2022 Australian Grand Prix Predictions, Formula 1 Odds

Leclerc quickly established himself as a legitimate contender for the F1 Drivers Championship while powering to an impressive victory in the first race of the season in Bahrain. However, defending champion Verstappen quickly rebounded from the technical problems that bounced him from the track in Bahrain.

Verstappen arrives in Melbourne perched as a strong +123 favourite, just ahead of Leclerc, who closely trails as +160 second favorite. Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. sports short +800 odds after reaching the podium in the first two races of the season, while Lewis Hamilton has made a steady climb to +900.

Australian Grand Prix Betting Analysis

The 2022 Australian Grand Prix marks the first edition of this event since 2019, with lights out at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne schedule for Sunday morning at 1:00am Eastern Time. Mercedes have dominated in recent years, claiming the checkered flag in four of the past six editions of this race, capped by Valtteri Bottas’ victory three years ago. In addition, eight of the past 12 winning cars at this event have featured Mercedes power plants. Drivers qualifying on the pole have been somewhat snake bitten, with each of the past four pole sitters getting forced to settle for second place. The race winner has also recorded the fastest lap on just two occasions over the past five years, with Hamilton and Bottas picking up the extra point in their victories in 2015 and 2019, respectively.

A number of major changes have been made to the track at Albert Park since the last time this race was held. Several corners have been widened, including a 2.5-metre expansion of the first corner, thereby reducing the risk of race-opening collisions. The track now also featured four DRS zones, setting the stage for plenty of overtaking.

Verstappen Vies for Second Straight Victory

Visibly frustrated after being forced out of the Bahrain Grand Prix by a faulty fuel pump, Max Verstappen regained his composure in Saudi Arabia. The 24-year-old demonstrated somewhat uncharacteristic patience in his evening-long duel with race leader Charles Leclerc before finally claiming the lead for good with just four laps remaining. With the win, Verstappen has now claimed victory in 12 of his past 25 race appearances, and reached the podium in each of the past 11 races he has completed. Verstappen’s Red Bull RB18 is also expected to be the fastest car on the lengthy straightaways at Albert Park, fueling high expectations in qualifying. And for good reason. Verstappen has powered to victory in seven of the past nine race races he started on the pole, finishing second in the two other races.

Can Mercedes Rebound in Melbourne?

While Mercedes enjoy a solid track record in Melbourne, their slow start is a legitimate cause for concern. The Silver Arrows have failed to keep pace with technical improvements made by both red Bull and Ferrari, and it shows. Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was a non-factor in Saudi Arabia after backing into third place in Bahrain due to Red Bull’s technical difficulty. And while new arrival George Russell has fared slightly better, he has not been a threat to reach the podium, as reflected on his lengthy +2800 odds to win Sunday’s race. With the recent track changes at Albert Park unlikely to play to Mercedes’ strengths, it could be another long weekend for the German automaker in Melbourne.

Australian Grand Prix Prediction

Max Verstappen to win (+123)