2023 Formula 1 schedule, F1 picks, odds: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix projected leaderboard, start time, race prediction from top model
SportsLine's model simulated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 and released its F1 predictions for Max Verstappen and the rest of the starting grid
The 2023 Formula 1 season will conclude on Sunday with the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the Yas Marina Circuit. The green flag is scheduled to drop at 8 a.m. ET. Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing have already clinched championships but there will be several fascinating battles further down the standings, including a fight between Mercedes and Ferrari for second in the constructors' championship and a four-way battle for fourth in the driver's standings between Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr., Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, McLaren's Lando Norris and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen is the -333 favorite (risk $300 to win $100) in the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix odds after having won 26 of the last 31 races held in Formula 1. He's followed by Norris (+1200), teammate Sergio Perez (+1400), Leclerc (+1600) and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton (+1800). Carlos Sainz (+2200), George Russell (+2500) and Oscar Piastri (+2800) are the only other drivers going off lower than +6600 in the 2023 Abu Dhabi GP odds.
SportsLine's proven computer projection model simulated the Brazilian GP 2023 10,000 times and come up with a surprising leaderboard.
Developed by daily Fantasy pro and SportsLine predictive data engineer Mike McClure, this proprietary Formula 1 prediction model takes into account a slew of factors including track history and recent results.
The model has been scorching hot when it comes to picking Formula 1 race events dating back to 2021. It nailed both of Charles Leclerc's wins in 2022, and at the 2021 Mexican Grand Prix, the model was strongly backing Verstappen as its top pick. The result: Verstappen dominated the field and ran away with a surprising victory.
It followed that up by calling Verstappen's win at the Rolex Emilia Romagna GP in April and nailed Verstappen to win in Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, the United States, Mexico and Abu Dhabi. It has also called all 18 of Verstappen's wins to start the 2023 season. Anyone who followed the model's lead on those plays has seen HUGE returns!
The Yas Marina Circuit is a 16-turn, 3.281 mile track built on Yas Island near Abu Dhabi. It opened in 2009 and hosted the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix later that year. Hamilton is a five-time winner at Yas Marina but Verstappen has won the last three races in Abu Dhabi, tying Sebastian Vettel for the second-most all-time. Red Bull Racing and Mercedes are now tied with six wins each in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Now, the model has dialed in on the 2023 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and just released its coveted picks and leaderboard projections.
We can tell you the model is fading Norris even though he's the second-favorite (+1200). After a sluggish start to the season, McLaren made signficiant midseason improvement and appeared to be finding its stride late in the year with Norris leading the way.
Entering the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Norris had five podiums in his last six starts and was surging up the 2023 F1 standings. However, a retirement on the Las Vegas Strip halted his progress and he's now sixth with Sainz and Alonso to leapfrog to get up to fourth place. The model predicts that he finishes off the podium again to finish the season.
The model is also targeting one driver getting 25-1 or better in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix odds to make a serious charge up the leaderboard! Anyone who backs this driver could hit it BIG. You ABSOLUTELY need to see who he is before locking in any Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP picks of your own.
So who wins the 2023 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? And which SERIOUS long shot might be in contention? ... Join SportsLine right now to see the full projected F1 Abu Dhabi GP leaderboard, all from the model that has nailed its racing picks the last two years, and find out!