Nico Rosberg to make winning start in Australia says Johnny Herbert

F1 pundit Johnny Herbert is tipping Nico Rosberg to win the Australian Grand Prix, but still expects team-mate Lewis Hamilton to land a third successive drivers' title.

Rosberg was victorious in the final three races of the 2015 season in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi and Herbert thinks the Mercedes driver will maintain his momentum at Albert Park this weekend.

The Sky Sports F1 analyst said: "It may be controversial to suggest that Nico will continue his winning streak from the end of last season, but with more scope this year for drivers to dictate their own strategy that could well play into his hands, in what looks like an all Mercedes fight for the win."

Rosberg, winner of the race in 2014, is a 9/4 shot with Sky Bet to triumph in Melbourne, but it is world champion Hamilton who is the 4/5 favourite  as he looks to repeat his success of 12 months ago.

Hamilton also remains the clear 8/15 favourite to win the drivers' championship and Herbert feels the British driver is going to take some stopping.

The F1 pundit added: "He's aiming to join Michael Schumacher, Juan Fangio and Sebastian Vettel as drivers who have won three titles in succession and I'm not sure, over the course of the year, that he can be stopped from doing so. 

"After a little dip after winning his third title, expect Lewis to be fit and raring to go and highly motivated for more success."

Herbert's Tips

Johnny's backing Nico Hulkenberg to secure a top six finish in Australia at 15/8 with Sky Bet

Herbert also expects another tough year for McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso.

Last year the Woking-based team secured only 27 points and the three-time grand prix race winner doesn't expect things to get better in 2016, putting up the 10/11 available on McLaren not to get a podium in the season.

He added: "Last year was the worst in the team's long history and, whilst Honda will have undoubtedly made improvements to the power unit, I can't see them being big enough to blast McLaren into the top three, not even in a season with 21 races."

For this weekend's opening race, Herbert is tipping Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg to secure a top-six finish at 15/8 and is also taking the 11/1 on Manor Racing team's Rio Haryanto being the first driver to retire.

"Don't get me wrong, the last thing I want to see for the debutant is an early finish to his first race, but the price is too good to pass over for me," he added.