Bahrain Grand Prix Prediction and Betting Tips: Charles Leclerc backed for a podium finish

The Formula 1 field will fire up their engines to begin the expanded 24-race 2024 season on Saturday with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The race was won by Max Verstappen last season in the first of his 19 victories in 22 races of a dominant campaign for the Red Bull Racing team. 

The Dutch driver is a hot favourite to open the new campaign with another success but rival teams are hoping to be much closer to the pace of the champion this time around.

Red Bull have been bold in their approach to the defence of their titles and have made more extensive design changes for 2024 than might have been expected. 

The early signs were positive in pre-season testing and it would not be a surprise if they remain some way clear of the field, at least in the early races of the season.

However, there are signs of progress at some of their main rivals and Ferrari appear to be in good hands under team principal Frederic Vasseur as he begins his second season with the Italian team.

Ferrari managed one win last season and are expected to be leading the chase of Verstappen after setting some fast times in pre-season testing.

Taking Charles Leclerc, who won in Bahrain two years ago, to finish on the podium at 11/10 still provides a chance to win even if both Red Bulls disappear into the distance, but it would not be a total surprise if the man from Monaco can at least challenge the second Red Bull car of Sergio Perez.

Aston Martin made a fast start to the 2023 F1 season with Fernando Alonso standing on the podium in Bahrain alongside the Red Bull duo.

His team-mate Lance Stroll was an impressive sixth given that he had only just been passed fit to race after breaking both his wrists and a toe in a pre-season cycling accident.

The green cars of the Silverstone-based squad were contenders in the early part of the season before rivals such as McLaren and Mercedes progressed past them, but they then finished the year strongly and should be in for another solid campaign.

While challenging for a podium doesn't quite look within their grasp this year, they should still be expecting to regularly feature in the final qualifying session and challenging for points at every race. 

Just as importantly, the Aston Martin cars proved reliable in the test and there's a good chance both drivers can open their accounts for the season at Sakhir, with a double points finish available at 6/5.

Last season's Bahrain Grand Prix provided an indication of what was to come as Max Verstappen dominated the opening race of the year to cruise home 17 seconds ahead of the field and he will no doubt be keen to repeat that procession on Saturday.

With Red Bull looking to have taken another step forward this season, backing a winning margin of more than 10 seconds could pay off.

Verstappen finished more than 10 seconds ahead of the field in four of the last six races in 2023, winning those events by an average margin of 14.75 seconds.

While it wouldn't be great for fans hoping to see battles for the lead if he remains untouchable, it's hard to rule out until Red Bull's rivals have proved themselves on the track.