Australian Grand Prix 2026 Betting Odds

Australian GP Odds for 2026 are already generating buzz as the Formula 1 season opens in Melbourne on March 7th. With early lines posted at top sportsbooks, bettors have an opportunity to lock in value before race week volatility shifts the market.
Below, I break down the latest Australian GP odds, analyze the top contenders, highlight betting markets worth targeting, and share my predictions for the first race of the 2026 F1 season.
Australian Grand Prix 2026 Betting Markets
Australian GP odds for the season opener are available across several major betting markets. Sportsbooks are currently offering pricing on race winners, podium finishes, and constructor outcomes, with additional props expected as race week approaches.
The most popular Australian GP betting markets at F1 betting sites include:
- Outright winner
- Podium finish (Top 3)
- Winning constructor
- Fastest lap
- Head-to-head driver matchups
Beyond pre-race betting, live Australian GP odds will adjust throughout qualifying and race day, creating opportunities to capitalize on in-race momentum swings and safety car volatility.
Outright Winner Odds
BetUS provided the following Australian GP odds.
| Driver | 2026 Australian GP Odds | 2025 Australian GP Finish |
|---|---|---|
| George Russell | +225 | 3rd |
| Max Verstappen | +250 | 2nd |
| Lando Norris | +450 | 1st |
| Oscar Piastri | +800 | 9th |
| Kimi Antonelli | +900 | 4th |
| Charles Leclerc | +1400 | 8th |
| Fernando Alonso | +1600 | RET |
| Lewis Hamilton | +1800 | 10th |
| Isack Hadjar | +4000 | DNS |
| Carlos Sainz | +10000 | RET |
| Pierre Gasly | +10000 | 11th |
| Alexander Albon | +10000 | 5th |
George Russell is the +225 favorite to win the Australian Grand Prix 2026. Russell finished third in this event last year.
Max Verstappen, last year’s runner-up, is a close second at +250. Reigning Australian GP champion Lando Norris rounds out the top three at +450. With a win, Norris would be the first repeat winner since Sebastian Vettel went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
The odds fade quickly after the top three. Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli have the next-best odds at +800 and +900, respectively. They are followed by Charles Leclerc (+1400), Fernando Alonso (+1600), and Lewis Hamilton (+1800).
Favorite Drivers to Win
Here is a closer look at the top favorites in the updated Australian Grand Prix odds.
George Russell (+225)
Mercedes driver George Russell is the +225 favorite at top sports betting sites to win the 2026 Australian GP. Russell finished third in Melbourne last year, finishing +8.481 behind Lando Norris’s winning time.
After his third-place finish in Australia, Russell went on to win two races last season, the Canadian GP and the Singapore GP. Russell made nine podiums during the 2025 season. He also finished with 319 total points, which put him fourth in the World Drivers’ Championship standings.
Russell’s third-place finish matched his career best result in the Australian GP. Breaking through for his first win will be easier said than done.
Max Verstappen (+250)
Max Verstappen is hot on Russell’s heels in the latest odds to win the 2026 Australian GP. Verstappen is listed at +250 to win the first race of the 2026 season.
Verstappen finished second in the Australian GP, coming in +0.895 behind Lando Norris. The loss proved costly, ending Verstappen’s reign atop the Champion standings. He was unable to make up the lost ground, finishing second in the Championship standings last year with 421 total points, just two points behind Norris (423).
In the 2025 season, Verstappen racked up eight wins and made the podium in 15 of the 24 races he competed in.
Verstappen has only won this race once, taking home the top spot in 2023.
Lando Norris (+450)
The reigning Australian GP champion is Lando Norris. He led for the majority of last year’s race, earning his first of seven wins in the 2025 season. Opening the season with a win and finding the podium 18 times helped Norris win the World Drivers’ Championship last year.
Norris is listed at +450 odds to repeat as the Australian Grand Prix winner this year. He would be the first repeat winner in nearly a decade.
After a career year last season, Norris is under pressure to live up to the expectations he set in 2025. A victory in Melbourne would make Norris the 22nd driver with multiple Australian GP wins.
