Abu Dhabi GP Betting Preview: Can Alonso Sign Off in Style?

Quick Tips:
- Fernando Alonso Top 10 finish – 5/2 with Betfair
- Bottas fastest lap of the race – 13/5 with Paddy Power
The curtain falls on the 2018 Formula 1 season this weekend and much of the focus will be on two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who bows out of the sport after the final race of the campaign.
With Lewis Hamilton having comfortably secured his fifth world title in Mexico last month, and sealing the Constructors’ Championship for Mercedes in Brazil last time out, there is little to play for in the season finale.
But try telling that to 2005 and 2006 world champion Alonso, a naturally gifted driver who since 2010 has been hamstrung by poorly manufactured models from F1 heavyweights Ferrari and more recently McLaren, having won his two titles with Renault.
Saying that, Alonso gives the impression he believes he has achieved all he can in F1, but there’s no doubt his legions of fans would love nothing more than to see him bow out on some sort of high.
"It's not because I am not winning here,” Alonso told ESPN when explaining his decision to leave F1.
"I could sign for a competitive team next year, maybe not the top two, but maybe the third one. But I say no because I arrived in F1 17 years ago and I have won two world championships.
"I have won more races than what I dreamed of when I came here and this part of my career is done – it was a success. I have ticked the box. I need to go for another tick and find another box to fill. That's the only reason."
The ‘box’ the Spaniard is referring to is the Indy 500. Having already won Le Mans 24 Hours plus the Monaco GP, Alonso wants to become the first man since Graham Hill to triumph in the three most prestigious races in motorsport.
Before that, though, he will part ways with F1, although his hopes of a fitting farewell are somewhat slim.
What Are Alonso’s Odds?
Forget about backing Alonso to actually win the race. Even at 3000/1 with Bet365, it’s not worth a penny, especially as his McLaren team are 4/1 favourites to suffer the first retirement of the race.
A podium finish is pretty much out of the question too at 225/1 with Paddy Power, but Alonso should at least be able to wave goodbye to the crowd from his cockpit as he’s odds-on (2/5) to finish the race.
There are other ways Alonso can finish on a high, though, with a points finish or indeed a top six not entirely out of reach, as outlined in the table below.
Alonso Outcome | Odds | Bookmaker |
---|---|---|
To Finish The Race | 2/5 | Bet365 |
Points Finish (Top 10) | 5/2 | Betfair |
Top Six | 10/1 | Paddy Power |
There is a small case for backing Alonso to finish in the points, as his McLaren team – to whom he has been so loyal across two stints despite underperforming cars – owe it to the 37-year-old veteran to have his car set up as good as it can be.
The best bookmakers are not convinced though, with Bet365, Betfair and Paddy Power all making Alonso the most likely driver not to finish the race in Abu Dhabi at odds of 7/4, such has been McLaren’s unreliability this season.
Whatever the outcome of his F1 sign-off, he’ll surely be among the favourites by the time his next motorsport challenge comes about next May.
Bet on Bottas in Abu Dhabi
Aside from the Alonso sideshow, there’s a race to be won, and when eyeing up the race winner markets there’s a name that stands out if seeking the best value.
It’s Valtteri Bottas. Although overshadowed by his team-mate Hamilton’s ruthless form in the latter stages of the 2018 calendar, Bottas can take confidence from last year’s Abu Dhabi GP outcome.
The flying Finn put in arguably his career-best performance at the Yas Marina Circuit in 2017, securing pole position, fastest lap and race win – known as Formula 1’s hat-trick.
He was the 45th driver to achieve that feat in the history of the sport, and the third from Finland following former world champions Mika Hakkinen – who completed five career hat-tricks – and Kimi Raikkonen.

Naturally, Bottas has Hamilton (5/2 with Bet365) and Sebastian Vettel (6/4 with Ladbrokes) ahead of him in the betting, but William Hill’s price of 13/2 on Bottas looks huge and shrewder punters might even take up their each-way terms – a third of the odds for places one and two.
If you’re reading before practice and qualifying have taken place, William Hill also offer an inviting 6/1 on Bottas to be the fastest qualifier.
Another hat-trick this year is a bit much to ask of the Finn, especially as Ferrari are race favourites, but perhaps the best value on Bottas is to back him to set the fastest lap again – take Paddy Power’s odds of 13/5 for history to repeat itself.
2019 Formula 1 Betting
Meanwhile, betting has already opened on next season’s Drivers’ Championship and, unsurprisingly, Hamilton heads the market at a best price of even-money (1/1) with Bet365 and William Hill.
Despite his relatively limp fight in 2018, Vettel is again expected to be Hamilton’s main challenger at around 7/2, though punters may prefer the extra value in fiery upcomer Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull youngster is available at a best price of 6/1 with Betfair.
Recommended Betting Sites
- 1
100% Welcome Bonus up to £50 Promo Code: TONY50
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply In order to activate this bonus on the personal TonyBet account, please, enter the bonus code TONY50 when a deposit is made and wager your deposit 10 times on betting markets with odds of at least 1.65 within 30 days. This offer is available to new players who made the first deposit. All players must be 18+ years old and of a required legal age to gamble. Odd/even, no action (bets made on both sides of the same bet), cancelled bets, replicated bets and bets that have had their odds equated to 1 are not included into the bonus wagering. - 2
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus
Sig terms: Min deposit of £/$/€10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/$/€10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expires after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time • Withdrawal restrictions & full T&Cs apply - Full Terms Apply - 3
Bet £10 Get £10
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+. New UK customers only. Min bet £10 to receive £10 Free Bet (placed and settled 35 days from registration). Min odds of 3/5. Free Bet credited at qualifying bet settlement and placed within 35 days. T&C's apply. Please gamble responsibly, www.begambleaware.org - Full Terms Apply - 4
Get up to £100 in Free Bets + up to 100% in Boosts
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+, New customers only. Deposit + bet £20-£100. Must Deposit £50 and opt in for marketing preferences for Boosts. Boosts credited 24 hours after deposit. Full T&Cs apply. Begambleware.org - 5
Open Account Offer - Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365
Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. 18+. New players only. www.begambleaware.org - Full Terms Apply - 6
Bet £10, Get £10
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: €10, max €10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement.System bets no eligible. Click to see full T&Cs - 7
EXCLUSIVE: Bet £15, Get £10
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply - 8
50% Deposit Bonus up to £100 Promo Code: FBWELS
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply New UK customers only; 6x wager requirement with 90 day expiry; Only sports bets contribute to wagering; Min. 2 selections at 1.4 min odds per selection; Max £100 per bet. 18+. T&C's Apply. Please bet responsibly. begambleaware.org - 9
Bet £20, Get £10
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply 18+ New Customers Only. Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is £20. Customers who deposit using Neteller, Paysafe, Skrill or Skril 1-Tap will not be eligible for any free bet offer.BeGambleaware.org - 10
Bet £10, Get £20 in Free Bets
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org Terms Apply Qualifying bet must be min odds of 1/2 and cannot be placed in-play or cashed out. E.g. Place a £10bet at minimum odds of 1/2. When that bet has been settled, you will be given a free £5 fixed odds bet to use that day. New customers only. See full Ts&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.