F1: Bryce’s Bets -- Monaco Grand Prix

After an unexpected off-week, will we have a usual Monaco race, or will things perk up?

Formula One is back after an unexpected week off due to the awful flooding in Italy which canceled the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Monaco usually isn’t the best race to watch, as I outlined here last year. But this race has some intriguing storylines.

Sergio Perez crashed out early in qualifying so he starts from the back of the grid. He’ll definitely have a faster car than those around him, but passing around the streets of Monte Carlo is very hard. He’ll need some help.

The end of Q3 in qualifying was thrilling as Max Verstappen bested Fernando Alonso’s time by less than a tenth of a second on his final run. With the chance of rain on Sunday, the race at the front could get quite interesting. Alonso has a real shot of winning his first race in 10 years.

After Charles Leclerc got a three-place grid penalty due to impeding Lando Norris’ qualifying run, Estebon Ocon moved up to third place on the grid. A podium at Monaco would be a welcome sight after a tough start to the season.

As usual, the odds are courtesy of SI Sportsbook:

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Fernando Alonso to Win +275

There’s no money to be made betting on Verstappen, so let’s hit the underdog. Alonso has been super consistent this year and Monaco is a great track for the Aston Martin because there isn’t a super long straight the Red Bulls can take advantage of. If Alonso can get to the front, he has all the skill to hold everyone else off. Recent history is on Alonso’s side, as the driver starting second at Monaco has won more than the driver starting first since 2015.

Max Verstappen Fastest Lap+163

This is a bit of a hedge bet. If Verstappen holds off Alonso, he should have the fastest lap as he’ll have clear track most of the time. There’s still a chance Verstappen could get the fastest lap behind Alonso. Regardless, Verstappen has had better race pace than anyone else this season.

Estebon Ocon Podium+130

Ocon is starting third on a track that’s very hard to pass on. He’s shown good pace but the pace difference isn’t enough for those around him to be able to pass him. Take him at plus odds to get a much-needed podium finish.

Sergio Perez Top 10 Finish-125

This is a tough play but I don’t like any others. Perez is starting in 20th, but he should be so much faster that he’ll readily be able to get past the slower cars. A safety car would help Perez and it’s likely to happen around the tricky streets of Monaco.

Season Record: 6-14

Best of luck betting and enjoy the race! Be sure to go to AutoRacingDigest.com for all your motorsports needs and follow @AutoRaceDigest on twitter.