F1 Australia 2025 race predictions, betting odds & top picks

The 2025 Formula 1 racing schedule commences this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, and it’s shaping to be a great way to start the season.

It all kicks off with Free Practice 1 at 9:30pm ET on Thursday, March 13, while the race is set for 12am ET on Sunday, March 16.

With only preseason testing to go off, these Free Practice sessions will be crucial for evaluating the speed of all the teams for the Australian GP.

There might be rain over the weekend in Melbourne — so could we see the veterans excel, or will we have a wild season-opener like 2019 again?

McLaren are expected to perform well this season with a car that’s even faster than last year, while the once-dominant Red Bulls are slipping lower in the rankings after losing the Constructors’ Championship last season.

2025 Australian Grand Prix odds

Following the latest updates, Lando Norris leads the betting odds with top F1 betting sites, with strong competition from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

• Lando Norris (McLaren) – +175
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +450
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +450
• Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +650
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +650
• George Russell (Mercedes) – +1000
• Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +3300
• Liam Lawson (Red Bull) – +4000
• Alex Albon (Williams) – +6600
• Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +6600

More odds provided at Nags.bet

Australian GP 2025 betting predictions

People may think this is a big ask for his debut at Williams, but following preseason testing and his past performances in Australia, Carlos Sainz is going to go out and prove he’s still a top driver in a middle-of-the-pack team. With rain expected and five rookies in the field, the race is set for a few yellow flags — and that brings Sainz right into the mix for a top-six finish.

The hometown hero will be looking to secure his maiden podium in Australia on Sunday, and while it’s still unknown, McLaren still look to have the fastest car. With a good qualification, Oscar Piastri can set himself up nicely to stand on the steps post-race.

While the Alpine is fast, they will come out with pace, and now Pierre Gasly doesn’t have to worry about his teammate pinning him into a wall. Gasly will come out firing, and if it’s anything like a typical season-opener in Australia, it is easy to see him running into the top 10.

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