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UPDATE: We have two huge grid penalties heading into race day. Max Verstappen has received a five-grid penalty for failing to slow for double-waved yellow flags in qualifying. Valtteri Bottas has received a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow for single yellow flags. Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso move into the second and third positions, respectively, and Sainz moves into the fifth spot.
The Qatar Grand Prix is less than 24 hours away and Lewis Hamilton has claimed the pole position for Sunday’s race. He won by half a second over Max Verstappen, who was followed by Valtteri Bottas. Those three drivers will make up the front row when the race gets going at 9 a.m. ET on Sunday. The race will air on ESPN2.
Below is a rundown of the starting lineup along with opening and post-qualifying odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. Hamilton opened as the favorite at -140 and his dominant performance in qualifying has improved his odds to -300. Verstappen opened the week at +135 but is now +330 heading toward race day.
Hamilton and Verstappen have been running a two-horse race atop the F1 leaderboard. Verstappen is in first place for the season-long points title, holding a 14 point lead over Hamilton. Verstappen has a season-leading nine wins, but Hamilton appears to have all the momentum headed into the final three races of the season. He won last week and finished in second the previous two weeks. Strong performances in Brazil after grid penalties for the sprint and race day have likely given the driver confidence and he could still stun Verstappen and grab the points title with a strong finish.
2021 Qatar Grand Prix odds
| Finish | Driver | Start | Opening odds | Post-qualifying odds | Race day odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Driver | Start | Opening odds | Post-qualifying odds | Race day odds |
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | 1 | -140 | -300 | -450 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | 7 | +135 | +330 | +550 |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | 3 | +25000 | +6500 | +6500 |
| 4 | Sergio Perez | 11 | +2000 | +8000 | +8000 |
| 5 | Esteban Ocon | 9 | +25000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| 6 | Lance Stroll | 12 | +30000 | +25000 | +25000 |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | 5 | +6500 | +8000 | +8000 |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | 13 | +5000 | +25000 | +25000 |
| 9 | Lando Norris | 4 | +6500 | +6500 | +6500 |
| 10 | Sebastian Vettel | 10 | +25000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| 11 | Pierre Gasly | 2 | +6500 | +5000 | +2000 |
| 12 | Daniel Ricciardo | 14 | +10000 | +25000 | +25000 |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | 8 | +30000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| 14 | Kimi Raikkonen | 16 | +50000 | +50000 | +50000 |
| 15 | Antonio Giovinazzi | 18 | +50000 | +50000 | +50000 |
| 16 | Mick Schumacher | 19 | +50000 | +80000 | +80000 |
| 17 | George Russell | 15 | +50000 | +50000 | +50000 |
| 18 | Nikita Mazepin | 20 | +50000 | +80000 | +80000 |
| 19 | Nicholas Latifi | 17 | +50000 | +80000 | +80000 |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | 6 | +1600 | +650 | +850 |
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