The session has been suspended and the race will pause/halt.

• Blue Flag: The driver must move aside. This flag is waved at a driver who is about to be lapped, ensuring the higher-placed driver can overtake them without issue.

• Black Flag: The driver has been disqualified from the race.

• White Flag: There are slower vehicles ahead of the driver.

• Checkered Flag: The checkered flag is waved when the leading driver crosses the finishing line and wins the race. At this point, no other laps can be completed, even by drivers that have been lapped multiple times.

• Black and White Flag: The driver has been warned for unsportsmanlike behavior, such as aggressive defending.

• Yellow with Red Stripes Flag: The track is slippery and caution is advised.

• Black with an Orange Circle Flag: A driver has a mechanical issue and needs to visit the pits.

Watch the Full Race Weekend

One of the great things about Formula 1 betting is that you can watch the practice laps, listen to the team radios, and get a feel for how things are going.

In football terms, it’s like being a fly on the wall in the changing rooms and watching all of the practice sessions. If there are problems or doubts, you’ll learn about them. If someone is performing beyond expectations, you’ll hear about it.

But that only applies if you actually watch and pay attention during these practice sessions.

The Formula 1 weekend looks something like this:

• Friday
  • Practice Session 1
  • Practice Session 2
• Saturday
  • Practice Session 3
  • Qualifying
• Sunday
  • The Race

You can catch all of the action on ESPN, which means you should have access via Hulu, Live TV, ESPN+, DirecTV, and SlingTV, among others. Alternatively, connect through YouTube TV and watch the action there.

If you want to catch every single lap and learn about every vital piece of information, check out F1TV or just watch the latest sporting/racing news programs.

The more you watch, the more you’ll learn. And if you save your bets until race day, you may have learned some information that will lead to a more profitable bet.

Get the Best Formula 1 Betting Odds

Formula 1 betting odds vary from site to site, and those variations can be quite significant. If you’re wagering $100 at a time, the difference could lead to swings of $10 or $20. Assuming you make and win 5 bets over the course of a race weekend, that’s a potential $100 more in your bank account.

The actual outcome doesn’t change, nor does your chance of winning. The only thing that changes is the payout you receive, so it always makes sense to shop around for the best Formula 1 betting odds.

Stay Informed

The Formula 1 community is huge. Not only are there millions of people tuning into every Grand Prix, but millions also write about it, read about it, and discuss it. If you’re part of these communities and are privy to that information, you could learn some interesting F1 betting tips.

Here are a few things you need to know:

Formula 1 Betting Podcasts

Formula 1 podcasts like F1 Nation and Beyond the Grid are great for keeping your ear to the ground and learning about all the latest news, tips, predictions, and rumors. They will teach you more about the sport and could help you to make informed decisions on those F1 betting lines.

Most podcasts are free, so there’s nothing to lose.

Formula 1 Betting Books

Books that purport to offer the “secrets of sports betting” are rarely as helpful as they claim. However, they shouldn’t be ignored entirely.

There are some successful sports bettors out there and some of them have written about their lives and processes. You could learn a lot from these authors and if the books are free or reasonably priced, they’re worth a read.

When the books are very short and expensive, or they make grand claims that seem too good to be true, leave them alone and invest your money elsewhere.

Formula 1 Betting Predictions

If you see some free predictions on a Formula 1 betting forum, by all means, read them and consider them. Don’t just follow them blindly though, as the poster may not know what they’re talking about and could just be trolling.

Whatever you do, avoid paid predictions, such as Formula 1 online betting apps that charge you hundreds of dollars a month and claim to have all the answers.

There are profitable gamblers out there that have the knowledge and skill to win consistently, but they are in the minority and rarely offer to sell their tips.

Think about it this way—if they really do have all the answers and can win consistently, why are they wasting money selling their secrets for a couple of hundred books?

Bet On What Will Happen and Not What You Want to Happen

If you’re a fan of Formula 1 and have a particular affinity for one of its drivers, it’s easy to let your bias control your bets. Before you know it, you start betting on what you want to happen and not what you think will happen.

Don’t let your emotions get in the way and try to think with your head and not your heart.

You might want Verstappen to overcome a serious penalty and win from the back of the starting grid, but can he actually do it? It’s difficult to detach yourself and approach those Formula 1 betting lines logically, but that’s what you must do if you want to earn a consistent profit.

Proper Bankroll Management

Good bankroll management is essential in all forms of online gambling. It’s something that professional poker players and sports bettors have mastered, but something that many casual players overlook.

The exact size of your bankroll will depend on everything from your income to how much money you can afford to lose and how often you gamble.

As an example, let’s say that you earn $3,000 a month after tax.

