Our 2025 Australian GP Predictions

After 3 long months, Formula 1 is finally back this weekend and that can only mean one thing.... The return of ShefF1 predictions!

Yes just as we have done for the past two seasons, we will be predicting the results of all 24 Grand Prix weekends, starting with round one, Melbourne. Being the opening round of the season, the pecking order is still anyone's guess, even if McLaren look to be strongest. And with 3 rookies making their full debuts, Lewis Hamilton making his Ferrari debut and rain in the offing, this weekend looks like it could be a classic.

As usual we will be starting with our predictions for Saturday.

Pole Position

If Saturday's this year are anything like last year, then we're in for a treat! Lando Norris is the favourite to take the first pole of the year after McLaren's strong one lap pace all throughout last year which saw Norris take 8 pole positions, as well as their apparent pace in testing. However don't be surprised if Max takes everyone by surprise as even though Red Bull looked a little off the pace in Bahrain, Max suggested he is happier with the feel of the car.

Rudy - Max Verstappen

Amy - Lando Norris

Seb - Lando Norris

McLaren will be hoping to make the most of any early season advantage.

Star Of Quali

With it being the first race of the season and the order yet to be determined, the door is wide open for an excellent performance. Could one of the non McLaren drivers snatch pole, could a rookie steal the show or will one of the midfield stars shake up the top order? Rudy is predicting Pierre Gasly to continue his strong qualifying form from the end of last year, whilst Seb is predicting under pressure rookie Jack Doohan to cause a shock and deliver at his home grand prix. Amy is predicting Lewis to kick his Ferrari days off in style.

Rudy - Pierre Gasly

Amy - Lewis Hamilton

Seb - Jack Doohan

Flop of Quali

Just as the door is open for an excellent performance, its also wide open for a shock early exit. With the cars in the final year of a regulation set, expect the field to be as close as ever meaning one mistake and a big name could fall early. Last year saw Lewis Hamilton exit in Q2 and he'll be hoping to avoid a similar fate on his Ferrari debut. Rudy is predicting home hero Oscar Piastri will disappoint his fans, however Seb is predicting the highly tipped rookie Kimi Antonelli to struggle on debut. Under pressure Jack Doohan looked comfortable in Friday's practise sessions but Amy thinks he'll be off the pace on Saturday.

Rudy - Oscar Piastri

Amy - Jack Doohan

Seb - Kimi Antonelli

Podium

Let's move on to Sunday now! With rain predicted to hit the circuit on race day, which teams will be able to adapt to the conditions and we could potentially see even more opportunities for risk takers to make big moves. The big question will be whether or not Lando can put his Brazil woes behind him and deliver in the wet, or will the conditions favour Max Verstappen?

Rudy - 1. Verstappen 2. Norris 3. Hamilton

Amy - 1. Piastri 2. Norris 3. Hamilton

Seb - 1. Norris 2. Piastri 3. Hamilton

Max Verstappen will be hoping to make amends for his brake failure last year.

Driver of the Day

As we mentioned, the rain could provide excellent opportunities for those in the midfield to take a gamble. Alpine will be one of the teams praying for rain, as their car has been excellent in wet conditions over the past couple of years with all their podiums coming thanks to the rain, whilst Haas will be hoping the rain stays away if there 2025 contender is as difficult to handle as last years. However as we base our predictions on the fan vote, the obvious shouts seem to be DOTD favourite Lando Norris or Lewis Hamilton on his Ferrari debut.

Rudy - Lewis Hamilton

Amy - Oscar Piastri

Seb - Lewis Hamilton

Flop

The rain may be a blessing for some, but for the rookies who would be looking for a nerve settling debut it will certainly provide a challenge. Oliver Bearman will definitely be looking to fare better than he did in Brazil whilst first timers Bortoleto, Hadjar and Antonelli are being thrown in right at the deep end.

Rudy - Alex Albon

Amy - Liam Lawson

Seb - Isack Hadjar

Best Team

With so many sides fielding changed line-ups, this weekend will go a long way to answering which teams have made the correct changes. McLaren were the happiest team in Bahrain testing and will be looking to start the constructors championship defence with a bang, whilst contenders Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes will be hoping their new drivers will settle in quickly and give them the edge.

Rudy - McLaren

Amy - McLaren

Seb - Williams

Shock Prediction

And onto our favourite predictions to make every weekend, our shock predictions! Remember these are predictions we don't necessarily think will happen but if they do, we look like geniuses.

Rudy is predicting last years winner Carlos Sainz to kick start his Williams career with a top six finish whilst Seb is predicting Max Verstappen to revert back to the dominance we saw from him at the start of last year and complete a grand slam (pole, fastest lap, lead every lap and win the race).

Round 1.	Rudy	Amy	Seb
Pole	Verstappen	Norris	Norris
Star of Quali	Gasly	Hamilton	Doohan
Flop of Quali	Piastri	Doohan	Antonelli
Podium	1.Max 2. Nor 3. Ham	1.Pia 2. Nor 3. Ham	1.Nor 2. Pia 3. Ham
DOTD	Hamilton	Piastri	Hamilton
Flop	Albon	Lawson	Hadjar
Best Team	McLaren	McLaren	Williams
Shock Prediction	Sainz top 6 finish	Sainz podium	Verstappen Grand Slam
Points	0	0	0

Be sure to tune in to our podcast next week where we will be reviewing the race as well as all of our predictions!