Australian Grand Prix 2025 Betting Preview

Max Verstappen has been given the green light to start chasing his fifth successive World Drivers Championship title and will be revved up for the season-opener in Melbourne.

As pre-season testing in Bahrain did not indicate that F1 teams had an advantage, the World Constructors’ Championship appeared wide open. The usual tussle for top honours is expected to be between Ferrari, which has British icon Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel for the first time, and McLaren.

There are plenty of betting opportunities with attractive odds for the F1 Australia GP race weekend, especially as there could be some surprises as most drivers have new seats for the 2025 F1 season.

Jack Doohan, whose last-gasp debut call-up was last December’s Abu Dhabi, will be better prepared for his first full rookie season with Alpine and could become the first Australian driver to finish on the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit podium.

What to Know About the Australian Grand Prix

• Australia last opened the F1 season in 2019, with drivers steered through the leafy parkland a stone’s throw from downtown Melbourne. Albert Park, which offers a scenic lakeside setting, was not used in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  There were track changes for the 2022 GP race, with some corners altered and others removed to enable more overtaking opportunities and make the circuit faster. Turn 3 and 11-12 Rapid Chicane are the best places to overtake.
  
  The Albert Park track’s street circuit characteristics are always full of drama and excitement, with four DRS zones, tight corners and tricky chicanes requiring precise heavy braking skills. With gravel traps and barriers close to the circuit edge, a safety car or race suspension can always add to the excitement.
  
  Although the often bumpy asphalt surface is tough on tyres, many elite teams opt for just two pit stops. There’s relentless betting action before the main race, with a pair of practice sessions on day one, plus the final practice and the all-important qualifying on day two. 

How to Place Bets on the Australian GP

With the first race yet to start the new campaign and pre-season testing not being truly competitive, nothing is certain until qualifying takes place in Melbourne. Betting on a driver or team to be an outright winner and for a top-six finish are popular Formula 1 wagers. Backing a renowned driver for a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix 2025, although the odds may not be generous, is a more cautious punt about which three drivers will be first past the chequered flag.

Knowledge is key for sports betting, such as the expectations for current drivers such as British duo Hamilton (Ferrari) and Lando Norris (McLaren) as well as Verstappen (Red Bull Racing). Yet Red Bull Racing has only won twice in Melbourne, courtesy of Sebastian Vettel (2011) and Verstappen (2023). Ferrari's Carlos Sainz took the chequered flag at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix after a rare mechanical issue undid Verstappen’s winning streak.

Formula 1 fans also consider placing a potentially high odds pre-set race winner & double podium accumulator, which is a prediction on the outright champion and two other drivers to complete the podium of the top three at the Australian GP.

Odds and Predictions for Australia’s F1 Race

It is difficult to predict who will finish on the podium on the Albert Park track because it differs from the remainder of the season. However, historically, the starting grid has been a good indication. Punters will no doubt be contemplating a wager on the big four teams of Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull Racing to come out on top in Melbourne.

New Zealander Liam Lawson is Verstappen’s new team-mate, replacing axed Mexican racer Sergio Perez. Although Verstappen would match Michael Schumacher’s record of five world champion titles in succession if he triumphs this term, Norris seems more likely to race away with the coveted crown. The McLaren racer won his first four Grands Prix and finished world championship runner-up to Verstappen, so it could be worth a wager if his qualifying session goes to plan.

There are two other big names that punters should keep an eye on at the Australian GP and throughout the season, both at Ferrari. Seven-time world champion Hamilton, who spent over a decade at Mercedes, is F1’s most successful-ever driver and could reignite his career with the Italian giants. Monaco’s Charles Leclerc seems a pretty safe bet, having scored the most points during the second half of the season and being devilishly good during qualifying.

Let’s take a closer look at the Australia GP odds and some Australia F1 betting tips:

2025 Australian Gran Prix Predictions

• Odds For Winner
  McLaren’s Norris and Australian team-mate Oscar Piastri will be among the favourites to win the Australian Grand Prix 2025 after the pair impressed in recent F1 testing. Leclerc will be expected to continue his rich vein of form. Verstappen is a serial winner, and it could turn into a dream Ferrari debut for Hamilton.
  
  Lando Norris: 2.55
  Charles Leclerc: 5.60
  Max Verstappen: 6.50
  Oscar Piastri: 7.00
  Lewis Hamilton: 8.00

• Odds for a Podium Finish
  Although the usual suspects are anticipated to dominate the Australian Grand Prix, the explosive pairing of newcomer Kimi Antonelli from Italy and Brit George Russell at Mercedes is expected to become a season-long personal battle. The duo are expected to fight it out to show the team bosses who is top dog. Melbourne-born Piastri picked up two race victories last season, and he should be lifted by the legions of home fans, so is worth considering for a podium finish bet.
  
  Lando Norris: 1.36
  Max Verstappen: 1.44
  Charles Leclerc: 1.57
  Oscar Piastri: 2.55
  Lewis Hamilton: 3.50
  Lando Norris: 2.55
  Kimi Antonelli: 5.60
  George Russell: 6.50

• Odds for Race Winner & Double Podium
  Spaniard Sainz was the surprise package at the last Australian GP, having only two weeks earlier had his appendix removed, to end Verstappen’s dominance. The flying Dutchman started on pole position, but a rear brake failure ended his race with just four laps left. Leclerc, Norris and others were outpaced by Sainz and Verstappen at the 2024 Australia Grand Prix. There are a plethora of names that offer attractive odds for this bet, but best to look at the starting grid after qualifying before laying out any money.
  
