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With new regulations and a wide-open field, we break down the early contenders and betting favorites for the 2026 F1 Drivers’ title.
Who Will Come Out on Top in 2026?
With less than a month before the start of the F1 season at the Australian Grand Prix in early March, interest (and wagering) is increasing. Looking at the betting board (see below) as of this mid-February massive, Englishman George Russell has been tabbed as the favorite. This might surprise some non-gearheads, since the 27-year-old hasn’t won a title.
However, his boss at Mercedes is cautiously confident. “It’s always the best driver and the best car wins,” Toto Wolff said, adding, “We haven’t proven we have a package that is good enough.”
Russell finished fourth in the 2025 F1 standings, with two wins and nine podiums.
Note that Formula 1 is beginning 2026 with new rules and regulations affecting the size of the cars (including wheelbases), composition of the engines, and weight of the tires. Since the authors can barely find their own hood release, they’re unqualified to comment any further
Here’s a bit of a primer just ahead of Formula 1’s start of the season …
Who is the Current Driver Champion in F1?
It wasn’t until the final (Abu Dhabi) race of 2025 that Lando Norris (seven wins, 18 podiums) claimed his first title in F1, denying Max Verstappen a ‘five-peat.’ Verstappen (eight wins, 15 podiums) literally ran out of racetrack, winning everything in sight down the stretch. Norris had built what turned out to be an insurmountable lead in F1 standings, holding on and claiming the championship by two points over Verstappen and 13 over Oscar Piastri (sevens wins, 16 podiums).
Who is Favored to Win the Drivers’ Championship?
As of this mid-February writing, George Russell is the 7-4 (+175) favorite to win the Formula 1 driving title in 2026. Max Verstappen is the 7-2 (+350) second choice, with the defending champ Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso both at 7-1 (+700). Andrea Kimi Antonelli is 9-1 (+900), while Oscar Piastri is the ‘lowest’ among double figures at 12-1 (+1200).
Russell’s two wins rounded out last season’s two dozen events. .
Note the BetUS F1 odds, including head-to-head ‘specials,’ are definitely going to change as the season progresses.
What are the Dates for F1 2026?
As is customary, F1 season is again globetrotting (24 races) in 2026. Australia is hosting the first Grand Prix in early March, before the road show moves to China, Japan, the Middle East, North America, Europe, etc., etc, etc. It ends again in Abu Dhabi the first week of December.
Peeking at the Aussie GP finds George Russell as the 2-1 (+200) favorite, Max Verstappen at +335 and Lando Norris at 6-1 (+600). Andrea Kimi Antonelli (8-1, [+800]) and Oscar Piastri (9-1, [+900}] also have their share of supporters.
Any Final Thoughts?
Both the F1 schedule and F1 news have their share of rabid fans who devour all the twists and turns on those courses with all sorts of twists and turns. It’s only intensifying with about a month remaining before the traffic returns in 2026.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
