Formula 1: 2021 Jeddah qualifying – Full starting lineup, odds
By Asher Fair
The starting lineup for the penultimate race on the 2021 Formula 1 schedule is set following Saturday’s three-round knockout qualifying session.
For the second-to-last time in the 22-race 2021 Formula 1 season, the starting lineup for a Grand Prix is set, this time for the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the second race on the 2021 calendar that had never been run prior to this season. The first one, the Qatar Grand Prix, happened to be the most recent race. This event was contested two weekends ago at Losail International Circuit.
light. Related Story. Formula 1 mock draft
Where is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is a 50-lap race around the 27-turn, 3.837-mile (6.175-kilometer) Jeddah Corniche Circuit temporary street circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
As mentioned, this track has never hosted a Formula 1 race before, but it is scheduled to host two of the next four, as it is the second race on the 22-race 2022 calendar. No Formula 1 race has ever been contested in Saudi Arabia before.
Jeddah broadcast information
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is set to be broadcast live from Jeddah Corniche Circuit on ESPN2 beginning at 12:25 p.m. ET this Sunday, December 5. Start your free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss any of the action!
Who is on pole in Jeddah?
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton took the pole position for Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix by recording the fastest lap time in the third and final round of qualifying.
Hamilton took the pole position for this race with a top lap time of 87.511 seconds (157.845 miles per hour). Set to start alongside him on the front row in second place is teammate Valtteri Bottas, giving the Silver Arrows two front row lockouts in the last four races.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had been on the provisional pole until both Hamilton and Bottas beat him on their final flying laps. He was poised to take it back by a comfortable margin on his final flying lap until getting wide and hitting the wall in the final corner. He is set to start in third place, provided that his gearbox is good to go.
Here is the full starting lineup for the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Starting Lineup
1st – Lewis Hamilton
2nd – Valtteri Bottas
3rd – Max Verstappen
4th – Charles Leclerc
5th – Sergio Perez
6th – Pierre Gasly
7th – Lando Norris
8th – Yuki Tsunoda
9th – Esteban Ocon
10th – Antonio Giovinazzi
11th – Daniel Ricciardo
12th – Kimi Raikkonen
13th – Fernando Alonso
14th – George Russell
15th – Carlos Sainz Jr.
16th – Nicholas Latifi
17th – Sebastian Vettel
18th – Lance Stroll
19th – Mick Schumacher
20th – Nikita Mazepin
Jeddah betting odds
Take a look at the betting odds for the top contenders in Sunday afternoon’s race, courtesy of WynnBET.
- Lewis Hamilton: -200
- Max Verstappen: +200
- Valtteri Bottas: +1200
- Sergio Perez: +3300
- Pierre Gasly: +4000
- Lando Norris: +6600
- Charles Leclerc: +6600
- Carlos Sainz Jr.: +8000
Jeddah betting prediction
The odds outlook would tell an entirely different story if Verstappen had been able to hold onto his final qualifying lap and secure the pole position at a track that was hyped up all week to be a Mercedes stronghold. Unfortunately, he ended up in the wall, giving Mercedes a front row lockout.
There are now three key questions: (1) will Red Bull have the race pace to match what Verstappen showed in qualifying (relative to Mercedes), (2) will there be overtaking opportunities on this tight new street track, and (3) how will tire wear factor into the equation, given the difference in strategies that Hamilton and Verstappen played in the second round of qualifying?
Make your pick now on WynnBET.
Either way, Hamilton as the favorite at -200 is hard to argue against. But even after the shunt, Verstappen’s odds at +200 are notably shorter than they were entering the race weekend, so by no means is the fight over.
The only thing that may throw a wrench into his odds before the race is if he needs a gearbox change after qualifying.
As for everybody else, Bottas at +1200 is not worth the gamble, simply because there is no way Mercedes will let him beat Hamilton if both are still in the fight.
Perez is in a similar situation at +3300, though we have seen him capitalize on races with unexpected chaos before, and this track could certainly produce such chaos.
dark. Next. Top 25 Formula 1 drivers of all-time
WynnBET Promo: Bet $1, Win $100 if any NFL or college football team scores. Claim offer now.