  Lando Norris to win, Max Verstappen & Charles Leclerc on podium: 6.50
  Max Verstappen to win, Lando Norris & Lewis Hamilton on podium: 9.00
  Charles Leclerc to win, Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri on the podium: 10.50

• Odds for Fastest Lap
  Lando Norris: 3.50
  Max Verstappen: 5.00
  Charles Leclerc: 5.00
  Oscar Piastri: 7.00
  Lewis Hamilton: 11.00

• Odds for a Top Six Finish
  Lando Norris: 1.25
  Max Verstappen: 1.33
  Charles Leclerc: 1.44
  Oscar Piastri: 2.75
  Lewis Hamilton: 3.50
  Kimi Antonelli: 8.00

• Odds for a Top Ten Finish
  Kimi Antonelli: 3.25
  Fernando Alonso: 5:50
  Lance Stroll: 8.00

• Odds for Fastest Lap & Win Race
  Charles Leclerc: 8.50
  Lando Norris: 11.00
  Max Verstappen: 12.00

• Odds for First To Retire
  Oscar Piastri: 12.00
  Lewis Hamilton: 15.00
  Kimi Antonelli: 17.00

• Odds for Car To Set Fastest Lap
  McLaren: 2.10
  Ferrari: 2.50
  Red Bull Racing: 3.40

• Odds for Safety Car
  Yes: 2.10
  No: 1.67

• Odds for Number of Classified Finishers
  Over 16.5: 1.05
  Under 19.5: 1.18

• Odds for Most Team Points
  McLaren: 1.50

• Odds for Winning Margin
  Between 5 and 10 seconds: 3.75

Top Betting Markets for the Australian Grand Prix

The F1 Australian GP offers betting opportunities, such as the outright winner, the fastest lap and a podium finish. Leclerc is exceptional at setting the pace during qualifying, so he’s a pretty safe bet if the odds are generous.

A flutter on teams could be worthwhile as the race is expected to be down to a battle between Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull Racing. Aston Martin will fancy causing an upset with their duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll; both drivers could secure a top-six finish. There’s also the rawness and enthusiasm of six drivers who will be in their first full rookie season.

Wagers on the fastest lap during qualifying and the main race are ideal for in-play betting. Sunday’s race tends to see teams opt for two pit stops with two soft tyre spells of around 20 laps each, followed by a shorter stint using medium tyres to finish the race.

It’s also worth considering live betting for the fastest pit stop at the Australian GP, one of the shortest pit stops on the F1 calendar, and whether the safety car will be used because if it rains, the Melbourne race could be chaotic when there’s wet track conditions.

Watching the Australian GP from South Africa

Formula 1 followers in South Africa can tune into live coverage from the Australian Grand Prix 2025 with SuperSport for practice sessions, qualifying and the main race.

You can always sign up for F1 TV Pro, which has a subscription charge. This allows you to follow onboard cockpit cameras from any 20 live cars, team radio communication, and live streaming of the race from Down Under.

When is the Australian Grand Prix Scheduled?

South African Formula 1 fans can follow the high-octane action from the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in the Melbourne suburb of Albert Park over three jam-packed days.

The Australian Grand Prix schedule starts on Friday, 14 March, with the first practice featuring rookies and numerous drivers with new teams (03.30 am South African time) and the second practice (7.00 am). Third practice (03.30 am) and qualifying (7.00 am) are scheduled for Saturday, 15 March, with the main race set to start at 6.00 am on Sunday, 16 March.

Tips for Betting on the Australian Grand Prix

With Leclerc (2022) and Verstappen (2023) having won the F1 Australian GP and started from pole position, it’s advisable to keep an eye on how the drivers and cars perform during qualifying before you stake a large wager on the main race result.

Verstappen would have cruised to victory last year, beginning in pole, only for his car to fail and allow Sainz to steal his thunder. Sainz started the race in second place. Before you bet on a driver, check where he finished compared to their starting grid position at last year’s Australian Grand Prix and the weather conditions.

The weather forecast for the 2025 Australia GP is hot and sunny on Friday and Saturday, but rain is expected for the main race on Sunday. The season-opening race will see drivers getting used to their cars, which should result in minor mistakes, although wet track conditions and racing strategy will also play a part in the result.

Before you place a bet, essential elements include the driver’s defending and overtaking skills and how their tyres coped with the track over the past few seasons in different weather conditions.

Can You Bet During the Race?

You must be as alert as a Formula 1 pit stop crew member for Australian Grand Prix live betting. Ensure that your account is easily accessible so you suddenly have a flutter. When following the action from the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, you should look out for big shifts in odds as you try to get the edge over a bookmaker.

There are numerous markets where punts, such as the fastest lap, quickest pit stop, and podium finish, can be made. Ahead of the main race, you have two days to determine when it’s best to stake a wager, but it is best not to take too much notice of the first practice times as most drivers will not be going full throttle.

Australian Grand Prix Betting Opportunity

The Formula 1 season curtain-raiser looks like a close contest, with so many drivers changing teams and half-a-dozen rookies about to embark on their maiden full season. His move to Ferrari should galvanise Hamilton, while Verstappen has his work cut out to defend his crown because his car lags behind rivals successfully.

Only Aston Martin and McLaren will race the same two drivers from last season, which should give these teams the edge in Melbourne. Norris and Piastri will be behind their new MCL39, which impressed in pre-season testing and could set the pace for the rest of the campaign with a solid showing at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.

There are many betting options, with drivers and their teams fighting for precious points to set the mark in the opening F1 race. The action along the four DRS zones, which encourage overtaking manoeuvres, could help propel some unexpected teams into the mix Down Under and help make this season one of the closest in many years. If you've placed a bet on Formula 1, try with an R50 free bet today.