AUTOhebdo predictions in Sakhir: results of free practice

Not bad for a first day at a new job, right? Toto wolff Although we may call for restraint and caution when analyzing the performances of George Russell, it is difficult not to be excited by the performances of the British hopeful during his debut with Mercedes. 

Russell, which replaces at short notice Lewis Hamilton after the seven-time world champion tested positive for Covid-19, dominated the two free sessions on Friday at the Sakhir Grand Prix. 

Wolff was quick to point out that his teammate Valtteri Bottas had damaged his Mercedes in Free Practice 1. The Finn also saw his best lap in FP2, which was 2/10th faster than Russell's night reference, erased by the race stewards' panel for non-compliance with the limits of the drawn at turn 8.

Nevertheless, Russell confirms the talent glimpsed at Williams for 2 seasons. Can he confirm in qualifying, then in the race? 

• Mercedes Saturday, Red Bull Sunday ?

We saw it during the qualifying session of Formula 2, the timed tests on Saturday evening are likely to be particularly competitive, particularly in Q1 with 20 cars on the same 3,543 km track. Given the gaps, it would not be surprising to see one or the other tenor get caught in traffic. Even if the length of the lap allows several attempts, drivers must be careful not to overextend their tire allocation.

Author of a messy Friday, something unusual for him, does Bottas have the means to respond to the instant threat that Russell represents? The Finn has already proven against record holder Lewis Hamilton that he has the means to shine on a lap, but the very high level of play displayed by his new garage neighbor from the outset may have destabilized him.

Bottas remains favorite for pole at odds of 1,80*, compared to Russell's 2,20*, but the two Mercedes drivers are tied going into the race at odds of 2,50*.

If Mercedes seems to have the advantage on one lap compared to the competition, Max Verstappen posted interesting times during his long stints and could well do well in the race. A victory for the Dutchman would earn you 3* times your initial stake; the Red Bull driver's pole being posted at 4*. 

• The good odds that you may have missed

Given the ultra-tight times and the unique nature of the track, surprises cannot be ruled out, whether in qualifying or during the GP.

racing point, Renault, and Alpha Tauri showed themselves at the forefront this Friday. 3rd in FP2, a tenth and a half behind Russell, Pérez thus displays an attractive odds of 40* for pole position.

Furthermore, certain drivers usually dominated by their teammates in 2020, such as Esteban Ocon (Renault) and Daniil Kvyat (AlphaTauri), look very comfortable on this outdoor track. 

Could they join the 12 riders already on the podium in 2020? A Top 3 from the French is rated at 13*, a similar result from the Russian would allow you to pocket 15 times the amount of your bet. Without going that far, a finish in the Top 6 is displayed at 3,5* for Ocon, and 4* for Kvyat. Think about it.

Find all the odds and betting combinations on the Parions Sport website. 

*Odds may vary