Of this, you need $2,000 to cover food, bills, and other living costs.

Another $500 goes toward clothes and recreational activities, leaving $500.

You don’t want to commit every spare cent to gambling, so you may decide to place $300 in a savings account, leaving $200 with which you can comfortably gamble every month.

A good bankroll strategy would involve steps such as:

• Add $200 to your betting accounts
• Bet no more than $50 per week (ensuring you don’t blow your budget in the first week).
• Set deposit limits fixed at $200 per month.
• Only exceed your limit when you have either:
  • Won money, or
  • Moved into the next month
• Stick with bets that allow you to maximize your budget (such as not wagering $50 on a single line).

In addition to the above, you must also record how much you’re winning and losing every month.

Gamblers have a way of remembering the wins and forgetting the losses. If you ask them how much they have won/lost over the last few years, they will probably tell you that they are “slightly ahead”, “breaking even”, or “slightly down”.

But if everyone was breaking even or slightly in the red/black, the global sports betting industry wouldn’t be worth tens of billions of dollars!

By recording your actual wins and losses, you’ll know exactly how things are progressive and this will give you some much-needed perspective into your personal gambling habits.

Formula 1 Betting Lines

Formula 1 betting lines are pretty diverse. This is a global sport backed by some of the richest manufacturers, investors, and sponsors in the world—it’s no wonder that so many betting sites go all-out every time the Grand Prix weekend comes around.

Moneyline and Each-Way Bets

The Moneyline is always the most popular betting line and Formula 1 is no exception. It’s a little more advanced here though and there are many different possibilities.

In a game of football, you’re betting on Team A or Team B. That’s it. It’s a coinflip and you don’t really need to know a lot about either of the teams to make an informed wager. In a Grand Prix, you have 20 drivers to choose from.

Of course, many of those drivers are racing slow cars and simply don’t stand a chance, but like all sports, Formula 1 has its shocks and surprises and you never know what will happen.

If you suspect that one of these high-priced outsiders will make it to the podium but fall just short of winning the race, look for the Each-Way bet.

An Each-Way bet is one that covers a win and a place.

For example, let’s say that you want to put a bet on Driver Z at odds of +10,000. It’s a huge price, and it suggests that he probably won’t win the race, but you have a good feeling that he’ll make it onto the podium.

So, you place $10 on a “win” in the Moneyline and then click the little “Each Way” box.

Your total stake will be $20 ($10 for the win; $10 for the place). If Driver Z wins the race, you would win $1,200. $1,010 of that comes from the win and the other $190 comes from the place (because 1^st is still a place).

If Driver Z finishes 2^nd or 3^rd, you’d get $190, as they didn’t quite win the race but still finished on the podium.

Obviously, you would also get your original stake back.

There are a couple of things to note when it comes to Each-Way bets.

Firstly, what are the place odds? These are usually indicated by a fractional amount, such as 1/5, as we assumed in the example above. This means that you get a fifth of the odds for the place payment.

Secondly, what are the place totals? These are the positions that pay out for the place bets. In Formula 1, this is typically limited to 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd, as that covers all podium places.

Over/Under Finishers

The Total Finishers bet is a simple Over/Under proposition. The betting site will typically present you with a fixed total, such as 15.5 or 16.5. You then have to say whether you think there will be more (Over) or fewer (Under) finishers at the end of the race.

An F1 driver can fail to finish for several reasons. They may crash, suffer mechanical problems, or just get pulled out of the race because they are far behind.

There are a few considerations here.

Firstly, you need to think about the times when drivers are most likely to crash, which includes the start of the race and after a Safety Car. If you are betting live and the race has already started, you’ll need to factor this into the equation.

The second, and the most unusual, concerns how drivers are classified.

You will notice that these Formula 1 betting lines always clarify that they are referring to “Classified Finishers”, and this is a very important distinction.

A “Classified Finisher” is one who has finished at least 90% of the race. This means that a driver can complete 46 laps of a possible 50 and still be classified as a finisher, even if they crash on the 47^th lap.

This F1 betting line has no doubt caused a lot of frustration and anger for bettors, especially those who wager on the “Under”, watch a couple of drivers crash on the last lap, and then realize they have still lost their bets.

Qualification Bets

Formula 1 betting lines aren’t all about the big race—qualification is also covered. The main bet here is the one that covers the eventual pole sitter, the driver who completes the fastest lap. There are also bets concerning the top three finishers and even bets covering the times they set.

Will a record be set? Will the time be Over or Under? It’s an extra incentive to watch the qualification.

Team Betting

Formula 1 is not just about the drivers. They are the stars of the show and the headline makers, but they have huge teams behind them and all of these teams are just as eager to win.

