Lights will go out at the Bahrain International Circuit on Monday morning to mark the official start of the 2021 Formula 1 season.

For the first time in a long time, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has some company in betting thanks to McLaren’s new and improved engine, as well as a very promising preseason of testing from Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

This weekend will also see Fernando Alonso make his long-awaited return to Formula 1 following a two-year absence, and of course, Daniel Ricciardo’s much anticipated debut with McLaren following a luckless season with Renault last year.

After Hamilton’s dominance last season, it’s nice to have some value on offer for a change.

With a strong chance to open the year on top, be sure to find out who we’re backing in Bahrain this weekend!

2021 Bahrain Grand Prix Race Winner

Lewis Hamilton to win at $2.60

Hamilton can set himself apart from Sebastian Vettel this weekend by becoming the only driver in history to win the Bahrain Grand Prix for a fifth time.

After spending most of last season as an unbackable short-priced favourite, F1 fans will be delighted to open the market and find Hamilton at $2.60 to start the season.

Right alongside the Brit, however, is Max Verstappen ($2.63).

Red Bull wowed racing fans throughout the course of the preseason thanks to an upgraded power unit to match that of Mercedes’.

All reports suggest Red Bull’s car is in tip-top shape, while they’ve also strengthened their hand behind the wheel by replacing Alex Albon with last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix winner, Sergio Perez.

Meanwhile, at McLaren, things are also looking up.

While the team failed to score an elusive Grand Prix win last year, they did manage to land on the podium twice to finish third in the Constructors’ standings.

McLaren’s offseason has largely centred around replacing their engines with a Mercedes design, one that should see new teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris in the thick of things more often than not.

As far as betting goes this weekend though, the “wait and see” approach looks to be the safest.

The new bells and whistles at Red Bull and McLaren are nice, but it’s hard to get past the fact Hamilton is not only the defending Bahrain champ, but also that he’s qualified in pole position three times previously.

If F1’s golden boy wins this race, it’s doubtful we’ll get anything close to the current price again for a while, so you might as well take it while you can.

2021 Bahrain Grand Prix Fastest Lap

Max Verstappen at $2.63

I spoke earlier about Red Bull’s dominant preseason, so it’s no surprise to find even money on offer for both Hamilton and Verstappen to set the fastest lap.

Lost among all the hype surrounding Red Bull is the fact Mercedes looked rather flat in their recent testing in Bahrain.

The team admitted that their cars struggled to get through the windy conditions, and that handling is something they’ll need to work on ahead of race day.

Mercedes have proven time and time again that they are capable of working overnight wonders, but just on the off chance they haven’t gotten things right in time, why not take a flyer on Verstappen to smash the clock?

2021 Bahrain Grand Prix Points Finish

Kimi Raikkonen at $4.00

Unlike a lot of other drivers, Kimi Raikkonen will remain at Alfa Romeo this season in the hope of improving on a highly forgettable year the saw him finish in the points only twice.

With that said, you might be wondering why I’m tipping the Finn to land somewhere inside the Top 10 this weekend, but hear me out.

Raikonnen has dominated Bahrain throughout his astonishing 20-year career, so much so that he’s finished on the podium eight times.

It is worth noting that he’s never won the Bahrain Grand Prix, but with a stat like that next to his name, a points finish surely isn’t as absurd as it sounds.

2021 Bahrain Grand Prix Double Points Finish

Ferrari  at $2.63

Much like Red Bull, Ferrari has reportedly addressed its power unit throughout the course of the offseason after fading to a disappointing sixth in the Constructors’ standings last year.

With a new season comes plenty of optimism though, especially with a new face behind the wheel to replace Sebastian Vettel.

Carlos Sainz, who finished sixth in the Drivers’ standings last year after finishing in the points all but twice, has slotted in next to Charles Leclerc in the hopes of turning Ferrari’s misfortune around.

The red colours have been very tough to trust for the last few years, but they do have a strong track record at Bahrain to suggest they could go well this weekend.

Ferrari currently holds the record for most Bahrain Grand Prix wins (six), leaving plenty of room for optimism so long as Leclerc and Sainz can cooperate on race day.