For the first time in three years, Formula 1 returns to Melbourne’s Albert Park for the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.
With the race cancelled at the eleventh hour in 2020 and not held at all in 2021, we haven’t been treated to live action from the world’s premiere category in Australia since Valtteri Bottas took the chequered flag in 2019, and how things have changed since then!
As he has done for many seasons now, Daniel Ricciardo flies the Aussie flag solo at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, but in such an unreliable McLaren, betting suggests that he faces a huge task in becoming the first local driver to win since Alan Jones in 1980, and he has opened as a $251 shot.
At the pointy end of the field, reigning world champion Max Verstappen ($2.25) leads Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ($2.50), Carlos Sainz ($7) and Sergio Perez ($9) in 2022 Australian Grand Prix betting.
You can find my complete 2022 Australian Grand Prix Tips below.
Barring inclement weather, serious tech issues or a massive crash, there is a case to be made for only four or five drivers in Australian Grand Prix betting, in my opinion.
Just four previous winners of the race, Lewis Hamilton ($15), Fernando Alonso ($101) , Valtteri Bottas ($101) and Sebastian Vettel ($1001) will take their place in 2022’s field, and betting suggests that another victory is impossible for all but one.
Max Verstappen take his place at Albert Park in winning form following an impressive performance and triumph in Saudi Arabia, but I’ve been more taken by the two efforts mustered by both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz so far, and I think one of the two will win in Australia.
Leclerc stamped himself and Ferrari as a serious threat in Bahrain first-up last month, and he was only just denied by Verstappen in Saudi. Sainz, meanwhile, has podiumed both events, and seems to be growing in confidence.
You can take advantage of several Australian Grand Prix betting markets here at Neds, and there is some serious value to be extracted.
I’m going to have something on both Leclerc ($2.50) and Sainz ($7) to win the race outright.
Verstappen’s class and ability is obviously impossible to ignore, and he too wouldn’t look out of place at the top of the podium, but I am instead going to have an Exacta of Leclerc to win and the Dutchman to finish second, with is available at odds of $4.80 at publish.
Back Charles Leclerc to Win @ $2.50
Back Carlos Sainz to Win @ $7
Back 1st Charles Leclerc/2nd Max Verstappen (Exacta) @ $4.80