Australian Grand Prix: Race time, predictions & odds

The new Formula One season is now under way, with the Australian Grand Prix taking place this weekend. 

Melbourne's Albert Park is the venue for the first of 20 scheduled races taking place across the globe during the next nine months.

It also marks the start of a new era for the sport following a regulation overhaul that promises to provide faster cars, more over-taking and a more excitement after Mercedes' recent domination.

Here, we bring you our prediction from our 'pit-lane insider' while we also have the full weekend race schedule, results, key statistics, track guide and the latest odds.  

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2017 FORMULA ONE SEASON GUIDE

Australian Grand Prix: Weekend Schedule & TV Guide

Friday March 24

Free Practice 1: 1200-1330 (UK time: 0100-0230)
Click here for report & times

Free Practice 2: 1600-1730 (UK time: 0500-0630)
Click here for report & times

Saturday March 25

Free Practice 3: 1400-1500 (UK time: 0300-0400)
Click here for report & times

Qualifying: 1700-1800 (UK time: 0600-0700)
Click here for report & times

Sunday March 26

Australian Grand Prix: 1600 (UK time: 0600)

TV Coverage

Sky Sports F1 will be broadcasting the race and all the other sessions while Channel 4 will show highlights. 

Australian Grand Prix: Latest Odds

Lewis Hamilton is now 8/15 from 5/4 with Sky Bet to clinch a third Australian Grand Prix victory this weekend following his dominant displays in both of Friday's practice sessions. 

The three-time world champion, winner here in 2008 and 2015, heads the betting from new Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas (6/1 from 11/2) and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel (13/2 from 3/1). 

Kimi Raikkonen is 12/1 while Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are both available at 14/1 to make a winning start. 

After three successive constructors' titles, Mercedes are 8/11 favourites to earn a double podium finish, while Hamilton is now 5/2 from 9/2 to complete a race hat-trick - start from pole, win the race and record the fastest lap.

Click here for all the latest Australian Grand Prix odds

Australian Grand Prix: Betting tips

by Pit-lane Insider (pre first practice):

The new F1 season gets under way this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix and Lewis Hamilton is once again the well-backed favourite to make a winning start as he goes in search of a fourth world drivers’ title.

Hamilton is best price 5/4 (general) to top the podium at Albert Park – a track he previously enjoyed success at in 2008 and more recently 2015.

A third victory for the 30-year-old Briton would provide the perfect start to his campaign as he tries to regain the crown claimed by Nico Rosberg after a dramatic end to last season’s championship.

Hamilton won the final four races of the campaign only to be pipped for the title by his now-retired team-mate, but a win this weekend would make the Mercedes’ star only the second driver in history to claim five consecutive races twice in his career.

But while Hamilton’s Silver Arrows team have dominated the sport in the last few years could things be about to change? 

A regulation overhaul to the sport means cars will be bigger, faster and more aerodynamic than previously. Whether that will be enough for the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari to close the gap on Mercedes remains to be seen, but it will hopefully make this Grand Prix season far more competitive for fans and punters alike.

It’s hard to gauge the impact of the new regulations before the opening race but the betting still suggests Hamilton is again the man to beat at best price 6/5 (Stan James) to secure another title from Ferrari’s four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

The Scuderia failed to win a race in last season’s championship but there are already encouraging signs of improvement from the Italian giants.

Vettel, best price 4/1 (betway), set the fastest time in pre-season testing in Barcelona and both he and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen 10/1 (general) have admitted they are in a “much stronger position” than last year.

Red Bull seem to be playing down their chances but drivers Daniel Ricciardo, who finished third behind Rosberg and Hamilton last season, and Max Verstappen look good-value outsiders after some strong performances in 2016. 

The pair were the only drivers to beat Mercedes during last year's campaign and while Verstappen came in for some criticism for his defensive driving style his sensational debut victory in Spain and his daring overtakes make him an extremely interesting outside bet in this year’s championship at 10/1 (William Hill, Net Bet). 

I’m leaving the race winner market alone for this opening race with so much uncertainty surrounding the new regulations but think there’s definitely a case for a small wager on Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz to secure a points finish in Melbourne.

Torro Rosso, who looked to have plenty of pace during pre-season testing, have finished in the points in five of the last six races in Melbourne with Sainz ninth in the last two seasons. Get on the Spaniard to make it three top-10 finishes in a row at 10/11.

