Australian GP Betting Tips & Race Preview

There’s a buffet of betting opportunities on this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. And, unlike previous years when this race has acted as the first contest on the F1 calendar, punters have some form in the formbook. Keep reading for our Australian GP betting tips and predictions.

So far it has been the Ferrari and Red Bull show. And the star drivers have been Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. Leclerc made his Formula 1 debut here in 2018. It also acted as Verstappen’s introduction in 2015. Neither driver has won here but it would be a surprise if one of them did not drive off with the prize on Sunday.

Verstappen is top-priced 5/4 with William Hill. Leclerc can be backed at 7/4 with SpreadEx.

Max Verstappen to win – 5/4 at William Hill
Charles LeClerc to win – 7/4 at SpreadEx

Albert Park, it’s your time to shine this weekend! #AusGP #F1 @ausgrandprix pic.twitter.com/7mkrKIc61E

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 4, 2022

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Number 2 Drivers

Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez are already looking like appointed No. 2 drivers for the front-running teams. They are 8/1 and 14/1 with bet365* respectively to prove that opinion wrong by winning on Sunday.

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Need For Speed Trumped by Downforce and Cornering

There are four Drag Reduction System (DRS) zones on the 2022 Melbourne track. It is a circuit that has been completely resurfaced, widened in places and, courtesy of the removal of a chicane, faster than ever before.

On the evidence of the opening two races, and courtesy of those four DRS zones, Max and Charles can be expected to trade punches and exchange the lead towards the business end of the race.

But this popular circuit is still more suited to cars that like ‘point-and-squirt’ racing. That makes Leclerc’s Ferrari our F1 betting selection as the 2022 Red Bull seems more of a top-end high-speed animal that appreciates long straights.

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With a Bit of Luck… Magnussen Takes Another Top-Six

Kevin Magnussen’s Haas is powered by a Ferrari engine. It enjoyed Bahrain which means it should perform well here in Australia. The Dane finished sixth in the season-opening race and while he was only ninth in Saudi Arabia, he was only eight second shy of the sixth spot.

Some luck will probably be needed – like the malfunction of both Red Bulls that we witnessed in Bahrain – but this is Melbourne where accidents are commonplace, and a safety car could easily shuffle the pack.

The use of a safety car is rated 2/5 incidentally. It is not value, but it does indicate the high likelihood of a crash or car being stranded trackside at some point of proceedings.

"He said why would he come back and I said, I don't know!"

Guenther Steiner revealed exactly how Haas welcomed Kevin Magnussen back into the team pic.twitter.com/nsZhJ4uKka

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 30, 2022

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Go Small on the Winning Distance

The three-way winning margin market sees ‘Under 5-seconds’ priced at odds of 11/8. It really appeals. For reasons only an F1 strategist can explain, winning margins on non-abrasive or virgin resurfaced tracks tends to be small.

But the aerodynamics of the new cars also lends themselves to competitive racing where staying in a rival car’s wake is easier. We have seen this in the last two races with Max and Charles in late dogfights. The margin between the two in Saudi Arabia was just 0.5-seconds.

A repeat would be no surprise. But even if this showdown does not materialise, it is unlikely a leading driver will punish and potentially damage his car by driving hard and fast to the line.

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Recommended Australian GP Betting Tips

• Charles Leclerc to Win the Race at 7/4 with SpreadEx
• Kevin Magnussen to Finish in the Top-6 at 2/1 on the Betfair Exchange
• Winning Margin – Under 5.0 seconds at 11/8 with bet365*

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* Australian Grand Prix betting tips odds correct at the time of writing. All F1 odds subject to changes.

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