Motor Racing

Australian Grand Prix Betting Preview And Race Predictions (2025)

6 months ago

| BY Sam Cox

The 2025 Formula One season finally begins this weekend in Melbourne. This campaign promises much more than previous years, with relatively little to choose between the top four teams.

As a result, the F1 betting markets for this weekend’s season-opener at Albert Park have six drivers at 10/1 or shorter to win the race. The eight drivers representing the top four teams are between 1/3 and 7/1 to finish on the podium.

McLaren have the fastest car on the grid, as was confirmed during preseason testing in Bahrain. Red Bull have work to do, with many of the issues from last year persisting into this year’s car.

Ferrari and Mercedes are quietly optimistic and are priced accordingly in online betting markets. The Scuderia has the most exciting driver pairing in recent memory, while the Silver Arrows had an excellent few days in Bahrain, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli posting excellent times.

Oscar Piastri to be the Fastest Qualifier – 9/2

Oscar Piastri is yet to record a podium in Formula One. The Australian was often neck-and-neck with Lando Norris last season, though, and enters this campaign as a dark horse for a title push in the papaya rocket ship.

Born in Melbourne, Piastri has an opportunity to start his season off in front of his home fans. He has failed to make the podium at Albert Park in his first two F1 seasons.

The McLaren excelled in short and long running in testing. Piastri, too, qualified on the front row six times last season.

Charles Leclerc Podium Finish, George Russell Top Six Finish, and Alex Albon Points Finish – 7/2

The Ferrari looked great in Bahrain. Charles Leclerc, with over half a decade of experience with the team, is likely to start the season in better form than Lewis Hamilton, who has admitted he’s still adapting to his new colleagues and machinery.

The Mercedes was quicker than the Red Bull, according to data from the official F1 site. Russell is going to comfortably outperform Liam Lawson and rookie Antonelli. It would take a mishap for the Brit to fail to finish in the top six – he can afford to be behind both McLarens, Ferraris, and Verstappen.

Alex Albon is probably the biggest risk with this Your Odds selection. Albon only scored 12 points last season, and didn’t finish four of the last seven races.

The Williams driver is one of the most consistent drivers on the grid, however, and he might have the quickest car outside the top four teams. An 11th-placed finish in Melbourne in 2024 also indicated his comfort at the track, considering Williams’ lack of early-season pace.

Lewis Hamilton Podium Finish – Evens

Lewis Hamilton has 10 podium finishes at the Australian Grand Prix. Yes, Hamilton might not have race-winning pace until a few weeks into this season, and yes, the McLaren was a bit quicker than the Ferrari in Bahrain.

Hamilton, though, has the second-fastest car, an excellent track record in Melbourne, and managed to secure five podiums last season despite the array of issues Mercedes were dealing with.

The seven-time world champion hasn’t lost it. He’s still got title-winning ability, and we may well be reminded of that in Albert Park on Sunday morning. The Brit remains an excellent live betting option.