Australian Grand Prix Betting Tips

Formula 1 heads to Australia for round three of the 2023 season with Red Bull strong favourites to continue their dominant start to the campaign. Reigning champion Max Verstappen leads the world championship by one point from team mate Sergio Perez with the Red Bull duo having filled the top two spots in each of the first two races.

Verstappen is odds-on to win in Australia for the first time in his career, with Perez next in the betting to win back-to-back races, having led from lights to flag last time out in Saudi Arabia.

Albert Park hasn't always been a happy hunting ground for Red Bull with Ferrari winning three of the last four races at the Melbourne circuit, while Mercedes have been on pole for six of the last seven editions. Those previous successes might count for little if Red Bull can put together a trouble-free weekend as they chase a first win down under in 12 years.

Tip 1: Sergio Perez race winner @ 7/2

Even with Red Bull's torrid history in Australia, it would be folly to think anyone other than Verstappen or Perez can win this race, barring any incidents. When Verstappen was trying to catch Perez in Saudi Arabia and both cars were pushing hard, they were going at a second a lap quicker than third-placed Fernando Alonso.

The gap between Red Bull and their main rivals is vast at this point of the year, so much so that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has already conceded the title to the Milton Keynes-based outfit. The RB19 looks like it will be strong wherever F1 are racing this year and having blitzed a quick street circuit in Jeddah, a similar result should be expected at a semi-permanent street track in Melbourne.

Street racing has proven to be right up Perez's alley, with four of his five wins in Formula 1 coming at those types of circuits, and although Albert Park isn't a typical street track, the Mexican can be a thorn in Verstappen's side again.

With Verstappen odds-on to win a race he's failed to finish twice in six attempts, including last year, it's worth chancing Perez to back up his success in Saudi Arabia at a venue where he was runner-up 12 months ago.

Perez has been driving at a very high standard this year and there's every reason to believe he can continue to challenge Verstappen for race wins.

Tip 2: Both Aston Martins to finish in the top six @ 9/10

The only team that's kept Red Bull relatively honest through the first two races is Aston Martin, who have been the surprise package of the campaign, with lead driver Fernando Alonso securing back-to-back podiums. The Spaniard is convinced he'll end his decade-long wait for a win at some point this year and as a team, Aston are certainly closer to a victory than Mercedes or Ferrari. A top-six finish for Alonso, which he's achieved in 12 of his 17 starts at Albert Park, is the minimum the two-time world champion will be aiming for, and Lance Stroll should be pushing to join him.

Stroll piloted his Aston to sixth in Bahrain when not 100 per cent fit before a mechanical issue curtailed his race in Saudi Arabia and the Canadian should be back in the fight towards the front of the grid this weekend.

Tip 3: Lando Norris top-10 finish @ 33/20

It's been a disastrous start to the season for McLaren with technical issues and race incidents meaning they sit bottom of the constructors' standing. Technical director James Key has paid for that poor start by losing his job, but the Woking outfit have shown decent paces at times, suggesting the first points of the season is just around the corner if they can stay out of trouble.

Lando Norris has proven in the past he can elevate himself about the rest of the midfield, scoring points in 17 of last year's 22 races and the Brit can be backed to lead the McLaren turnaround.