Fernando Alonso Moves Up Odds Boards After Winning FP2 During Bahrain GP

The 2023 Formula One season is back, and the drivers have underwent the first two practice rounds for the Bahrain GP. Although the latest Formula One odds still have Max Verstappen leading the pack to win the race, Fernando Alonso has climbed just behind him on the Bahrain GP odds boards.

Alonso came second in FP1 and secured a surprise victory in FP2 for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

2023 Bahrain GP Odds

Aston Martin Preseason Testing Speeds Weren’t Just Hype

It’s difficult to gauge how well a car will perform during race conditions solely based on preseason testing. You have to factor in tire usage, pressure on the driver, and last-minute adjustments to the cars made by the teams. There was a lot of early hype around the Aston Martin car and how fast it would be this season. Those rumors heated up when it topped the time sheets during testing last week.

Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin reps tried to play down the car’s quick pace during testing, but it seems there was some truth to those early rumors. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez just snagged the top spot over Alonso in FP1, but Alonso came back even faster in FP2 to beat both Red Bull cars.

On soft tires, Alonso beat Verstappen by a mere .169 seconds. This strong performance during practice has boosted Alsono’s race odds up to +350, but it is clear sportsbooks still think Verstappen will win the first race of the year.

FP2 CLASSIFICATION

Friday belongs to Fernando Alonso 👏#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ROGUJZ1ZjS

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 3, 2023

Betting on Aston Martin In Bahrain GP

Right now, Alonso is receiving all the attention — for a good reason. He has repeatedly told the media that he is ready to fight for podiums this season, and it seems like the team has figured out some of its issues with the car.

But now that Alonso has had such a stellar practice session, finding value in him in any Bahrain GP odds other than the race winner is hard. I’m nowhere near ready to say he beats Verstappen. We all know Max finds another gear on race day, and he was less than .2 seconds slower than Alonso in FP2.

Alsono’s teammate Lance Stroll is the one driver that piques my interest. He finished top-six in FP1 and FP2, benefitting from the same fast car Alonso is racing in. You can grab him at +300 to finish top-six in the race at BetMGM Sportsbook. While I will make this bet, it will be a small one for me, as there are questions surrounding Stroll’s fitness for the race.

Stroll broke his wrist during winter break. Aston Martin just recently cleared him to race in Bahrain. He struggled in FP2 to change his line during Turn 1, as the team requested, citing his wrist as the issue. Stroll is determined to start in all remaining sessions despite his injury, but his future this weekend is still uncertain.

Reserve driver Felipe Drugovich is in Bahrain on standby. While Stroll’s status isn’t 100% clear, I think it’s unlikely he will miss the first face of the year due to a stiff wrist, so I’m betting on him to continue performing at his current level through Sunday.

2023 Formula One Championship Odds