Drake puts Charles Leclerc at the top of the Las Vegas podium with a $200k bet

As the Formula 1 season enters its decisive phase, the tension and excitement are at their peak. This weekend's event, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, could be a key factor in the title fight.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver, needs a win to secure his fourth championship, while McLaren's Lando Norris wants to take the battle to the final race in Abu Dhabi.

The rivalry between Verstappen and Norris makes either of them a logical pick to win, but Canadian rapper Drake has decided to make an unexpected bet, backing Ferrari'sCharles Leclerc for the victory. The bet has raised concern among Ferrari fans, who fear that Drake's "curse" might affect their star driver.

Drake's betting curse

If you follow Drake and his sports betting, you know that his predictions often come with a curious track record of losses. Many sports fans believe that the team or athlete Drake supports tends to end up losing. This is not just a theory, but a phenomenon supported by his past bets.

In 2022, he wagered $1 million on France to beat Messi's Argentina in regular time, but we all know how that ended. This year, he lost $565,000 betting on Tyson Fury to defeat Oleksandr Usyk, only for Usyk to end Fury's unbeaten streak.

Furthermore, Drake lost $350,000 on a bet for Mike Tyson to defeat YouTube sensation Jake Paul, with the same result: defeat.

This has led many to view Drake's sports betting as a kind of "curse" that brings about the downfall of the teams and athletes he backs. Now, with Leclerc in his sights, Ferrari fans are fearing that the trend will continue.

The Las Vegas bet

The rapper has placed a $250,000 bet on Leclerc to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix. If Ferrari's driver pulls off the victory, Drake could triple his money, but the chances of that happening are slim, especially now that Leclerc is on Drake's "curse list."

This isn't the first time Drake has bet on Leclerc. In 2025, he lost $250,000 after betting on the Ferrari driver to win the Spanish Grand Prix, but a mechanical failure in Leclerc's car prevented him from taking the win.

New odds after qualifying

Before qualifying, Verstappen was the favorite to win, but the dynamics have changed. Although George Russell from Mercedes is starting on pole, Carlos Sainz (with 2-to-1 odds) is currently leading the charge. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, who starts 4th on the grid, is right behind with 9-to-4 odds.

Verstappen, who is starting 5th, follows with 5-to-1 odds. However, given that Verstappen has only won 1 of his last 11 races, his chances of winning are diminishing, especially after a sub-par qualifying session.

With Ferrari and McLaren performing better than expected, the possibility of a surprise outcome is greater than ever.