The Belgian Grand Prix promises to be a highly competitive race with several drivers capable of challenging Max Verstappen’s dominance.
Max Verstappen (-150) is the favorite to win his fourth consecutive Belgian Grand Prix.
Both McLaren and Mercedes have significantly closed the gap with Red Bull this year, making the competition fiercer.
The 44-lap, 4.35-mile Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps hosts Round 14 of the F1 season on July 28, 2024.
Verstappen’s Dominance Waning?
Max Verstappen's dominance is being challenged this season. Although he took an 84-point lead into last week's Hungarian Grand Prix and is on track for his fourth straight drivers’ championship, his performance has not been as dominant as last year. In 2023, Verstappen had 10 wins through the first 12 races. This year, he has secured seven wins.
Notable drivers such as Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton have all beaten him to the finish line in 2024.
The constructor standings reflect this increased competitiveness. Red Bull, which won the title by 451 points last season, only had a 71-point lead over Ferrari and a 78-point cushion on McLaren heading into Budapest.
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
The Belgian Grand Prix will remain a standard event this weekend before switching to a Sprint event in 2025. Max Verstappen won last year's race at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, finishing 20 seconds ahead of the next closest driver.
The 44-lap circuit is the longest on the F1 calendar at 4.35 miles. Its mix of long straights and challenging fast corners allows drivers to push their cars to the limit, often favoring the best cars.
Other Contenders
Lando Norris (+350)
Lando Norris has shown strong performance this season. He could have won at Silverstone if not for an errant pit strategy, and Verstappen's aggressive driving cost him a second victory in Austria.
Norris has three runner-up finishes since his first career victory in Miami, and with Spa’s fast track, he could return to the winner’s circle this weekend.
Lewis Hamilton (+1000)
Lewis Hamilton ended a 56-race drought with his 104th career win at the British Grand Prix. Along with teammate George Russell (+1000), who triumphed at Red Bull Ring recently, Mercedes achieved back-to-back wins for the first time since 2021.
Charles Leclerc (+2000)
Charles Leclerc's recent performances have been inconsistent, with finishes of 11th, 14th, and 16th in three of his last five races. This inconsistency makes him a less reliable bet.
Current Odds for Top Contenders
| Driver | Odds |
| Max Verstappen | -150 |
| Lando Norris | +350 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +1000 |
| George Russell | +1000 |
| Charles Leclerc | +2000 |
Verstappen's strong track record at Spa makes him the frontrunner, but with the competition tightening, an exciting race is on the horizon.
While Verstappen remains the favorite, drivers like Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton are strong contenders to watch.