Kaylah Walton
As the thrilling Formula 1 season reaches its final stretch, all eyes are on this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, a crucial race in the championship battle.
Max Verstappen from Red Bull must secure a victory to clinch his fourth title, while Lando Norris of McLaren aims to prolong the contest until the final race in Abu Dhabi.
The competition between Verstappen and Norris makes them strong contenders, but in an unexpected twist, Canadian rapper Drake has placed a bet on Charles Leclerc from Ferrari. This bet has left many Ferrari fans anxious, fearing the negative impact of Drake’s notorious betting history.
The Drake Betting Effect
Drake’s betting patterns have earned him a reputation for bringing bad luck. Fans across various sports have observed that athletes or teams he supports tend to underperform. This isn’t merely speculation; there’s a string of past losses backing this belief.
For instance, in 2022, he placed a hefty sum of $1 million on France to defeat Argentina, only to witness a loss. Earlier this year, he lost $565,000 betting on Tyson Fury to win against Oleksandr Usyk, who ultimately ended Fury’s undefeated streak.
Additionally, Drake lost $350,000 when betting on Mike Tyson to win against Jake Paul, which also didn’t pan out in his favor.
This consistent string of misfortunes has led to the belief in a “curse” attached to Drake’s bets. Now, as he bets on Leclerc, Ferrari supporters are apprehensively recalling this trend.
The Vegas Stakes
Drake has placed a bet of $250,000 on Leclerc to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Should Leclerc achieve victory, Drake stands to gain threefold. However, given Leclerc’s placement on Drake’s “curse list,” supporters are wary of the odds.
This isn’t Drake’s first wager on Leclerc; he previously lost $250,000 on Leclerc for the Spanish Grand Prix in 2025 due to a mechanical failure that stopped him from winning.
Updated Chances Following Qualifiers
Originally, Verstappen was the frontrunner, but recent qualifying results have shifted the outlook. With George Russell from Mercedes securing pole, Carlos Sainz now holds the best odds at 2-to-1, while Leclerc is close behind at 9-to-4 from the fourth starting position.
Verstappen, starting in fifth, is now at 5-to-1 odds. His recent performance shows just one win in the last 11 races, raising questions about his performance potential after a disappointing qualifying lap.
With both Ferrari and McLaren showing unexpected strength, the possibility for an upset finish is highly plausible.
