Verstappen not favourite for win among F1TV analysts

F1TV's presenting team does not expect Max Verstappen to win the Australian Grand Prix. Presenters and analysts Will Buxton, Laura Winter and Lawrence Barretto spoke in the Weekend Warmup their predictions for the race, and none of three had Verstappen on the top step of the podium.

Historically, the Australian Grand Prix has not been a good race for Red Bull Racing and Verstappen. Verstappen's best ever result at the circuit is a third-place finish in 2019. Red Bull last won a race in Australia in 2011, when Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were still driving for the team. The three presenters suspect Verstappen will continue his run of bad luck this weekend, although they are slightly more favourable to Red Bull.

Winter and Barretto both predict that the win will go to Sergio Perez, with Verstappen and Fernando Alonso as the other podium finishers. Barretto does indicate that, in his opinion, Alonso will continue his positive results of late and keep Verstappen behind him. Winter does not see the Spaniard's race as rosy and sees him driving to third place.

Buxton sees Verstappen failing to make the finishing line

Buxton packs a slightly bigger punch with his prediction. "Every Formula One driver who has captured 101 podiums has managed to turn podium number 101 into a victory. Alonso will take his thirty-third victory here. This circuit suits all the car's strengths." Buxton's podium is completed by Perez on two and George Russell on three. According to Buxton, Verstappen will not even make it to the finish line and will retire early. The British reporter suspects that Verstappen will still be too bothered by his stomach flu after all, as the Dutchman indicated earlier at the press conference.

Buxton did acknowledge afterwards the fickle nature of predictions. "We have cursed it now: Verstappen is now going to win this race with over a lap ahead of the rest," Buxton joked in conclusion.