Our motor-racing betting expert offers up his three best Australian Grand Prix betting tips and predictions ahead of the first event of the Formula One season this Sunday.
It is the most highly anticipated Formula One season for years and it looks set to get off to an intriguing start in Melbourne with Lando Norris expected to go off favourite for the Australian Grand Prix.
Australian Grand Prix Betting Tips
- Lando Norris to win the Australian Grand Prix @ 13/8 with bet365
- George Russell to gain a podium finish @ 9/4 with bet365
- Carlos Sainz to claim top-six finish @ 4/1 with bet365
Norris looks the man to beat
The pressure is on Lando Norris as the favourite to win the Formula One Drivers Championship, but he has a great chance of getting off to the perfect start in Melbourne this week.
He has impressed in pre-season testing with improvements to his McLaren looking to be key to his chances, and we can expect a much improved performance now he is in a car that is much more than merely competitive.
Norris has progressed well at Melbourne and exceeded expectations when fifth in 2022, sixth a year later and then gaining a podium finish 12 months ago.
His team-mate Oscar Piastri will be the darling of his home crowd, but he looks set to play second fiddle to the title favourite, who can establish an early lead in the hotly anticipated seasonal contest.
- Australian Grand Prix Bet 1: Lando Norris to win the Australian Grand Prix @ 13/8 with bet365
Russell should make his presence felt
George Russell is now the main man at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and he has scope to start the campaign with a top-three finish.
A driver who tends to flourish on street circuits, he was third three years ago and has had a couple of hard-luck stories in Melbourne since, so he could put that right.
He was forced to retire with engine problems in 2023 after qualifying on the front row and then crashed out on the final laps when battling for sixth last year.
Russell claimed one of his two victories on a street circuit in Las Vegas last season and he can make a return to the Australia podium this weekend.
- Australian Grand Prix Bet 2: George Russell to gain a podium finish @ 9/4 with bet365
Carlos Sainz can be a factor in the opener
Carlos Sainz has joined Williams from Ferrari for the next two seasons and he should be perfectly placed to take advantage of any problems caused by drivers’ desire to get their campaign off to a strong start.
He did enough to gain points on his first four visits to Melbourne and posted a memorable victory last year, so there is a strong chance he will give another good account of himself – and he is a big price to finish in the top six.
- Australian Grand Prix Bet 3: Carlos Sainz to claim top-six finish @ 4/1 with bet365
