F1 tips: 4 Australian Grand Prix plays for Sunday’s early-morning action Down Under

Paddy's tipster Rob Bentley's got the lowdown on F1's long-awaited return to Melbourne

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

The new Formula One season continues this weekend as we head to the land down under for the first Australian Grand Prix since 2019. There have been some much-needed track changes since, which should aid overtaking and make the Albert Park circuit a bit more high-speed. This will play into the hands of the Red Bulls who have had superior straight-line speed throughout the first two races of the season.

Those races have conjured up some thrilling racing, particularly at the head of grid, and long may that continue in Melbourne! These are our best bets for the Aussie GP.

Australian Grand Prix, Sunday 10 April
TV: Sky Sports F1, 6am BST

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Sergio Perez To Win The Australian GP (each-way)

Whilst Red Bull poster boy, Max Verstappen, may have found himself on the podium at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, it seemed it was his teammate’s Sergio Perez’s race to lose before the ill-timed safety car intervened. Coupled with the last lap fuel pressure issue in Bahrain denying him a podium, Perez has undoubtedly been one of the unluckier drivers so far this
season.

However, Checo has been able to close the pace gap with his teammate Verstappen from last season, as shown by his first ever Pole Position in Jeddah. So, with that in mind Sergio Perez to win the Australian Grand Prix looks a good each-way bet. With Pirelli also bringing the softest compound of tyre this weekend for the first time this season, which are expected to degrade quickly, this should all play to the strengths of the King of tyre management Sergio Perez.

Max Verstappen & Sergio Perez To Finish On The Podium

No doubt Red Bull will be expecting to go well this weekend. As previously mentioned, their straight-line speed has been superior to that of their competitors. The double of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez to both finish on the podium, using the new same podium multi feature, could prove fruitful.

Lando Norris & Daniel Ricciardo Both To Score Points

One team who showed improvements in Jeddah after a disappointing opening weekend in Bahrain was McLaren. Lando Norris drove well to score in the points and Daniel Ricciardo looked likely to follow suit before his engine gave out. The pace of this track is more similar to Jeddah than Bahrain, which should work in their favour.

And it’s worth noting that Ricciardo will have the added motivation of racing on his home track. So whilst their success in the Constructors Championship last season seems a distant memory, I think the double of Lando Norris & Daniel Ricciardo both Points Finish seems a good price.

Esteban Ocon Not To Be Classified

Looking away from the main markets now and focussing on the teams in the middle of the pack, there seems to be a common theme emerging. Haas, Alpha Romeo & Alpine have all shown their cars have what it takes to be regularly scoring points, but the consistency of their drivers and engine troubles are letting them down.

Whilst Kevin Magnussen has scored points in both races so far, showing Netflix fans that Haas may be starting to look like the “rockstars” their much-loved team principal Guenther Steiner always wanted them to be. His teammate, Mick Schumacher, was unable to join him for the race in Jeddah after his monster crash in qualifying. Alpha Romeo had Valtteri Bottas finishing in 6th place one weekend and then their engine letting him down the next. 

However, it looks like Alpine have the most work to do here. With driver Fernando Alonso already on his third engine of the season, I can’t see Alpine’s issues going away before Australia. Esteban Ocon not to be classified is definitely worth considering this weekend.

Australian GP Tips

Sergio Perez To Win The Australian GP (EW)
Max Verstappen & Sergio Perez To Finish On The Podium
Lando Norris & Daniel Ricciardo Both To Score Points
Estaban Ocon Not To Be Classified

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