Australia’s Oscar Piastri was flawless throughout the first two-thirds of the 2025 Formula 1season, and it looked for all the world as though the McLaren man would deliver his maiden title in just his second season on the grid. Unfortunately, fate had other ideas.
After finishing on the podium in all but two of the opening 16 races of the season – winning seven of them – the young Aussie built up an almighty lead at the top of the championship standings.
Then, after a disaster masterclass in Baku, the wheels came off the title charge in spectacular fashion, and Piastri wouldn’t finish on the podium again. The 24-year-old was reeled in and overtaken by both teammate Lando Norris and the relentless Max Verstappen, ultimately having to settle for third place in the standings.
But despite falling out of contention when the pressure was cranked up, Piastri has inspired plenty of new racing content in his homeland, specifically in the world of online casinos. For example, the popular Joe Fortune Casino has created a brand-new virtual racing game on their website, aiming to bring both their players and F1 aficionados closer to the circuit than ever before.
The game, found in the Virtual Sports section under “Supercars,” has proven to be a rousing success, not just for its thrilling action, but also because it’s accessible around the clock, providing one has a stable internet connection and a smart device.
It injects much of the thrill that racing offers, letting fans get their fill even when the circuit is closed and the engines are powered down. It’s thanks to folks like Piastri that these kinds of games exist, igniting the imagination and adding fuel to people’s passion for speed and agility.
But while his countrymen are enjoying their racing virtually, Piastri has his sights set on the real thing, righting the wrongs of last season and mounting another assault on the 2026 Formula 1 title.
Unfortunately for him, his McLaren isn’t thought to be as dominant as it was for much of last season, and several drivers are all considered more likely than the 8/1 Aussie to claim the title. So, who are those drivers, and can Piastri beat them despite what the odds say? Let’s take a look.
Max Verstappen
Despite surrendering his crown last season, Max Verstappen has been installed as the early betting favourite to reclaim his spot atop the F1 mountaintop in 2026. It looked as though the Flying Dutchman’s four-year reign as champion would end with a whimper, and at one point last season, he was over 100 points behind the championship leader.
Then, Super Max provided a comeback for the ages, reeling off victory after victory to remain in contention. He won the deciding race in Abu Dhabi, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, with Lando Norris securing the third place he needed to claim the title by just two points.
Now, Verstappen is the hunter once again, and he will be more motivated than ever to reclaim top spot. The four-time world champion’s experience in title fights gives him an edge heading into the biggest regulation reset Formula 1 has seen in over a decade.
Although questions remain about Red Bull’s adaptation to the new power unit rules. Red Bull Powertrains is now partnered up with US motor giant Ford, and the new double act is aggressively pushing the boundaries of the 2026 compression ratio regulations, which could provide a crucial advantage if their technical approach pays off.
For Piastri to get past Verstappen, the young Aussie must capitalise on any early-season teething issues with Red Bull’s in-house power unit while establishing consistency across both qualifying and race day.
Verstappen’s proven ability to maximize championship points even with an inferior car makes him a formidable opponent who rarely makes errors under pressure. Piastri must stand up to be counted in the face of Verstappen’s inevitable onslaught if he is to have any hope of claiming the crown.
George Russell
George Russell sits second in the betting markets, reflecting confidence surrounding Mercedes nailing the new regulations as they did back in 2014. The British driver has been hungry for a championship fight throughout his three years with the Silver Arrows.
But he never had the machinery under him to take the battle to Verstappen and the McLarens. If the Brackley outfit has indeed adapted well to the upcoming changes, then there’s a very real possibility that G-Russ’ time is now.
Last term, Russell stepped into the team leader role left behind by seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton when he departed for Ferrari. To say he shone would be an understatement. Impressive victories in both Montreal and Singapore represented a stellar return for the new lead driver, and he can expect the full backing of his team in a championship fight, something which Piastri will not have at McLaren.
Lando Norris
Lando Norris enters 2026 as the defending FIA Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion but having dropped to the position of third favourite in the betting charts, it’s clear to see that the market makers expect the reigning champ to come under immense pressure next term.
Lando’s maiden championship victory has given him the confidence and validation needed to finally stamp out those unforced errors that have cost him so dearly in the past. But will that be enough to see him surpass both Verstappen and Russell in the title race?
Piastri had Norris’ number for much of last season, regularly beating his more experienced teammate on route to building up a lead at the top of the championship standings. Now, the pressure is on to deliver sustained dominance over his teammate throughout the whole campaign, not just two-thirds of it.
If he does that, “Papaya Rules” may well end up favouring him throughout the 2026’s season run in, and that could be the difference between a maiden world title and another year of heartbreak.
