Formula 1 betting in Ireland 2026

What is Formula 1? History & race format

Formula 1 is the highest level of international motorsport. It officially started in 1950 in Silverstone, United Kingdom, with the World Championship race. Since that time, it has grown to be a global sport where the world’s best drivers and teams compete each season. The way it works is that drivers get to earn points after every race, and these points are what are used to decide the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship at the end of the year.

Each Grand Prix on the F1 calendar follows a weekend format that starts with Practice sessions, where teams get to test their car setups, tyre performance, and fuel loads. The practice session is meant to help the teams understand the track and plan for the race. After the practice comes the qualifying, and the qualifying decides the starting grid for the race. You’ll find drivers pushing for the fastest lap because if a driver starts near the front, it has a way of improving their winning chances.

There are weekends when there are Sprint races. Sprint races are shorter and faster races that award extra points and make outcomes less predictable for bettors. The main event is the Race, and it usually happens on Sunday. This is where championship points are fully awarded, and strategy, pit stops, tyre choices, and weather all play important roles.

F1 betting markets & odds explained

F1 has one of the most marketable events you can bet on. Let’s explain the Formula 1 betting markets.

• Race Winner: This is the most straightforward market to bet on. You’ll be betting on the driver who will win the race. An example of this is betting on Max Verstappen to win the Monaco GP.
• Podium Finish: This has to do with betting on a driver to finish in the top three. Even if the driver doesn’t win, if they can manage to finish second or third, you will still win and get a payout. The perfect example of this is backing Lewis Hamilton to finish on the podium in Singapore.
• Fastest Lap: This market allows you to predict which driver will set the fastest lap during the race. Many factors influence this type of market, and they include teams’ tyre strategies and pit stops.
• Head-to-Head: It is also called the Driver vs Driver bet. It has to do with betting on which of two selected drivers will finish ahead. Betting on Lando Norris vs. George Russell in the British GP is a good example.
• Safety Car: You’re betting on whether a safety car will be deployed. Street circuits like Monaco or Singapore have higher chances of this happening.
• Winning Team: Here, you’re betting on which constructor will score the race win. Factors like driver skill and car performance play a big role here. Examples of contractors are Red Bull, Ferrari, or Mercedes.
• Season Outrights: This is a long-term bet, and you’re betting on who will win the Drivers’ or Constructors’ Championship. Odds in this type of market usually fluctuate throughout the season.
• Each-way: In addition to these races, some bookmakers allow you to place each-way bets, usually for podium finishes. In an Each-way bet, your stake is divided into 2 parts: one part is for the driver to win, and the other is for them to finish in the top positions.

There are many factors that determine how bookmakers set F1 odds. One key factor that determines betting odds Formula 1 is qualifying results, because starting from pole position usually improves a driver’s chances of winning the race. Another is Penalties, because it can reduce a driver’s odds, while factors like weather conditions and track type, and history matter too.

How to choose a Formula 1 betting site

Now that you know the markets you can bet on, it’s time to check out the criteria you should look for before you choose F1 betting sites. These are the things you should be looking out for, not just F1 betting offers:

• Verify Licensing & Regulation
  Verification and licensing should be at the top of your list, because that’s the only way you can be sure the bookmaker will keep you safe and payout your winnings. Any bookmaker you’re choosing must be regulated by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
• Compare Odds & Market Coverage
  Betting sites usually have different odds for a particular race. Always compare odds on multiple bookmakers to know which one offers the best odds. The better the odds, the more value you’ll get from betting.
• Assess User Experience (UX) & Live Betting Features
  One thing you don’t want to neglect is the user friendliness of the betting site. It makes it easy for you to use the website, plus it’ll load fast. Also, test the in-play betting sections because if they lag, it can be frustrating.
• Evaluate Payment Methods
  You also want to check out the payment channels that are available on the betting site. Most top bookmakers have payment methods like debit cards, e‑wallets, Apple/Google Pay, or bank transfer. In Ireland. You want to choose the bookmaker that has the payment option you have access to. Also, don’t forget to check limits and processing time. Check our reviews to get an idea of what to expect.
• Check Responsible Gambling Tools
  Every bookmaker licensed by GRAI must have responsible gambling tools and support organizations' links integrated into their website. These tools are meant to promote responsible betting and keep you safe while you gamble. If you can’t find it on a betting site, it’s a red flag.
• Customer Support & Transparency
  Take out time to test if the customer support channels are responsive, but if you don’t have time to do that, you have nothing to worry about. We can save you time because we’ve tested them, and you can read about them in our reviews.

There are certain practices you’d see in a betting site, and you instantly know if they can be trusted or not. We’ll be pointing out practices that indicate if a bookmaker is trustworthy or not.

Trustworthy Practices:

• If they clearly display their licence on their website.
• If they use SSL encryption to protect users' financial and personal data.
• If they have responsible gambling sections with limits and exclusion tools.

Non‑Trustworthy Practices:

• If there is no visible licence info.
• If there are unrealistic bonuses with hidden conditions.
• If they request payment via untraceable methods or third‑party accounts.
• If the customer support is poor or missing

If you follow these rules, you shouldn’t have any issues spotting the right betting site.

F1 betting strategies & tips

If you want to make the best out of sports betting, it’s best if you approach the market with a strategy. In this F1 betting tips section, we’ll be teaching you some Formula 1 betting strategies to help you get the best out of F1 betting.

