2026 F1 Championship predictions and betting odds

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: March 5, 2025, 09:15

The wait is almost over! The 2026 Formula 1 season is just around the corner. A new campaign brings fresh excitement, but this year is different. The sport has introduced sweeping regulation changes affecting both chassis and power units, marking one of the most dramatic technical shifts in modern F1 history.

On top of that, new teams are stepping onto the biggest stage. With 24 Grands Prix scheduled across the calendar, fans can expect a long and unpredictable battle. In this article, we break down the new rules, teams, drivers and the latest championship odds.

This year, Audi and Cadillac enter Formula 1 for the first time. Most teams have chosen to keep faith in their current driver pairings, while the technical rules are changing. With so much uncertainty around the new regulations, sticking with familiar faces could make the transition a little smoother.

Team changes

• Cadillac joins as the first brand-new entry since Haas arrived in 2016. The American outfit will initially run Ferrari power units and gearboxes before transitioning to its own General Motors-developed engine from 2029.
• Audi also enters Formula 1 after acquiring Sauber, ending Ferrari's supply to that outfit while continuing to power Haas and Cadillac. Ford returns as an engine partner with Red Bull Powertrains.
• Meanwhile, Honda launches an independent works programme with Aston Martin. Alpine abandons Renault engines and becomes a Mercedes customer team, marking the end of Renault's long-standing engine presence in F1.
• On the driver's side, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas secure full-time seats at Cadillac. Isack Hadjar steps up to Red Bull Racing, with Arvid Lindblad replacing him at Racing Bulls.

The 2026 Formula 1 season will feature 24 Grands Prix, continuing the sport's record-length calendar. The campaign begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 6-8 and concludes with the traditional finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 4-6.

There have been a few notable adjustments to the schedule, including improved geographical flow to make travel more efficient. Canada now follows Miami earlier in the year, while Madrid makes its debut on the calendar. Six venues will again host Sprint weekends, adding extra competitive action across the season.

The 2026 season brings major changes to Formula 1, affecting budgets, engines, car design and even race rules.

The team cost cap has increased to $215 million to reflect rising costs. Engine manufacturers also get a higher spending limit to develop the new hybrid power units.

F1 keeps the 1.6-litre turbo V6, but the system around it changes. The MGU-H is gone, electric power from the MGU-K is much stronger, and cars now run on 100% sustainable fuel. Overall power stays above 1,000 bhp, just delivered differently.

The cars are now smaller, lighter and slightly narrower. DRS is replaced by active aerodynamics and a new overtake mode. Downforce is reduced, meaning cars will be a bit slower but hopefully race better.

Crash protection is improved, cooling vests are mandatory in extreme heat, Monaco drops its two-stop rule, and teams must cover more of their cars with proper liveries instead of exposed carbon fibre.

The Championship picture looks wide open, especially when discussing the F1 favourites 2026. Even the bookmakers appear uncertain about who should start as favourite, with odds tightly grouped at the top. Pre-season testing showed no obvious dominance, so we could be heading for a very close title fight.

George Russell

George Russell is the clear leader at Mercedes, and this finally feels like his moment. Since arriving from Williams, he has had to be patient while the team struggled to find a consistent pace. Still, he proved he could go toe-to-toe with Lewis Hamilton and later firmly establish himself ahead of Kimi Antonelli.

Now, Russell looks more rounded. He is calm under pressure, sharp in qualifying and increasingly confident in big moments. The big unknown is how he handles a full title fight across 24 races. If Mercedes will give him a car capable of winning regularly, Russell has everything needed to take the next step and fight for the championship.

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen may not have the fastest car heading into 2026, but writing him off would be a mistake. The four-time world champion has shown time and time again that he can extract more from his machinery than almost anyone else. Even when Red Bull were not dominant last year, he stayed right in the title race until the very end.

During testing, he was already finding clever ways to maximise the new regulations, showing how quickly he adapts. If Red Bull provides a solid platform, Verstappen will stay in the championship battle once again.

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari surprised many during testing after a disappointing 2025, which has put Leclerc back into serious title conversations. He is one of the quickest drivers over a single lap, and when the car responds, he can look untouchable. At times, though, converting poles into wins has been a challenge. That's where doubts creep in.

Last season showed a more mature and consistent Leclerc, even in tough conditions. If Ferrari delivers reliability and smart strategy, this could finally be the year he turns pure pace into a real championship push.

2026 F1 drivers championship odds

The latest F1 WDC odds show how tight the race could be, with Russell priced at 3.00 and Verstappen close behind at 4.00. Leclerc closes the top 3 at 6.00.

The 2026 constructors' market suggests a three-team battle at the top. Mercedes lead the way at 2.20, but Ferrari and McLaren sit close behind at 3.50. Red Bull remain outsiders at 8.00, while the rest of the grid are considered long shots.

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