Man has always been fascinated by speed, so it’s no surprise that once we invented vehicles, a showdown was to be had. Many believe motorsport is just an extension of horse racing, which in truth takes on the same principles; a winning driver or jockey, which places first on the podium for completing a track the fastest. But with the growth of motorsport, so did the variety of motorsport itself: Formula 1, 24 Hours of Le Mans, WRC Rally, Nascar and MotoGP to name just some of the most popular.
A Brief History
Motorsport races have been around ever since we replaced the working horse, with wheels and an engine. Dating as far back at the late 19th and early 20th century, the sport has continued to grow in popularity and has captured the imagination of millions through its various forms.
Fast-forward to the year 2020 and we can now see the addition of more recent forms of motorsport racing, such as Drone races. Our fascination with speed and the sheer thrill of the sport means we tend to enjoy anything that requires immense motor skills and talent to drive or fly harder and faster than your competition.
What You Should Know
Chances are that if you’re reading this article, it’s because you want to dive into the world of motorsport and take on the bookies! In order to do so, we recommend plenty of practice. Just like any other skill, it takes a lot of time to perfect or master a subject. Below we have outlined major key areas to pay attention to that will likely impact any aspect of your betting. It is important therefore to learn the fundamentals of the sport, if you want to stand a chance at betting your bookmaker.
External Factors
Teams are made up of people, which means there is no such thing as a perfect bet or outcome. The world we currently live in has had an impact not only on the sport itself, but also on those who participate in it and those that spectate it. Racetracks are no longer littered with avid fans waiting to catch a fleeting glimpse of a bullet beating F1 car. Drivers can no longer rely on the energy of the crowd to see through the difficult times and edge them on to victory.
What does this mean? It means that you will need to factor in psychology impacts, geography and location, weather, time of day, team mate, and many other external forces a driver or race has no control over. Our recommendation: look at the driver’s history, the fastest laps on the track, past performances and continually compare. Data is the key to consistency, and the more of it you have, the more likely it is that you will make the correct decisions.
Teams
Team rivalries are incredibly common and this has caused even the most professional of drivers and athletes to do the unexpected. As a team, you tend to scout for the most impassioned, fearless and competitive driver your budget can buy. It becomes less about the car itself, as heavy regulation generally impedes teams from having any real advantage over the other. So it comes down to drivers, and asking 2 drivers to remain diligent to one another for the greater good of the team, versus their own, it starts to get hairy for some.
A team is a squad that works together for a mutual benefit or goal – unfortunately drivers have their own agendas a goals to pursue therefore team psychology and cohesion is paramount for any team to succeed in any season. Pay attention to the drivers and their attitude towards each other.
Weather Predictions
Whilst we spoke about external factors having an impact on races and motorsport in general, the weather deserves its own section given its resounding knock-on affect to any race. Teams design their entire strategies based on weather predictions because the small changes required to prepare for weather conditions can mean the difference between winning and losing.
There are countless examples of the above, and if you have
ever caught a glimpse of an F1 garage or pit, you’ll come to notice that much
of their data has to do with monitoring the small changes in weather that could
result in big advantages.
Some teams would go as far as capitalise on bad weather. Arguably the greatest
driver to ever compete in the rain, was Michael Schumacher. The manner in which
he would control a car in bad weather, would give him a distinct and notable
advantage on the rest of the field.
Most Common Betting Markets
Here we take a look at the most popular betting markets in motorsport racing. This is generally important as it means that market has the most liquidity and is ultimately the most intriguing to bet on. It also means most of the time, that it is the easiest and most straightforward method to follow if you want to place a stake on a race.
Outright Winner
At the very top of this list, is picking the driver you think will win a particular race. “But how are these odds calculated?” you may ask. Quite simply, it’s complicated. Bookmakers will take a number of factors into consideration, nonetheless being past and most recent performances. The shorter the odds, the more likely it is for that driver to win – also known as the favourite.
First To Retire
The more variables you have, the more likely it is that something can go wrong. And motorsport has no shortage of drama. Engine failure, tyre failure, equipment malfunction and crashes are all common part of most races. All within a span of seconds from the start of the race, right up to the very end! This partly is what makes the sport of motor racing exciting among other things, as nothing is ever a given and things can take a turn for the worst even on a final lap – you can ask Mika Hakkinen.
Fact: In 2001, Mika Hakkinen fell victim to a hydraulic leak that lead to a clutch failure on the very last lap of the Spanish Grand Prix. With a 42 second lead ahead of his chief rival, he had to pull over and watch as Michael Schumacher took victory from his very lap.
Podium Finish
In F1, finishing a race within the top 10 guarantees you and your team, points.
Points are tallied both on an individual driver basis, but also as a
contributing factor to the winning team.
So whilst it’s important to be first, participating and doing your best really does come have its own reward. Often times you might see drivers struggle to improve their position by just 1. That small improvement could spell big changes in overall points therefore to lessen your risk of a loss, betting on a podium finish rather than the outright winner, gives you a far better chance of make a profit and winning your bet.
Winning Team
Whilst drivers have their own championship, teams also have a collective competition to pursue – that of having the most championship points. Bragging rights are real, and being the best team has huge benefits just as being the best driver. Sponsorship money increases dramatically, meaning more money can be poured into research & development, talent scouting, and much more.
For this reason, it is a sought after market for a few
reasons:
1. This bet plays out over the course of a season – meaning punters can adjust
their position and have a better opportunity of minimising their losses.
2. It lasts the entire season, so it’s more than just about one race for you. You are invested in the whole season rather than a single race.
3. The odds are better. Bookmakers will always put their best foot forward, and set odds they believe are attractive enough to bet on, but still favours their own pockets. With longer standing positions, they are more likely to get in wrong or for an anomaly to occur which can result in much better value in the odds.
We hope this guide has helped to inform you better on the world of Motorsport betting. This sport is only increasing in popularity and as new forms of motorsport emerge, so will the diversity of fans and punters. Our recommendation is to approach betting with a plan, a strategy and to commit more of yourself once you have tested enough of your picks overtime. Anyone can make a good prediction; even a broken clock gets it right twice a day. However to consistently win, would require more of your time and attention.