Australian Grand Prix 2019 Predictions & Winner Odds

Vettel can make it three in a row at Australian Grand Prix

Sports Betting

The first race of the new F1 season is here on the weekend, the season getting its usual start in Australia. Sebastian Vettel returns as the defending champion, having won it for the last two years running in his Ferrari. He is at 7/4 odds to open the season in a positive fashion once again at Melbourne* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 15th, 2019).

Australian Grand Prix 2019 Winner Odds*

Lewis Hamilton 6/4
Sebastian Vettel 7/4
Charles Leclerc 9/2
Max Verstappen 13/2
Valtteri Bottas 12/1
Pierre Gasly 50/1
200/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 15th, 2019)

During pre-season testing, it looked as if it was Ferrari who were the ones with all of the speed. Will that translate into another win for them in Australia this weekend, making it three in a row there for them? Sebastian Vettel has won the Australian Grand Prix three times before in his career and should be well in the mix this weekend. Vettel looks value at the 7/4 price* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 15th, 2019).

Over the last couple of seasons, it has been the Ferrari of Vettel which has made a stronger start to the season than Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes. So the German is well worth a look. It is worth noting though that Hamilton has recorded Pole Position in the last two Australian Grands Prix and he is at 6/4 to get to the front of the grid this weekend as well* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 15th, 2019).

Hamilton was the quickest in the first practice session for the new season on Friday. He just edged the two Ferrari’s but in the second practice session of the day, Hamilton opened up a bigger gap, notably over Vettel. Hamilton has won the Austrian Grand Prix twice before, in 2008 and in 2015.

Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas got the second fastest time in the second practice of the day but remains an outside shot at 12/1 to get the race win on Sunday* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 15th, 2019).

Based on the evidence of pre-season testing though, there was a suspicion that Ferrari was keeping a check on their real speed until the weekend. Hamilton has won the Australian Grand Prix twice before, in 2008 and in 2015.

The big new name up there in the mix of the frontrunners is Charles Leclerc who is hoping to make the most of his move up to Ferrari. He moved over from Sauber to Ferrari to replace Kimi Raikkonen who has gone to Alfa Romeo. Leclerc had the third fastest time in the first practice on Friday, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was up there too. He is now the main principal driver with the team after Daniel Ricciardo left to join Renault.

Prediction

It is the first race of the season of course and it’s hard to get a feel of what is going to happen. Ferrari looked far slower in practice than what they had shown in pre-season. It could be wide open if the practice sessions on Friday are anything to go by. If not, if Ferrari have been playing games, then Vettel is superb value to take on in this one to win outright at 7/4* (betting odds taken from bet365 on March 15th, 2019).