F1 Betting: Bahrain Grand Prix Tips & Predictions: Verstappen To Start Title Defence With Victory

Professional writer of over 23 years. I started off as a junior reporter for a local newspaper before moving into sport. Spent four years at Teletext Sport with Press Association before being made redundant. Got involved with BettingPro under the previous owner, then after a break came back under Catena Media. Rugby League writer and author with four RL books on sale and one football book.

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F1 Betting: Bahrain Grand Prix Tips & Predictions:

The first race of the Formula One season can be seen as a throwaway. You cannot win the title at the first race, so that means you cannot lose it either.

The first race in Bahrain will be an opportunity for teams to fully test their cars and see where they are in respect to the others.

I think the title race will be between Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Verstappen has won the last two titles and I expect him to make it a hat-trick.

Hamilton says his car is not at its best yet, but he could be bluffing. I expect the Mercedes car to be pushing the Red Bull in every single race.

Verstappen has never won in Bahrain, while Hamilton has five victories to his name. I am backing the Dutchman to claim his first win in Bahrain, with Russell and Hamilton fighting it out for the other two places on the podium.