Formula 1: There’s suddenly a new favorite to challenge McLaren

Formula 1: There's suddenly a new favorite to challenge McLaren

As a seasoned gamer with years of Formula 1 racing simulations under my belt, I can confidently say that this latest turn of events in the 2024 Grand Prix has been nothing short of exhilarating! Charles Leclerc’s impressive victory at Circuit of the Americas and Ferrari’s dominance over Red Bull have shaken up the constructor standings in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

As I sat in my Ferrari cockpit, heart pounding with excitement at Circuit of the Americas, I led the pack all the way to the finish line, clinching the United States Grand Prix victory for the first time. My teammate Carlos Sainz Jr., hot on my heels, crossed the line 8.562 seconds behind me, making it a 1-2 finish for Ferrari. This triumph marked my eighth career Formula 1 win, and with three victories this season, I’ve matched my single-season career-best from 2022.

In the 2024 season, Ferrari achieved their second consecutive first and second place finish. Interestingly, they also led all teams during Saturday’s 19-lap race on a 3.427-mile (5.515-kilometer), 20-turn road course in Austin, Texas. This puts them just eight points behind Red Bull in the constructor standings, with McLaren currently holding the top spot.

Currently, Scuderia trails McLaren by just 48 points after a weekend where they earned 27 more points compared to McLaren.

There are five races, plus two sprint races, remaining on the 2024 Formula 1 schedule.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, McLaren remains the clear frontrunner for the constructor championship, yet their favoritism, represented by -850 odds, has slightly relaxed following a relatively less impressive United States Grand Prix event.

Initially, Red Bull was ranked second, but currently, Ferrari is seen as a clear second choice with odds of +650. Meanwhile, Red Bull trails behind them with odds of +1300.

The rising competition between Ferrari and McLaren, with Ferrari being considered a strong contender, is happening due to Ferrari’s improved performance. This improvement has been demonstrated by Charles Leclerc winning several races and achieving podium finishes in five out of the last six competitions.

In the last seven races, Ferrari has nearly caught up with Red Bull, Red Bull’s current leaders, in all but two instances where they led. They missed winning by just three and one point in those two races. However, in the remaining five contests, Ferrari decisively outperformed Red Bull, earning 67 more points.

For Ferrari, winning the constructor championship again would mark their first victory since 2008. Similarly, McLaren are aiming for their first championship win since 1998.

On the driver’s side, Max Verstappen of Red Bull continues to lead the world championship, and he remains the top bet with odds of -450. Lando Norris from McLaren, who is 57 points behind Verstappen, is the second favorite at +310. Despite Leclerc being just 22 points behind Norris, he is considered a significant underdog with odds of +5000.

Odds and availability are always subject to change.

The following race on the 2024 Formula 1 calendar is the second in a series of three consecutive events, known as a tripleheader. The Mexico City Grand Prix, to be held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, will air live on ABC, starting at 3:55 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 27. Sign up for a free FuboTV trial to catch all the action!

2024-10-21 13:32