It would also be a brilliant story if Felipe Massa’s return to the sport, after one of the shortest retirements on record, ended in success.

Massa stepped into the breach at Williams after Valtteri Bottas’ move to Mercedes and the Brazilian has been talking up his team’s chances after some excellent performances in testing. Massa to finish in the top six in his first race back appeals at 4/5 (Sky Bet).

Finally there's also a season match bet which really catches the eye - namely Esteban Ocon to beat Force India team-mate Sergio Perez.

Both Force India and Mercedes think the Frenchman is very much the real deal and he looks a value pick here at 7/2.

Perez has had an excellent few seasons but his specific ability to preserve his rear tyres and stretch out the stints might not be as necessary or influencial in an era of likely one-stop races.

Ocon is a fast learner and his experience in the second half of last season will means he doesn’t start 2017 as a complete rookie.

Sporting Life suggestions:

Carlos Sainz to finish in the top 10 at 10/11

Felipe Massa to finish inthe top six at 4/5

Max Verstappen to win the world drivers' title at 10/1

Esteban Ocon to beat Sergio Perez in season match bet at 7/2

Click here for all the latest Australian Grand Prix odds

Australian Grand Prix: Track Guide

Venue:  Albert Park, Melbourne

Circuit length: 5.303km/3.295 miles

Laps: 58

Race distance: 307.574km/191.117miles

In-race lap record: 1min 24.125secs (Michael Schumacher, 2004)

2016 pole position: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1min 23.837secs

2016 winner: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

2016 fastest race lap: Lewis Hamilton 1min 28.997secs

Number of corners: 16 (six left/10 right)

Tyre compounds to be used: ultrasoft/supersoft/soft

Bumpiness: medium

Overtaking chance: low

Engine severity: high

Brake wear severity: high

Number of safety car deployments over last 10 seasons: 13

Australian Grand Prix: Statistics & Facts

:: Formula One will contest its first season without the current champion for the first time since 1994 following Nico Rosberg's retirement. Frenchman Alain Prost called time on his career in 1993 after claiming his fourth title with Williams.

:: Rosberg's exit paves the way for Lewis Hamilton to reclaim the crown and become the first British driver to win a quartet of championships. Michael Schumacher (seven), Juan Manuel Fangio (five), Prost and Sebastian Vettel (both four) are the only other drivers to have won more than three titles.

:: Valtteri Bottas replaces Rosberg at Mercedes but the Finnish driver, formerly of Williams, is yet to win in Formula One in 77 starts. He is also awaiting his first pole position.

:: Bottas switching to Mercedes opened up a vacancy at Williams which was swiftly filled by Felipe Massa. The Brazilian was in tears at the penultimate race of last season, believing it to be his final race in front of his home crowd. But after re-joining Williams for the new season his retirement lasted only 49 days.

:: One man who has retired is Jenson Button. This is the first Formula One season of this century in which the former Williams, Honda and McLaren driver has not lined up on the grid.

:: Stoffel Vandoorne has replaced Button at McLaren. He made his debut at last year's Bahrain Grand Prix where he filled in for the injured Fernando Alonso and finished 10th.

:: Canadian Lance Stroll is the only full rookie on the grid this season. At just 18 he is also the second youngest to start a race in grand prix history. Max Verstappen was one year younger when he made his debut.

:: McLaren have won the most races in the history of the Australian Grand Prix (11) but they are in the midst of their worst winless streak in the sport. They have failed to taste victory since Button won the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix - a run of 76 grands prix.

Formula One 2017: Teams & Drivers

Click here for a more detailed Formula One season guide

MERCEDES

Mercedes have dominated the sport for the last three years, winning 51 of the last 59 races, en route to claiming a hat-trick of consecutive drivers' and constructors' championships. But the Brackley-based outfit will head into the new campaign with an untested line-up. Former Williams driver Bottas, yet to win in F1, teams up with triple world champion Hamilton following Rosberg's decision to retire just five days after he won the title in Abu Dhabi.

Lewis Hamilton (Gbr)

Car: 44

Age: 32

Starts: 188

Wins: 53

Championships: 3 (2008, 2014, 2015)

Valtteri Bottas (Fin)

Car: 77

Age: 27

Starts: 77

Wins: 0

RED BULL

Red Bull boast arguably the best line-up in the sport. Ricciardo, the smiley Australian, turned in a string of impressive performances last season to finish behind only Rosberg and Hamilton in the championship, while 19-year-old Verstappen won on his Red Bull debut in Spain and then delivered a performance for the ages with his display in the wet at Brazil.

