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- What: 2026 F1 Drivers Championship
- When: March 8-December 6, 2026
The 2026 Formula 1 season promises radical change with reigning champion Lando Norris defending his title amid the sport’s most comprehensive regulation overhaul in history.
Max Verstappen remains the favorite at Red Bull, now partnered with rookie Isack Hadjar, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc form Ferrari’s formidable duo. Oscar Piastri returns with Norris at defending champions McLaren, making the papaya squad a serious threat.
Revolutionary technical regulations feature cars that are 30kg lighter and 20cm shorter, with active aerodynamics replacing DRS Formula 1. Power units shift to a 50-50 split between combustion and electric power, with electrical output nearly tripling to 350kW. This reset could dramatically shuffle the grid.
Cadillac joins as F1’s 11th team with veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, while Madrid debuts on the calendar with a new street circuit, replacing Imola.
Audi and Ford enter as new manufacturers, raising competition levels. With Adrian Newey now at Aston Martin alongside Fernando Alonso, expect surprises when the season kicks off in Australia on March 6-8.
Before we look at the latest betting odds of the 2026 F1 Drivers Championship, check out the top Formula 1 betting sites.
2026 F1 Drivers Championship Odds
| To Win 2026 F1 Drivers Championship |  |  |  |
| Max Verstappen | +300 | +250 | +275 |
| Lando Norris | +220 | +275 | +225 |
| George Russell | +300 | +330 | +250 |
| Oscar Piastri | +550 | +550 | +500 |
| Kimi Antonelli | +1000 | +1100 | +900 |
| Fernando Alonso | +2000 | +1400 | +2500 |
| Charles Leclerc | +2000 | +2500 | +2200 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +4000 | +5000 | +4000 |
| Carlos Sainz | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Isack Hadjar | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Oliver Bearman | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Alex Albon | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Lance Stroll | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Pierre Gasly | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | +15000 | +15000 | +15000 |
| Valtteri Bottas | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| Liam Lawson | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| Esteban Ocon | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| Franco Colapinto | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| Sergio Perez | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| Arvid Lindblad | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
Lando Norris
Lando Norris enters 2026 with momentum from his 2025 championship triumph, which ended McLaren’s 26-year title drought.
Now 25 years old and entering his eighth season with the team, the Briton has matured into one of F1’s most complete drivers. McLaren enters the new regulations era with one of the strongest pairings on the grid, and Norris must be considered a title contender given the team’s engineering excellence under Andrea Stella.
LANDO NORRIS IS THE 2025 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION!!!! 🏆#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/Rg4cc4OwlU
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 7, 2025
The regulatory reset presents both opportunities and challenges. McLaren’s ability to adapt quickly during the 2025 mid-season proved decisive in securing the constructors’ crown, and that development prowess could be crucial again. Norris has shown he can handle pressure, converting pace into victories when it matters most.
With a proven car development team behind him and the confidence of a championship winner, Norris enters 2026 as the man to beat. His rivalry with Piastri within the team adds intrigue, but McLaren’s collaborative approach should allow both drivers to challenge for the title without internal politics derailing their campaign.
As talented as Norris is, I would pass on him at this price.
All our odds are taken from the best sites for F1 betting. You can read more about them on our How to Bet on Formula 1 online page.
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen remains contracted to Red Bull until 2028 after signing his long-term deal in 2022, and the four-time world champion enters 2026 determined to reclaim his throne.
The Dutch superstar’s dominance defined the sport from 2021 through 2024, but McLaren’s resurgence in 2025 ended his championship streak. Now, Verstappen faces his biggest challenge yet: mastering an entirely new generation of machinery.
Red Bull will produce their own engine for the first time through Red Bull Ford Powertrains, a venture that carries both promise and risk. While the Milton Keynes squad has dominated the hybrid era with customer Honda power, developing a competitive power unit from scratch is uncharted territory. The performance of this new engine remains the critical unknown in Verstappen’s title equation.
Thank you, Helmut 🙏
We’ve achieved everything we ever dreamed of together. I’m forever grateful for your belief in me 🙌 pic.twitter.com/MKwsF5cRva
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 9, 2025
However, Verstappen’s adaptability sets him apart. His racecraft, tire management, and ability to extract maximum performance from any car make him formidable regardless of machinery.
Paired with rookie Isack Hadjar after Yuki Tsunoda departed from Formula 1, Verstappen will shoulder Red Bull’s championship burden alone. If the Red Bull-Ford package proves competitive, expect Verstappen to fight ferociously for that elusive fifth title.
The way Verstappen finished last season makes me believe he is the rightful favorite and the man to beat next year. I would absolutely bet on him at +300 at BetOnline to win the Drivers Championship again.
George Russell
George Russell continues at Mercedes alongside young Italian sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli, with team principal Toto Wolff hoping the new regulations will return the Silver Arrows to winning ways.
Mercedes haven’t secured the constructors’ title since 2021 and have won just seven races across four seasons, but regulation resets have historically favored the Brackley outfit. Their dominant 2014-2016 run proved Mercedes’ ability to nail new technical formulas.
Russell won two races in 2025 and finished fourth in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, showcasing consistency despite limited machinery. With Mercedes’ engineering resources fully committed to the 2026 project, Russell could emerge as the surprise title contender.
George Russell qualified in the top 6 for almost every grand prix this season 🤯
💻 @F1GuyDan pic.twitter.com/siiauzE75C
— The Race (@wearetherace) December 16, 2025
His qualifying prowess and technical feedback make him ideally suited to develop a new-generation car. If Mercedes nails the regulations as they did in 2014, don’t be surprised if Russell fights for his first world championship.
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso is contracted until the end of 2026 and enters his fourth season with Aston Martin, still chasing that elusive third world championship at age 44. The two-time champion’s persistence at the Silverstone-based team could finally pay dividends with the arrival of design legend Adrian Newey, whose genius reshaped Red Bull’s dominance.
Aston Martin will be powered by Honda engines from 2026, reuniting with the manufacturer that helped power Red Bull’s recent success. This potent combination of Newey’s aerodynamic mastery and Honda’s proven hybrid technology gives Alonso his best shot at championship glory since leaving Ferrari.
The rookies have a lot of love for Fernando Alonso 🫶#F1 pic.twitter.com/RSWpVQSSiL
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 15, 2025
The Spaniard’s racecraft remains razor-sharp, and his technical input could prove invaluable in developing the AMR26. While age works against him, Alonso has defied expectations throughout his career. If Aston Martin strikes gold with the new regulations, don’t count out F1’s most determined veteran adding a fairytale third title to his legendary career.
Alonso is a fun longshot at +2500 odds at Bovada.
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