The pre-season Formula One title odds suggest there are seven genuine contenders to top the 2026 Drivers’ Championship table , but you’ll be surprised by the order they are ranked in!
Here, we take a look at who is being tipped to shine over the forthcoming 24-race schedule following a major overhaul of the sport’s regulations, with the most likely winner listed at the bottom.
Oscar Piastri
(7) OSCAR PIASTRI (McLaren) @ 14/1
Led the championship for so long last season, but struggled after the summer break and had to settle for third. Is he still carrying the scars of his near miss? The Australian , a seven-time race winner in 2025, will also struggle if McLaren do not hit the ground running with regards the rule changes.
Lando Norris
(6) LANDO NORRIS (McLaren) @ 10/1
The 26-year-old Englishman held his nerve to fend off Max Verstappen and claim a first world crown at last season’s finale. His team has boasted the grid’s quickest car for the past two years, but there are doubts as to how competitive McLaren will be in the new era, and Norris could start his title defence on the back foot.
Kimi Antonelli
(5) KIMI ANTONELLI (Mercedes) @ 9/1
The Italian teenager started and ended his rookie season well and will be looking to build on that in his second campaign. However, team-mate George Russell should really have the beating of him over the course of a full campaign.
Lewis Hamilton
(4) LEWIS HAMILTON (Ferrari) @ 13/2
Now 41, the British legend is bidding to bounce back from a desperately disappointing opening season at Ferrari , where he failed to finish on the podium for the first time in his career. No other driver in the sport’s history has landed more championships (seven), race wins (105) or pole positions (104) than Hamilton , and he will be out to prove he is not on the wane.
Ferrari’s innovative 180-degree rotating rear wing design, which gained him a 6mph straight-line speed advantage in testing, should certainly help.
Charles Leclerc
(3) CHARLES LECLERC (Ferrari) @ 9/2
Leclerc will take great confidence from out-qualifying and outscoring Hamilton in their first season together at Ferrari . One of F1 ’s fastest qualifiers, the Monegasque will definitely be a major contender if Ferrari can provide him with the tools, although question marks remain over the 28-year-old’s title temperament.
Max Verstappen
(2) MAX VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull) @ 3/1
The flying Dutchman has established himself as the best driver of his generation - and quite possibly of all time. With four world titles and 71 race wins to his name third only to Hamilton and Michael Schumacher it is highly likely the 28-year-old will be in the title mix again.
Red Bull are using their own engines for the first time, and the initial signs from testing were encouraging.
George Russell
(1) GEORGE RUSSELL (Mercedes) @ 9/4
The Norfolk -born 28-year-old heads into the season as the bookmakers’ favourite in the Formula One title odds after building up plenty of past experience, posting five race wins from 152 starts.
Following Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes , Russell has established himself as the team’s main man, and he was one of the standout performers last year, prevailing in Canada and Singapore .
Mercedes failed to master the last set of regulations, but it looks as though they will hold an early advantage over their competitors this time to provide Russell with his first opportunity to fight for a championship .
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