Ted Kravitz predicts three-win F1 star to beat Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen onto the Australian GP podium

McLaren enter the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as the strong favourite. The overwhelming consensus in the paddock is that they have the fastest car.

Lando Norris produced a scary long run in the Bahrain test, though he didn’t pursue headline single-lap times. Helmut Marko says Oscar Piastri is just as good as Norris and expects him to show it when the competitive action starts.

However, Albert Park will be a very different proposition. First and foremost, it’s a street circuit, even if it’s not as technical as some of the other road courses on the calendar.

But the configuration of the Australian Grand Prix venue is also markedly different to Sakhir. There isn’t necessarily a guarantee that Norris will maintain his advantage.

Still, Marko believes McLaren have a two-tenth cushion, possibly three. They’ll look to scamper away before rivals have the chance to introduce meaningful upgrades, just as Max Verstappen did last year.

Verstappen will begin his title defence in Melbourne, and this year is extra significant as he looks to match Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of five in a row. The spotlight, though, will be on Lewis Hamilton as he launches his Ferrari career in earnest.

Ted Kravitz backs George Russell for third at Australian Grand Prix

Speaking live on Sky Sports News, pit-lane analyst Ted Kravitz backed McLaren to score a one-two in Melbourne. Piastri could bag a memorable victory in front of his home fans.

There may be an individual battle between the two McLaren drivers. And behind them, it looks extremely tight in the race for third.

Kravitz, impressed by the speed of the Mercedes car during testing, has backed George Russell to prevail. That means Hamilton and Verstappen will both miss out, in addition to Charles Leclerc and youngsters Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson.

“I would not be at all surprised if we saw George Russell on the podium in Melbourne,” Kravitz said. “Maybe if you’re saying the McLaren is the fastest car, it could be a Norris-Piastri, Piastri-Norris first and second.

“I would say that George Russell has got a great chance of being third. That Mercedes is quick. I would put that Mercedes behind the McLaren on the grid, maybe ahead of the Ferraris.”

The problems Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are facing before the Australian GP

Verstappen was visibly frustrated with his Red Bull car during testing. At one point, he deliberately ruined a set of tyres with a prolonged burnout following a spin.

Trackside viewers suggested the new Red Bull doesn’t handle well, which could make for some more frustrated radio messages from the Dutchman. Even he may not be able to win the title in the fourth-fastest machinery.

Meanwhile, Hamilton is ‘slightly underprepared’ for the Australian GP after posting one of the lowest lap counts in testing. Ferrari had to end running early on the final day after encountering a technical issue.

What’s more, Hamilton and Leclerc face an FIA investigation before the race after Red Bull complained about their rear wing. Delegates will also visit McLaren.