Ted Kravitz Warns Against Underestimating Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri for Australian GP Win

Vidit Dhawan | 07/03/2025
Lewis Hamilton (Scuderia Ferrari HP, 44), Oscar Piastri (McLaren Formula 1 Team, 81)

Until proceedings at the 2025 season opener in Australia are truly underway, picking a winner remains difficult. Pre-season results aren’t always the most reliable indicator, but at this stage, they’re all the community has to go on—making Lando Norris the favorite for both the race and the championship.

Norris was impressive in Bahrain’s test, overshadowing teammate Oscar Piastri. However, Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz believes ruling the Aussie out of contention for his home race would be a mistake.

“If I was Oscar Piastri, I would be keeping something in my back pocket for my home race…” Kravitz said, pointing to Piastri’s deep connection with the circuit, where he watched races as a child.

The Brit then named Lewis Hamilton as another dark horse for victory at Albert Park next Sunday.

“Don’t count out Lewis Hamilton,” he warned. Hamilton’s first-ever F1 race was in Melbourne nearly 18 years ago, and he knows better than most that pole position in Australia doesn’t guarantee a win.

Despite securing P1 in qualifying eight times, he has only converted two of those into victories. Conversely, starting just behind the pole sitter has often worked in his favor. “Hamilton showed in his very first race there in 2007 that you can go around the outside at Turn 1—he overtook his teammate Fernando Alonso at McLaren,” Kravitz added.

So, even if Hamilton doesn’t qualify at the front, he’ll still have a shot at victory. And if Ferrari delivers a strong enough car, his talent alone could make him one of the favorites.

Piastri and Hamilton with a point to prove

Calling Piastri’s 2024 season difficult would be an overstatement. He secured the first two wins of his career and finished P4 in the championship. However, the gap to Norris would certainly sting.

He ended the season 84 points behind the Bristol-born driver, who was briefly in title contention. While Norris ultimately fell short, his strong campaign cemented him as a favorite for 2025. Piastri, with his talent, will be eager to shake things up this season

Hamilton, meanwhile, struggled against George Russell, losing to his teammate for the second time in three seasons. As he embarks on his maiden Ferrari campaign, some have questioned his decision to go up against a younger talent in Charles Leclerc.

Since a driver’s teammate is often their biggest rival in F1, both Piastri and Hamilton face a tough challenge this year. But make no mistake—they’ll be eager to prove a point. Don’t sleep on them.

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee
Lewis Hamilton Oscar Piastri Ted Kravitz

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Vidit Dhawan

Vidit Dhawan, a Formula 1 Editor at The SportsRush, is intrinsically connected with everything around the sport — from the engine roar, the cacophony on the grandstands to the action. He fell in love with F1 during the inaugural Indian GP in 2011. After more than a decade of deep engagement with the sport, Vidit insists he will remain a lifelong fan of Fernando Alonso, and sees the future of F1 in Charles Leclerc. A sports fanatic from childhood, he discovered his passion for writing while pursuing a bachelor's degree in international and global studies. Vidit has written over 1,700 articles, ranging from news reports to opinions. He thrives covering live action, and loves to dig into the contrasting personalities in the F1 bandwagon and narrate their journey in life as well as the sport. Vidit also follows tennis and football, enjoys playing as well as coaching chess.

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