Formula One revs all the way up this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix. Supporters scattered across time zones will be up between Saturday night and Sunday morning to watch the season opener. The ever-popular global sport and rising media presence should be in for one of its best campaigns to date. The gap between Max Verstappen and the field has narrowed, while all-time superstar Lewis Hamilton makes the switch from Mercedes to Ferrari.
How to watch the 2025 Australian Grand Prix
- Venue: Albert Park Circuit — Melbourne, Australia
- Time: 11:55 p.m. ET Saturday
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
Those two titans of the game have rich history at Albert Park. Verstappen won here in 2023 and had pole position in last year’s race. A rookie Hamilton made a statement here in 2007, becoming the first driver in more than a decade to finish on the podium in a professional debut. Verstappen entered the weekend with the second-best odds, sitting at +450 on BetMGM, while Hamilton is tied for fourth at +650. He’s even with Australian and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who finished eighth in 2023 and fourth in 2024. He’ll try to become the first Australian driver to reach the podium at this raceway.
Lando Norris entered qualifying as the clubhouse favorite to win at +175. He finished second in the drivers’ standings last year, with victories at Miami, the Netherlands, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The forecast calls for arid temperatures on Saturday and then rain on Sunday, which can always mix things up.
The Athletic’s Luke Smith from media day:
“Deciphering the lap times over the three days of testing in Bahrain in February pointed to McLaren having the upper hand, highlighted by a rapid race simulation by Lando Norris. Between the handful of setbacks Ferrari suffered, Mercedes’ calm but not overawed response and the lack of certainty around Red Bull’s pace, the reigning constructors’ champion looks to have edged ahead.”
Madeline Coleman on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut:
“The most successful part of Hamilton’s career came with Mercedes, in the form of six drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ titles. But the last three seasons were difficult as the team struggled to design and develop a consistently competitive ride for him. Ferrari provides Hamilton a fresh start with a very different car — and the first time he’ll compete in F1 in a non-Mercedes-powered one.”
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(Photo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri: William West / AFP via Getty Images)
