The new Formula 1 season kicks off in Melbourne this weekend, as Lewis Hamilton aims to join the elite list of names who have won four world titles. Can he take maximum points in the curtain raiser?
Hamilton’s push for three consecutive championships was crushed by teammate Nico Rosberg last year, before the German promptly retired from the sport. That’s left a vacuum at the top of F1, just who can step in to his place? Read on for our betting tips and predictions for what will transpire in the Australian Grand Prix.
Who Will Win The Australian Grand Prix?
While we’ve seen some Mercedes in-fighting in recent years, this season promises to be different. The Red Bull drivers are both expecting to challenge, while the noises out of Ferrari hint at a challenge. Four time champion Sebastian Vettel could climb back to the top, especially now that Ferrari have been setting the pace in the pre-season tests. Meanwhile, Rosberg’s replacement, Valtteri Bottas, isn’t likely to make a championship push. He’s yet to win a Grand Prix, and he seems like a stop gap signing.
It’s hard to argue with everything that Hamilton has achieved in the sport. While he came into last season with his focus elsewhere, going between partying and practice ahead of the new campaign, this Brit hasn’t had those problems this year. He seems desperate to claim back the title he blew in the closing months of last season, while he’s already sparking up rivalries with his main contenders.
Free from the challenge of a teammate, the 2015 champion should be better placed to push on this year. Despite a few surprises, it’s not been proven that anyone is close to matching the pace of Mercedes. Their frequent one-two finishes last term showed the gulf between them and the rest, which gives Hamilton an excellent platform to push on. The Mercedes driver is a 5/4 favourite with Sky Bet ahead of the opening race, and we see him taking maximum points in Melbourne. He was only beaten by Rosberg here 12 months ago, and with the German out of the picture, it’s worth backing Hamilton to come out on top in Australia.
Betting Tip – Lewis Hamilton at 5/4 with Sky Bet
Each Way Tips and Other Bets
Hamilton is also worth a look for pole position, which is well priced at 11/10 with Bet365. He’s started in pole position here two years running, and that should be easier to achieve this time around.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Hamilton sent out a message with a strong display, so it’s worth considering the 2015 champion to complete a hat-trick of pole position, fastest lap and race winner. That’s priced at 5/1 with Ladbrokes.
While Hamilton remains the favourite, based on his recent years, Vettel seems like the most likely man to step in to Rosberg’s place as the main contender. He’s set the pace in practice, which has seen him overtake the Red Bull drivers as a potential winner. He’s priced at 7/2 with BetVictor, which is worth an each way bet.