Formula 1 betting odds have shifted, but by how much?

Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Red Bull are now heavily favored to win their respective Formula 1 world championship battles in 2022.

It wasn’t too long ago when Ferrari owned a massive lead over a third place Red Bull in the Formula 1 constructor standings, and Charles Leclerc had more than twice as many points as second place teammate Carlos Sainz Jr.

The question had already become whether or not anybody else could even make things interesting.

Since those final moments before the race in Imola back in April, Red Bull have reeled off five straight victories, including four by reigning world champion Max Verstappen, and Ferrari have, well, simply been reeling.

That reeling reached new heights with a double mechanical retirement for Leclerc and Sainz in Baku, a race which saw Verstappen lead Red Bull’s third 1-2 finish in the last five events. Prior to Imola, the Milton Keynes-based team hadn’t had a single 1-2 finish since 2016.

In the last five races, Verstappen has scored 125 points and teammate Sergio Perez has scored 99. Meanwhile, Ferrari have scored 95 total, which is actually one point shy of Mercedes’ mark of 96.

Following Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen remains atop the driver standings, but with Perez, not Leclerc, in second place, giving Red Bull their first 1-2 in points since after the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix. Between that race and Sunday’s race, 213 races had been contested.

Verstappen, who has now sat atop the standings after each of the last three races, leads Perez by 21 points. But perhaps more notably, he sits 34 points ahead of Leclerc, which is wider than any gap he had over Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton last year — despite the fact that he trailed Leclerc by 46 points just five races ago, a deficit more than three times larger than any deficit he faced last year.

And Red Bull, which found themselves 49 points behind Ferrari — and even 10 points behind Mercedes — after three races, now own a commanding 80-point lead over the Prancing Horse in the constructor standings. In fact, their gap to Ferrari is suddenly more than twice as large as Ferrari’s gap to Mercedes (38 points).

Two months later, the question is still whether or not anybody else can make it interesting. But now Verstappen and Red Bull are out in front.

It should surprise nobody that Verstappen and Red Bull are listed as the betting favorites to win their respective world championships following the 2022 season’s eighth race. But just how massive have the odds shifts been?

Verstappen is now listed as a heavy favorite at WynnBET, though Leclerc is still listed as the second favorite, despite Perez’s move up to second place in the driver standings. Here are the top six.

NOTE: -275 means a successful $275 bet wins $100. +325 means a successful $100 bet wins $325.

• Max Verstappen, Red Bull: -275
• Charles Leclerc, Ferrari: +325
• Sergio Perez, Red Bull: +800
• George Russell, Mercedes: +2500
• Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes: +4000
• Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari: +5000

With Perez now in second place in the driver standings, Red Bull are listed as even heavier favorites to win the constructor title, which would be their first since 2013, than Verstappen is to win a second consecutive driver title.

For some reason (and we really can’t figure this one out), Mercedes are tied for third with Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri, which sit in fifth and seventh place, respectively.

• Red Bull: -350
• Ferrari: +240
• Mercedes: +2500
• Alfa Romeo: +2500
• AlphaTauri: +2500

Please don’t bet on Alfa Romeo or AlphaTauri, as you might as well throw your money into the garbage disposal.

There is not much time before the ninth of 22 races on the 2022 Formula 1 schedule, as the Canadian Grand Prix is scheduled to take place at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this Sunday, June 19 at 2:00 p.m. ET (ESPN). This race was axed from the calendar in each of the last two seasons as a result of COVID-19-related restrictions. Be sure to start your free trial of FuboTV before the race!