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14th Mar 2013 | Formula 1

Australian GP Tips: Nico Rosberg

Has been quick in winter testing and familiarity with the team gives him the edge over Lewis Hamilton in the short term.

At the start of the F1 season it is very difficult to strike a bet with any certainty. Even with winter testing, we simply don’t know the true pace of the leading players. That might suit some punters who can play the uncertain markets but I prefer taking it race by race in the early weeks.

No team has dominated winter testing and with unknown fuel loads weighing down the cars, the timesheets are just a game of bluff. However, one person who can add valuable insight is BBC columnist Gary Anderson.

A former technical director at Jordan, Stewart and Jaguar he’s one of the BBC’s best analysts and he has attempted to estimate the outright performance of each driver.

It makes for a fascinating read, but the upshot is that he ranks Nico Rosberg as the fastest in testing.

Mercedes rather lost their way in the second half of 2012, but don’t forget Nico Rosberg won the third race of the season, winning the Chinese Grand Prix from pole.

There has been a management shake up at the team over the winter, plus the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, but it might take the 2009 world champion time to settle into his new surroundings. At this point in the season Nico Rosberg probably holds the edge.

At 25/1 (Betfred) he looks overpriced and with 1/5 odds for a podium finish he looks a solid each-way bet.

F1 Australian GP Offer - Betfred
If your selection fails to complete the first 3 laps of the Australian Grand Prix, Fred will refund all Outright and Fastest Lap Singles as a free bet up to £200

Odds correct at time of publishing: 17:52 14th Mar, 2013 but subject to change

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