Daniel Ricciardo (Aus)

Car: 3

Age: 27

Starts: 109

Wins: 4

Max Verstappen (Ned)

Car: 33

Age: 19

Starts: 40

Wins: 1

FERRARI

Ferrari finished a distant third last year after they failed to register a single victory. There appeared to be mass disharmony within the Italian camp, but a strong pre-season will give them enormous hope heading into the new campaign. Will they be able to deliver when it really matters however, and take the challenge to Mercedes this year?

Sebastian Vettel (Ger)

Car: 5

Age: 29

Starts: 178

Wins: 42

Championships: 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Kimi Raikkonen (Fin)

Car: 7

Age: 37

Starts: 252

Wins: 20

Championships: 1 (2007)

FORCE INDIA

Force India have it all to do to replicate their successes of last season after they exceeded all expectations to finish a fantastic fourth in the constructors' championship. Ocon, who made his debut for the now defunct Manor team midway through last year, joins Perez after Nico Hulkenberg left to join Renault.

Sergio Perez (Mex)

Car: 11

Age: 27

Starts: 114

Wins: 0

Esteban Ocon (Fra)

Car: 31

Age: 20

Starts: 9

Wins: 0

WILLIAMS

Massa was called out of his short-lived retirement following Bottas' switch to Mercedes. The veteran Brazilian is joined by rookie Lance Stroll, who, at just 18, will become the second youngest driver to start a Formula One race when the lights go out in Melbourne. Williams endured a largely disappointing 2016, but will be buoyed by their promising performances in testing.

Felipe Massa (Bra)

Car: 19

Age: 35

Starts: 250

Wins: 11

Lance Stroll (Can)

Car: 18

Age: 18

Starts: 0

McLAREN

McLaren are in crisis following a desperately poor pre-season plagued by an unreliable and slow Honda engine. Alonso, who is out of contract with McLaren at the end of the year, has already voiced his criticism of the Japanese manufacturer in what is set to be another deeply frustrating season for the double world champion. Belgian Vandoorne partners Alonso after he was hired to replace Jenson Button.

Fernando Alonso (Spa)

Car: 14

Age: 35

Starts: 273

Wins: 32

Championships: 2 (2005, 2006)

Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel)

Car: 2

Age: 24

Starts : 1

Wins: 0

TORO ROSSO

Red Bull's sister team will be powered by Renault in 2017 after using Ferrari engines last term. Russian driver Kvyat was sent back to Toro Rosso after just four races of last year following Red Bull's decision to promote Verstappen. Kvyat struggled on his return to the team but has been retained for another year with Sainz, the talented Spaniard, occupying the other seat.

Daniil Kvyat (Rus)

Car: 26

Age: 22

Starts: 57

Wins: 0

Carlos Sainz (Spa)

Car: 55

Age: 22

Starts: 40

Wins: 0

HAAS

The American team are set for their second season in the sport after making their debut last year. Their campaign started encouragingly but tailed off as the year wore on. Danish driver Magnussen, formerly of Renault, replaces Esteban Gutierrez for 2017.

Romain Grosjean (Fra)

Car: 8

Age: 30

Starts: 102

Wins: 0

Kevin Magnussen (Den)

Car: 20

Age: 24

Starts: 40

Wins: 0

RENAULT

Renault will be expecting to take significant strides this season after they endured a largely disappointing first year back in the sport as a standalone constructor. British driver Palmer, who is retained for a second campaign, will team up with former Le Mans winner Hulkenberg.

Nico Hulkenberg (Ger)

Car: 27

Age: 29

Starts: 115

Wins: 0

Jolyon Palmer (Gbr)

Car: 30

Age: 26

Starts: 20

Wins: 0

SAUBER

Wehrlein, a member of the Mercedes young driver programme, has had to make do with a seat at Sauber after he was overlooked for the vacant drive alongside Hamilton following Rosberg's retirement. He teams up with the heavily-sponsored but largely unimpressive Ericsson.

Marcus Ericsson (Swe)

Car: 9

Age: 26

Starts: 56

Wins: 0

Pascal Wehrlein (Ger)

Car: 94

Age: 22

Starts: 21

Wins: 0