F1 Australia Predictions and Betting Tips
What will happen in this weekend’s F1 Australian Grand Prix
These odds from Ladbrokes were correct at the time of writing.
F1 Australia Grand Prix Top Betting Predictions
Red Bull looks like the dominant force once again, which is expected. The RB19 clearly does even better on high-speed tracks like the Albert Park Circuit, so expect Verstappen to have another weekend unchallenged at the top of the pack.
Under 2.5 Leaders
The two previous races did not have a lot of lead changes. Both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia only had one lead change. At the Sakhir Circuit, Perez briefly took the lead during Verstappen’s first stop. And at the Jeddah Street Circuit, Alonso jumped Perez at the start, but the Red Bull driver quickly got past the Aston Martin two laps later.
Given Red Bull’s dominant form, it’s hard to imagine something different. Barring a poor start, this race will likely see one lead change at best – and there is a high chance of zero lead changes as well.
Winning Margin: Over 11 Seconds
Things haven’t changed that much since Saudi Arabia. Red Bull is still a good 03.s to 0.5s faster than the rest of the pack on race pace. Over 58 laps, that can easily result in a 15-second gap. Verstappen covered the 11-second margin in Bahrain. Last year’s Autralian GP saw Charles Leclerc win by over 20 seconds from Perez.
Given how tricky it is to overtake at Albert Park, it’s safe to assume that once Verstappen gets away from DRS range in the early laps, the two-time champion is set to pull away from the pack. A late Safety Car intervention is the only real threat.
F1 Australia Grand Prix Weather Conditions
Rain has been a constant worry for teams this weekend. Friday’s second practice session saw the first wet track action of the season. Although there is a chance of rain on Sunday, it is relatively low (20%). On the other hand, the lower temperatures will be interesting to watch. Teams have struggled with the tyres’ first heat cycle, with many drivers opting for scrubbed sets instead. Graining could also be a problem, so the first few laps on each stint could create some problems.
Post-Qualifying Update
The qualifying session on Saturday had its fair share of surprises. It all started with Sergio Perez going off, bringing his session to an early end and also relegating last race’s winner to 20th on the grid. Then, we also had Mercedes securing second and third on the grid, ahead of Fernando Alonso. While Verstappen looks like the clear favorite for another comfortable win, the fight for the other two steps on the podium could definitely be entertaining. Keep an eye on Perez: the Mexican driver has clearly struggled with brakes and tyres, and he might end up missing out on a points finish.
- Where is the Australia Grand Prix held? The Australian Grand Prix takes place on the Albert Park Circuit, a temporary track around the Albert Park Lake in Melbourne.
- How can I watch the Australia Grand Prix in the UK? Viewers in the UK can catch up with the Australian Grand Prix action on Sky Sports F1 (TV) and on NOW or Sky Sports GO (streaming).
- What is the Australia Grand Prix start time? The race is scheduled to start at 6:00 am GMT.
