Lewis Hamilton has named local hero Daniel Ricciardo as the favourite in Australia this weekend.

Although the bookies and pundits consider reigning champion Hamilton the favourite, the Briton thinks that Red Bull will in fact have the edge in Melbourne.

"I think they're favourites, personally," he said. "Not because it's Daniel and it's Australia, but I think Red Bull are currently the team to look out for. They've done a great job.

"This is a high downforce circuit and they are renowned for having more downforce than everyone.

"When you come to another circuit where you don't need all that downforce that's sometimes where they perhaps struggle, but I think they will be very hard to beat this weekend."

The Australian Grand Prix gets the 2018 season underway on Sunday.