There is no question that Formula 1 has been a major inspiration for igaming. Given the sport's obvious potential for gambling, sites and platforms have proliferated in recent years. The advent of AI has enabled gambling analytics to develop at an incredible rate, thanks to multiple factors involved in data collection and analysis capabilities.
The WEC throws additional components into the mix. With its different format, standards, and rules, the two races are both hot targets for gamblers, each in its own way. For the best in sports and expert analysis, check out FIRST.com for more information. Now let’s take a closer look at the sport itself and what is shaping up this year.
What makes Formula 1 so good for iGaming?
Pretty much every sport gets bet on these days. Particularly considering the rise of related platforms, the world is now wide open for people who want to wager on their favorite teams and individual sports heroes.
Racing is no different, and in fact it possesses particular characteristics that make it especially interesting for industry analysts trying to predict the results. Inside the cars are hundreds of sensors that are capable of generating up to 10.000 data points per second.
How does analysis work?
This mammoth amount of information is a veritable gold mine for analysts. Just as data is crucial for drivers to determine things like tire management and fuel efficiency, so too is it critical for analysts in determining race winning potential. Among the factors that analysts take into consideration are:
● Race winners. Obviously, the people who win the most races have higher rates of winning again, given the right circumstances. But this is certainly not the only factor.
● Podium finishes. Podium finishes indicate the people who end up on the podium, in other words people who finish first, second, and third in a race. This is also a solid predictor of future value, and careful analysis of who finishes where with the greatest frequency is critical.
● Fastest lap times. Each individual’s top speed in completing laps is very important. While overall time certainly plays a role, so too does lap time.
These are just a few of the factors that go into determining igaming. With AI-driven software, analyses are getting more and more sophisticated all the time.
How does the WEC fit in?
Like all good things in life, success brings about diversification. With the huge popularity of Formula 1, another competition came along with a slightly different focus that also captivated racing fans across the globe.
The World Endurance Championship began in the 1980s, about 60 years after the beginning of Formula one. The two races are definitely different, most notably in their timeframes. As the name suggests, the WEC is a test of endurance, and it involves long-duration including multiple drivers in single cars. The WEC throws its own elements in the analysis mix, namely:
● Considerations of race length differences. The endurance of the drivers clearly plays a role in their ability to win. For drivers of Formula 1, endurance is less of a factor. Analyses take both drivers and their respective races into consideration.
● Car types. Whereas Formula 1 typically uses cars that have only one seat and open wheels, the WEC uses a variety of cars. Each of these cars has different capacities, and careful analysis helps to determine results with greater accuracy.
● Technologies used. Both Formula 1 and the WEC use hybrid technology in their races. But the precise way that these technologies are implemented, and their respective areas of focus differ.
What makes WEC 2025 unique?
This year’s WEC is set to be a particularly special race as there are new rules being added.
● There will be a two-car mandate per manufacturer. This will add potential for strategic competition between drivers.
● There are new driver requirements. Drivers need to drive for 45 minutes or more during the course of a race to score any points.
● New multicolored LED lights will be added to the cars. In place of the old leader lights on the sides of the cars, there will be new lights that provide information on each car to viewers.
● There will be new entrants to the race, including an Aston Martin Valkyrie.
How does all this affect the gambling industry?
The relationship between Formula 1 (and now the WEC) and igaming has often been described as “symbiotic.” In other words, racing developments inspire growth in the igaming industry and vice versa. Bookmakers not only gain participants from increased interest in the sport, but they diversify their gaming markets to attract a wider array of players and offer different kinds of options.
The sport has similarly benefitted, and it has increasing opportunities to partner with other companies on sponsorships, merchandise creation, etc. The relationship has proven to be a clear win-win for everyone involved. So if you have ever considered the possibility of getting into igaming, this is the time. Particularly with the WEC coming up this September, the stakes are higher than ever. So get online, and start familiarizing yourself with the contenders now. You never know what will happen!