The Australian Grand Prix is one of the country’s longest-running motorsport events, having been hosted at 23 different venues over the last 105 years. Since 1996, it has found a permanent home at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit – a 5.278-kilometer (3.28 miles) track set to host the first event on the 2025 Formula 1 calendar.
Among active drivers, Lewis Hamilton holds the most wins with two, though his last victory came a decade ago. In recent years – following a two-year COVID hiatus – Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and Carlos Sainz Jr. have claimed victory.
Now, according to bookies, it’s Lando Norris who’s most likely to win. In this preview, we’ll explain why (or why not) you should trust the F1 oddsmakers.
2025 Australian Grand Prix Odds MoneylineOddsLando Norris+225Max Verstappen+300Charles Leclerc+350Lewis Hamilton+500Oscar Piastri+700George Russell+1400Liam Lawson+4000Kimi Antonelli+4000Carlos Sainz+10000Alex Albon+10000Fernando Alonso+15000 When, Where, and How to Watch? Place: Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia Date: Sunday, March 16, 2025 Time: 5 a.m. ET How to Watch: ESPN Reasons Why Lando Norris is Favored to Win the 2025 Australian GP Lando Norris is the top favorite to win the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, and for good reason. He finished second in the 2024 Drivers’ Championship, proving that he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Last season, he won two races and added eight more podium finishes, showing he could challenge the best. More importantly, his form improved dramatically as the season progressed, making him one of the strongest drivers in the latter half of the year.
Bookmakers expect him to carry that momentum into 2025, making him a top contender for victory at Albert Park. That’s where his best finish is the No. 3 position – something he achieved last season.
Before that, he competed in Australia three more times, finishing outside the podium each time.
What About Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton? On the list of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix favorites, these three are just behind Lando Norris. Leclerc is priced at +300, Verstappen at +350, while Hamilton’s odds are +500.
Leclerc won this race two years ago, so he knows how to do it. Plus, he’s coming off a strong season, which saw his team have its ups and downs, but he was consistently good. If Ferrari delivers a competitive package, we could see a vintage performance by Leclerc.
It’s a similar story when it comes to the 2024 F1 champion. Max Verstappen is one of the most talented drivers of all time, but his car (and team) caused him plenty of problems last season. If they start the 2025 season strong, you can bet that he’s going to do well.
Then, there’s Lewis Hamilton, who, just a few years ago, was the king of Formula 1. He’s looking to reclaim his throne, and his ascendance could start on March 16 at the track where he already has two wins.
2025 Australian Grand Prix Prediction Our pick is Max Verstappen. Unless Red Bull experiences a major setback, he’ll likely be the driver to shine in Melbourne. This guy usually does well at the start of the season – he won each of the season-opening races in the last two campaigns. We think he’ll do the same again.
Pick: Max Verstappen
