Australian Grand Prix Picks, Odds & Preview (Mar 7)

A late night awaits North American Formula 1 fans, as the first race of the 2026 season is set for March 7 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. Find the odds and our picks for the Australian Grand Prix here.

Odds

Australian Grand Prix Recent Winners

Australian Grand Prix: Event Information

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Event Preview

A thrilling new season of Formula 1 action gets underway in Melbourne at the start of March, kicking off with the Australian Grand Prix. Following the biggest regulatory changes in the modern era, there is a sense that the playing field has become more competitive.

Pre-season testing offered some clues, but it remains to be seen how the new cars perform at maximum performance. There was a strong sense within the paddock that Mercedes were hiding their full pace, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli both showing promising signs. However, a belief of the team sandbagging, as well as arguments surrounding the legality of the Mercedes engine have already been raised.

Russell instead believes that Max Verstappen’s Red Bull is the team to beat, with the new Honda power showing initial signs of promise. However, Isack Hadjar now sits in the second Red Bull, and his performances will be key for the team’s Constructors’ Championship goals.

McLaren endured teething problems in pre-season testing, and both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have admitted that they may be the fourth quickest car on the grid. Based solely on testing, Ferrari could have unlocked something very special with their radical approach to the regulations. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both topped the rankings, but we will learn more about the famous team’s chances in the opening round.

A host of new faces and teams also join the grid in 2026, including Cadillac, who will have Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez in the hot seats. Audi join the grid, replacing Sauber, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg retaining their seats. Arvid Linblad is the new kid on the block, driving alongside Liam Lawson at the Racing Bulls.

Australian Grand Prix Picks

There are so many unknowns coming into the opening race of the season, but it was hard not to be impressed by the Ferraris in pre-season testing. Therefore, a chance could be taken on Lewis Hamilton to record a first Grand Prix win with the team in Australia.