Red Bull has been winning everything so far this season. And its Australian Grand Prix odds keep getting shorter as both the constructor and lead driver Max Verstappen are runaway favorites to top the Australian Grand Prix. This is one of the few races that Verstappen has yet to win, as Charles Leclerc won last year. For Red Bull, it will be over a decade (2011) since it last won.
Verstappen vs Perez: No Real Rivalry
Based on the small sample size thus far, Verstappen’s closest rival this season is none other than his teammate: Sergio “Checo” Perez. The Mexican won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and is just one point behind Verstappen in the driver standings. But there isn’t really much of a “rivalry” here, especially if we go by the Australian Grand Prix lines.
Verstappen is at -300 to win the race, while Perez is at +400. The Albert Park Circuit is not a street circuit, which Checo specializes in. He came close last year by finishing as a runner-up and that’s the only time he’s podiumed in Australia.
As for Verstappen, he was forced to retire due to a fuel leak last year. The odds of that happening again are slim to none, so it should be business as usual for the two-time defending champion. A bet on him and Perez to finish on the podium is now at -175 in the sportsbook.
Trailing him and Perez could be Fernando Alonso (+900 to win) for the third straight time or one of the Ferrari or Mercedes men.
Can Leclerc Recapture Form?
Leclerc could be that man behind Verstappen and Perez. There is even a chance he inserts himself between the two. At +135, Leclerc could be a shrewd bet online to finish on the podium. He and Ferrari dominated Albert Park last year as he won qualifying, and the race, and got the extra point for the fastest lap in record-setting fashion.
CHARLES LECLERC WINS THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX! 🏆
He takes home his first-ever Grand Slam victory – pole, win and fastest lap!!! 🤩#AusGP #F1 @Charles_Leclerc pic.twitter.com/3uSxV281VL
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 10, 2022
Of course, for Leclerc to have an encore, he will need his Ferrari to be up to speed. The Italian manufacturer has seemingly erred on the side of caution in the last two races. In Bahrain, they were overly cautious and did not want to push their power units. And in Saudi Arabia, Leclerc could not recover from a qualifying penalty that pushed him to 12th.
But with the changes to Albert Park, including a fourth DRS zone, now is the time for Ferrari to go for broke. Ferrari could match Red Bull’s straight-line speed, and Leclerc could make Australian Grand Prix betting fun again if he challenges the favorites.
Russell Solidifies Himself Over Hamilton
As for Mercedes, the constructor is 18-1 to win the race and 20-1 to win the F1 title. So it may already be over for the German team. At best, fans can hope their team finds a way to get on the podium at some point. And the better man to back will be George Russell at +450 over Lewis Hamilton at +350.
Russell already outperformed his teammate last year as he finished fourth and 35 points ahead of Hamilton. He also won Mercedes’s only race in Sao Paulo. This season, Russell is once again outdoing the seven-time champion.
The 25-year-old is 2-0 over Hamilton in qualifying and finished ahead of him in Saudi Arabia. Where there are any head-to-head odds, betting online on Russell at an underdog price could be the sharp play.
If you’re a devoted Formula 1 fan, be sure to explore our selection of lines and odds available for the Lewis Hamilton vs Lance Stroll matchup and also for Max Verstappen vs Sergio Perez
F1 Australian Grand Prix Race Information
- Race: Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2023
- Day/Time: Sunday, April 2, 00:00 a.m. ET
- Location: Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne, Australia
- Australian Grand Prix Live stream: Formula1.com
F1 Australian Grand Prix Betting Odds
The odds in this chart are based on the time of publication. They are subject to change.
F1 Australian Grand Prix Picks and Prediction
Sure, betting $175 to win $100 on Verstappen and Perez to finish on the podium is the chalky play here. But the best value is for Leclerc to find his way back to the podium at +135. Even with Alonso and Aston Martin’s newfound success, Ferrari could still have the faster car and Leclerc is just as good if not better than his elder.