Podium and Winning Car Markets
In addition to betting on the outright winner, BetUS offers exciting prop bets for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
To Make the Podium
- George Russell (-200)
- Max Verstappen (-165)
- Lando Norris (+125)
- Kimi Antonelli (+160)
- Oscar Piastri (+175)
- Fernando Alonso (+200)
- Charles Leclerc (+400)
- Lewis Hamilton (+500)
George Russell is the betting favorite to win this year’s Australian GP. SO, it tracks that he is also the -200 favorite to make the podium in Melbourne. Max Verstappen is also an odds-on favorite at -165, with Lando Norris (+125) rounding out the top three.
Making the podium, also known as a top-three finish, is easier than winning the race. So, you have a better chance of winning this prop.
However, the odds are also shorter across the board, so your payout will be smaller. On the bright side, you can also bet on multiple drivers in this prop.
Winning Car
- Mercedes (+135)
- McLaren (+275)
- Red Bull Racing (+275)
- Aston Martin (+900)
- Ferrari (+1100)
You can also bet on the winning car manufacturer for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. Mercedes is the betting favorite at +135.
McLaren and Red Bull Racing are tied for the second-best odds at +275. Thanks to the efforts of Lando Norris, McLaren won this wager last year. Aston Martin and Ferrari round out the top five at 9-1 and 11-1, respectively.
Longshot Drivers With Value
Another popular way to bet on the Australian Grand Prix is to wager on long shots. These drivers are unlikely to win, but they offer the chance at huge payouts if they pull off an upset.
Lewis Hamilton (+1800)
Lewis Hamilton is an 18-1 underdog to win in Melbourne. Hamilton won this race in 2008 and 2015. Another win this weekend would make Hamilton the 11th driver to have three or more wins in the Australian GP.
Hamilton’s best days are behind him, and he did not make a single podium last year. It was the first time Hamilton went an entire season without a podium appearance since 2004.
Despite not making the podium, Hamilton did earn 156 points and finished sixth in the Championship standings. His experience makes Hamilton a live underdog to win any race this season.
Alexander Albon (+10000)
Another underdog to consider is Alexander Albon. The 29-year-old is still searching for his first F1 win, but he is coming off a career year in 2025. Albon finished eighth in the Championship rankings last season.
He may not have won a race, but Albon was a force in the early part of the season. He finished in the top 10 in seven of the first eight races of the year, including a 5th-place finish in Melbourne.
Albon’s fifth-place finish last year was a career best in this race. If he can take another jump, Albon may push for a podium spot, if not an outright win.
Nico Hülkenberg (+30000)
For a true long shot in Australia, look no further than Nico Hülkenberg (+30000). Hülkenberg came in seventh in last year’s race, tied for his third-best finish of the year. The veteran driver has finished 11th in the Championships standings in back-to-back years.
Like Albon, Hülkenberg has never won an F1 race in his career. However, he did make his first podium last year, coming in third at the British Grand Prix. If he improves again this year, Hülkenberg could claim his first win in 2026.
Best Australian Grand Prix Bets
These are my best bets for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix:
- 2026 Australian Grand Prix winner: Max Verstappen (+250)
- To make the podium: Max Verstappen (-165)
- Winning car: Red Bull Racing (+275)
Verstappen has struggled to regain the dominance he showed in his record-setting 2023 season. However, he is still a force to be reckoned with and won six of the final nine races last season. If he starts this year as hot as he finished last season, Verstappen will cruise to a win in Melbourne.
With that in mind, Verstappen is also my top bet to make the podium at -165. He made the podium in 15 of 24 races last year.
Last but not least, Red Bull Racing is my pick for the winning car. Red Bull’s last win came in 2023, when Verstappen took home first in Melbourne. If he can win again this year, then Red Bull will claim its third Australian GP title.
Where to Bet on the 2026 Australian Grand Prix
There are multiple ways to bet on the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, from outright winner markets to podium finishes and driver matchups. While picking the race winner is always challenging, prop markets and head-to-head bets often provide stronger value opportunities.
Several top F1 betting sites are already offering competitive Australian GP odds, including BetUS. Before placing your wager, compare pricing and available bonuses to ensure you’re getting the best overall value.
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