• Track Form: The reason it is important to track form is that every circuit is different. There are drivers who race better on street tracks, while others do better on fast tracks. If you take out time to study their past results at each circuit, it can give you insight into how the race will turn out.
• Team Updates & Car Performance: In F1, the card is as important as the driver. The upgrades team makes and the technical changes they make matter a lot. A new engine or aerodynamic upgrade, for example, can greatly improve a team’s chance of winning. Pay attention to the upgrades they make
• Tyre Strategies: As insignificant as tyre choice and pit stops can look, they can decide the outcome of a race. Take out time to study about them and know which will give an advantage in a specific race.
• Weather Conditions: Weather conditions like rain, heat, or humidity can change how a race goes. Wet races make bets like Safety Car or Podium Finish harder to predict, but they are more rewarding.
• Driver Performance & Head-to-Head Stats: Look at the recent performance of drivers. Check how they’ve performed against each other over time. History can always repeat itself. It’ll tell you where to place your money.

Tracks like Monaco or Singapore have very tight corners, and the potential for a crash is very high. If you place a bet on a Safety Car appearing, it can really pay off, especially when you pair this bet with race speed and insight from the weather.

Key F1 events & 2026 race calendar

Formula 1’s 2026 season provide bettors with many betting opportunities. Monaco is a race with tight streets that requires precision. Silverstone, which is the home of British motorsport, is fast and known for unpredictable weather. Abu Dhabi is where the grand finale happens, while the Las Vegas Grand Prix is a night street race with a fast layout and unpredictable results. Let’s take a look at the complete F1 calendar for 2026.

If you’re looking for high-volatility circuits and surprise results, pay close attention to these races:

• Monaco & Singapore: It has a tight street circuit where Safety Cars, crashes, and strategy changes are common. Qualifying and pit timing matter a lot.
• Las Vegas: It is a newer night street race with changing grip levels, and that can lead to unpredictable outcomes.
• Baku & Spa: It has very long laps and close walls increase the chance of mistakes, Safety Cars, and surprise podiums.

These tracks usually produce unexpected results, so pay attention to them.

Popular drivers & teams

Like most sports, there are top players, and F1 is not an exception. Let’s check the top drivers and teams that have consistently dominated.

Top F1 Drivers

• Max Verstappen: He’s one of the top drivers who has won the world championship multiple times. He was the driver who dominated most of the 2024 season and still entered the 2025 season as a favourite.
• Lewis Hamilton: He is a seven-time world champion who joined Ferrari in 2025. He has lots of experience and is still seen as a strong contender for race wins and podium finishes.
• Charles Leclerc: He is Ferrari’s top young driver. Charles is known for strong qualifying and consistent race performance. He was competitive in 2024 and is still making waves in 2025.
• Lando Norris: He is a rising star who pushed Verstappen hard in 2024 and leads many 2025 title markets. He’s usually listed as a top favourite alongside Verstappen.

Top F1 Teams

• Red Bull Racing
• Mercedes
• Ferrari

The current Drivers’ odds on bookmakers show that Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are most likely to win the title. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are also serious contenders, but slightly behind. The next championship race is very close, but the F1 betting odds can change as the season goes on.

F1 Betting Promotions and Offers

There are many types of Formula 1 bonus offers you’ll find on Irish bookmakers' sites. Let’s take a quick look at the type of bonuses you’ll find on most operators' sites in Ireland.

• Price Boosts / Enhanced Odds
  This is the type of bonus where the Bookmakers increase the odds on selected drivers or race outcomes to give you a bigger potential payout than standard odds.
• “Lead But Don’t Win” Refunds
  This bonus ensures that if the driver you bet on leads during the race but doesn’t finish first, the bookmaker will refund your stake.
• Special Race Markets
  These are special promotions on betting markets such as fastest lap or safety car appearance.
• Acca / Multi-Bet Insurance
  Under this type of bonus, the bookmakers will refund your stake if one selection in an accumulator loses.
• Early Payout / Race Leader Specials
  Here, your bet will be settled early if your driver takes an early lead or hits certain milestones.

You should note that in Ireland, bonuses like free bets and VIP programs are banned under the GRAI regulations. For that reason, bookmakers usually focus on price boosts and special promotions, so they don’t violate the law.

Live betting & streaming

F1 live betting is where you can place bets during the race. In the in-play F1 betting section, odds are not static; they keep changing, so if you want to get the best out of it, it’s best if you’re actively watching. That way, you can track progress and make decisions faster.

Some bookmakers allow you to stream races live, or you can just activate the in-app notifications so you get updates regularly. You need to be very active to react quickly, and at the same time, you should stay calm. In all you do, do not let your emotions get in the way, carefully read the situation, and make decisions based on what’s happening on the track.

Safety & responsible betting

In Ireland, every licensed bookmaker must include responsible gambling tools and a support link on their sites. For F1 betting safety, the National Self-Exclusion Register allows players to block themselves from all licensed operators. Bookmakers are also mandated to include responsible gambling tools and prohibit deposits via credit card to promote safer gambling.

So, when you open Irish bookmakers, you’ll find tools like timeouts, session reminders, and spending controls to help players as they gamble safely. If you need additional support, there are links to support organizations like GamblingCare.ie, to provide you with guidance and assistance.

Related motorsports & crossover bets

Formula 1 is just one of the motorsports betting you can bet on. Major bookmakers in Ireland also cover other motor sports like MotoGP betting, NASCAR betting, Formula E, and IndyCar. The markets available for bettors in these motorsports include outright winner, podium finish, fastest lap, and head-to-head matchups. The same strategies we’ve explained in this guide can also be used on these other motor sports. You can check them out for yourself.