Do Russian Grand Prix Odds Hide The Paddock Drama In F1?

“Marcus will be taking on the role of third driver and brand ambassador,” Tweeted the Sauber F1 Team dooming the young Swede to a life after racing in F1 and making his Grand Prix odds in Russia a little moot. Ericsson responded graciously with “I am thankful for the past five years of my career which I have spent racing in Formula 1. I’m proud to have represented Sauber for four of those years and having raced for such an iconic brand as Alfa Romeo this season.”

Ericsson’s departure announcement was a precisely choreographed affair from a Sauber with fresh ambitions, just as the signing of Antonio Giovinazzi to replace him had been, and after the Kimi Raikkonen bombshell it was all taken in stride by an F1 media pack now used to shocks. The paddock drama isn’t entirely reflected in the Russian Grand Prix odds at Unibet but they do give those who like to bet on sports in Russia room to back Ericsson to lose focus this weekend. 

Russian Grand Prix Odds

• Everyone Else – 1000/1+
• Daniel Ricciardo – 33/1
• Max Verstappen – 20/1
• Kimi Raikkonen – 9/1
• Valtteri Bottas – 8/1
• Sebastian Vettel – 13/10
• Lewis Hamilton – Evens

Drivers Fall By The Wayside En Route To Russia

The Russian grand prix odds have Ericsson at 14/1 on sites like Unibet to be the first car to retire this weekend and it is only Brendon Hartley and Sergey Sirotkin who get shorter chances to DNF faster, which might explain why Sauber are dropping him. In F1 if you’ve not shown results in five years the chances are you never will, and his record just hasn’t been good enough to keep throwing races at him hoping something sticks. Antonio Giovinazzi now gets his shot at F1 fame.

“This is a dream come true.” Admitted Giovinazzi ensuring he stuck to the theme of the day with; “As an Italian it is a great pleasure to have the chance to race for this team and a huge honor for me to represent a brand as iconic and successful as Alfa Romeo in our sport.” And if you’re Russian gambling news of his signing has gone unnoticed by Mercedes, think again, they know he’s a future Ferrari star in waiting, and much needed as the Russian grand prix odds show.

Find All The Grand Prix Odds For Russia At Unibet

“I think my biggest enemy is me.” Said Sebastian Vettel of his title hopes slipping away adding that Ferrari. “Have a great car and have all the chances to do it in our way. I feel it is still ours to lose.” But in a season where he arguably had the fastest car his grand prix odds in Russia are a reflection of his odds on winning a championship he has all but thrown away. He only garners a scant 13/10 to win in Sochi, whilst Lewis Hamilton gets Evens, and that’s not his only worry.

Valtteri Bottas gets a marginal 8/1 with Kimi Raikkonen just behind him at 9/1, the pair of support drivers in their own bizarre Finnish battle, whilst the fading dreams of Red Bull have Max Verstappen on 20/1 and Daniel Ricciardo at 33/1 at Unibet. The grand prix odds in Russia then show Mercedes ahead, as in the championship, but if you’re taking advantage of Russian gambling laws to bet on F1, remember the paddock drama plays on all minds come race time.

1st Retirement In Sochi

• Max Verstappen – 14/1
• Daniel Ricciardo – 14/1
• Marcus Ericsson – 14/1
• Stoffel Vandoorne – 14/1
• Lance Stroll – 14/1
• Pierre Gasley – 14/1
• Sergey Sirotkin – 12/1
• Brendon Hartley – 11/1