The 2026 Formula 1 season is set to kick off in Australia this weekend, with Lando Norris looking to defend the crown he won last year for McLaren.
But with several rule changes this year, the field is set to be far more stacked for competition when it comes to being crowned the 2026 world champion, with the likes of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc also pushing at the top of the grid.
We’ll take a look at the top contenders ahead of the new season, and provide you with our best free Formula 1 betting picks, as we try to earn you some extra cash while you enjoy the fast-paced action on the track.
| F1 Drivers' Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Russell | +225 | +200 | +200 |
| Max Verstappen | +325 | +275 | +300 |
| Charles Leclerc | +450 | +500 | +500 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +700 | +650 | +650 |
| Lando Norris | +800 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Kimi Antonelli | +1100 | +900 | +900 |
Check out the best Formula 1 betting sites here.
Below you’ll find a list of favorites to win the Formula 1 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
Despite having never won the F1 Drivers’ World Championship in his career, Mercedes star George Russell enters the season as a strong favorite to do it this year.
That’s because of his performances during Bahrain testing, where their new car clearly has more power than their competition, and also looks balanced on the tyres. In the 2025 season, he had one of his best campaigns too, finishing fourth in the Drivers’ Championship race with 319 points.
The testing in Bahrain has seen his odds plummet in recent weeks, and now he is the favorite with all the bookmakers.
It’s clear that Russell will have a huge advantage with his car, and he is clearly a good enough driver to hang at the top end of the standings. Russell has shown that he has the speed and mindset to become a world champion, but there will always be the possibility that the pressure gets to him at the back end of the season.
At +225, the value just isn’t there to back him at this stage, despite how good he has looked.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
A four-time world champion and the man many consider to still be the best driver in the world right now, Max Verstappen comes into this season looking to regain his throne.
In 2025 his car let him down too often, and yet he still managed to scratch and claw his way to the title race, taking it all the way to the final race where he narrowly missed out on a record-equalling fifth consecutive championship.
This year, Red Bull will have their first in-house power unit alongside Ford, meaning there are a lot of unknowns to be answered as the campaign unravels. However, Verstappen has proven that he knows how to get the absolute maximum from any car he is in, and testing in Bahrain has been positive for the team.
The new rules have left the Dutchman unhappy heading into the season, but the team will not have speed issues regardless.
Considering how good he is, even in a car that isn’t the best, odds of Verstappen to win the championship at +325 look good, but they could push out if he doesn’t get the results he wants early on, so this may be one to keep an eye on.
After a shocking 2025 season, Ferrard turned all their attention to 2026 and they now look ready to finally compete for a World Championship.
Charles Leclerc is the man favored to lead that charge, looking comfortable in Bahrain testing and getting plenty of good signs out of the new car, and especially the new rear-wing design.
The Monaco-born driver has long been tipped to be a world champion driver, and despite a number of race wins, he’s never been able to string together a full campaign that keeps him in contention.
Leclerc set the fastest times in testing ahead of the entire field, and he seems to be enjoying the new regulations more than many of his rivals. That pace will undoubtedly help him win races too, if the concerns about overtaking come to fruition.
At +500 odds, there is good value in Leclerc to go all the way for the first time, and with Ferrari’s early pace, those odds could drop with early-season wins, so this is one to take while you can.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
A nightmare debut campaign in the famous red has seen many people write Hamilton off before a race has even occurred this season, but testing should make people look more closely.
2025 was the first time in the seven-time world champion’s career that he failed to earn a single podium throughout the season, and he is arguably behind Leclerc in his own team now. However, with Ferrari looking good and Hamilton having incredible experience, that will go a long way in tough battles for points.
Hamilton is said to be very happy with the new car, having had an input in the mechanics to suit him better, and there is always the little voice in the background suggesting that Ferrari will try extra hard for him to get his record-breaking eighth title in their car.
Considering all of the above, odds of +700 are far too good to ignore for a pre-season bet.
While Norris claimed his first world title in 2025, the chances of a repeat in 2026 look very slim following the new rules, which have seen the car take a step back compared to its rivals.
He won seven races and the world title ahead of his teammate last year, but McLaren have made their uncertainty about the new rules very clear, and that doesn’t breed confidence in those on the outside looking in.
Taking the defending champion at +1000 is never a bad decision, but the price does tell you that they have a lot of work to do as a team if they want to win another world title in 2026, and it’s probably one to avoid until you’re at least a few weeks into the season.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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