Those teams are also part of common Formula 1 betting lines.

Rather than wagering on a single driver, why not place your bets on a team? The odds will be reduced, but it means you can cheer on two drivers instead of one. It also means that if the team is having a good day and is well prepared for the track (something you can learn by watching practice and qualifying sessions), your odds of winning increase.

Head to Head

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, Schumacher and Hill, Prost and Senna—Formula 1 has had plenty of fierce rivalries over the years. These rivalries are what make the sport great, they are the things that fans remember the most and they add an extra dimension to proceedings.

Head to Head bets let you wager on specific rivalries as desired. If the option is Driver A and Driver B and you opt for the former, you’ll win the bet as long as they finish ahead of Driver B.

They don’t need to win the race. In fact, if Driver B doesn’t finish and Driver A finishes last, it’s still a winning bet.

Will They Finish?

Will Driver A finish the race or will they crash?

That’s the question on the cards for the Will They Finish bet. It’s one of the most interesting bets and it offers a lot of intriguing possibilities.

Each driver has a “Yes” or “No” possibility and the better they are, the higher the odds will be. If you’re betting on a driver that typically finishes towards the back of the pack, the odds will be close to even money. If you’re wagering on one of the regular podium finishers, those odds will climb significantly.

As with the Over/Under Finishers bet discussed above, a “finisher” is defined specifically by their classification. In other words, they only need to finish 90% of the race, so if they crash on the final corner, and you bet on them not to finish, you will lose the bet.

This is a good betting line if you’ve been watching the practice sessions and sense some issues with one of the drivers and teams. Maybe the driver is inexperienced and struggling to handle the track. Maybe the team is having engine problems. Maybe the rain is pouring and you suspect that a certain driver will struggle to keep their vehicle on the road.

Whatever the reasoning, this Formula 1 betting line lets you put your money where your mouth is.

Prop Bets

In addition to all of the above Formula 1 betting lines, there are a number of highly specific Pop Bets. These bets refer to incidents that may or may not occur during any given Grand Prix.

Some of the most obscure Prop Bets cover whether or not two specific drivers will clash during the race. These bets often arise when there is a fierce rivalry and both drivers need to win the upcoming race. As we have seen in the past with Prost/Senna, Hamilton/Vettel, and countless others, competing drivers will do whatever it takes to win.

The most common F1 Prop Bet concerns whether or not there will be a Safety Car.

The race location will determine the size of the odds for this bet. For instance, the odds are usually high on wide-open tracks, as the odds of a car crashing into the barriers and getting in the way are quite low. But on tracks like Monaco, which snakes through the streets of Monte Carlo and is notoriously difficult, the likelihood of a Safety Car is very high.

Futures Bets

A Futures bet is one that covers multiple events and runs for a long time. Where Formula 1 is concerned, a Futures bet is one where you wager on the winner of the Driver’s Championship or the Constructor’s Championship.

The Driver’s Championship is a leaderboard for the drivers. They earn points depending on their positions in the Grand Prix and these points are accumulated throughout the entirety of the season.

As for the Constructor’s Championship, it covers the cars instead of the drivers. So, if Driver A and Driver B are both in Team A and finish first and second, Team A will get maximum points in the Constructor’s Championship but Driver A will earn the most points in the Player’s Championship.

In this sense, drivers in the same teams are both rivals and teammates—a complicated balance that has led to more than a few eyebrow-raising incidents over the years.

As with the traditional Moneyline bets, Futures are available as Each-Ways. They work in much the same way and with similar rules to the Driver’s Championship, but as there are fewer positions in the Constructor’s Championship, you’ll likely be paid for fewer places or receive a smaller payout.

What About F1 Parlay Bets?

Parlay bets are rare in Formula 1. A Parlay bet is one that strings multiple wins together. For instance, you could wager that Verstappen will win the first three races of the season and that another driver will take the fourth. But it’s very rare to find such bets.

The problem with these wagers is that a lot can happen from one week to the next and those variables complicate things. For instance, Verstappen could be disqualified. The races could be canceled. In such cases, the bet might be voided.

More importantly, oddsmakers don’t create books that far in advance. Four races on the F1 calendar could span a total of 8 weeks—that’s a long time and a lot can happen in that time, so they create odds on a race-by-race basis.

The only time that you can find Parlay bets on F1 betting sites is for premade betting lines that run for a single race.

For instance, you might find a bet that looks something like this: Driver A to Win; Driver B Not to Finish; Under 15.5 Finishers; Driver C to Get the Fastest Lap.

Generally speaking, sports betting sites won’t let you combine these wagers yourself, so keep an eye out for premade Parlays and other detailed Prop Bets.