Formula 1: 250 to 1 odds on a championship contender?

The Formula 1 world championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton looks like it will come down to the wire, but you can still technically bet on a third option.

An exciting United States Grand Prix came down to the wire two Sundays ago at Circuit of the Americas, and it was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who held off Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to extend his lead in the Formula 1 world championship standings.

Verstappen holds a 12-point lead over Hamilton with five races remaining on this year’s 22-race schedule.

Had Hamilton been able to pass Verstappen for the win in the closing laps, it would be a two-point Hamilton advantage heading into the Mexican Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez this Sunday, November 7.

It has been clear all year that the world championship battle would be between these two all-time greats.

Neither driver has sat in lower than second place in the driver standings all year long, and they have combined for 13 victories in 17 races. While the 2021 season has seen more winners (six) than any season since the 2012 season saw eight, no other driver has earned more than one win.

No season has been limited to two multi-race winners since the epic battle between Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg came down to the wire in 2016.

Entering this most recent race, seven drivers still had a mathematical chance to win this year’s world title. Four of the five not named Verstappen or Hamilton were officially eliminated during the race, but the other one is still technically in the fight.

And yes, you can still bet on that third driver.

WynnBET lists Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas as a +25000 (250-1) underdog to steal the title away from Verstappen and Hamilton over the course of the season’s final five races.

What this means is that if you bet $100 to win on Bottas, you will lose $100.

Quite frankly, even with a free bet (of any amount) and odds boosted to 1,000,000-1, I wouldn’t take that bet — and neither should any of you.

Make your pick now at WynnBET!

With five races left on this year’s schedule, the maximum remaining point total for each individual driver is 133 points. Let’s break that down.

• Race wins (25 points each)
  • x5 races = 125 points
• Fastest laps (1 point each)
  • x5 races = 5 points (130 points)
• Sprint qualifying race winner (3 points)
  • 1 race only (Brazilian Grand Prix) = 3 points (133 points)

Bottas trails Verstappen by 102.5 points, meaning that he could be mathematically eliminated as early as the next race in Mexico when that 133-point window shrinks to a 107-point window (Verstappen would have to outscore him by five or more).

As for the legitimate championship contenders, Verstappen became a heavier favorite after winning the United States Grand Prix.

Take a look at their odds.

• Max Verstappen: -240
• Lewis Hamilton: +165

But don’t think that you can’t get an offer that is even better than a 250-1 gamble (waste) on a longshot championship contender.

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Don’t miss the next round of Formula 1 action on Sunday, November 7. The Mexican Grand Prix is set to be broadcast live on ESPN from Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. Be sure to start your free trial of FuboTV today!