Testing for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship happened in Bahrain at the beginning of February, and the first round in Australia will take place on the 6th of March. What are the chances that George Russell will bag his first Drivers’ title this year?
Last year in 2025, we saw Lando Norris win his first Drivers’ Championship, racing with McLaren and racking up 423 points in the process. The competition was close, as in the end Norris was only 2 points ahead of Max Verstappen.
In fourth place was George Russell driving with Mercedes, with 319 points. Russell, who made his Formula 1 debut in 2019 with Williams in the Australian Grand Prix, has now taken five grands prix wins and 24 podiums. Russell joined Mercedes in 2022 and hopes that the 2026 season will deliver him his first title.
Betting Odds
A quick look at Irish bookmakers TopBetting.ie shows that Russell is the favourite to win the Formula 1 2026 Drivers’ Championship. This is thanks to a combination of factors including the pre-season odds, the standings from the last season, and general predictions from bookies and punters. Currently the Mercedes driver is being quoted as:
- BoyleSports: 2/1
- Ladbrokes: 2/1
The pre-season testing in Bahrain was split over two weeks with the first test running from the 11th to 13th February, and the second from the 18th to 20th February.
The first pre-season test showed promise for Russell, jumping up the standings from sixth on the first day, to fourth on the second, and then second on day threes. On the second pre-season test, Russell led the standings on day one with a time of 1m 33s, finished eighth on day two, and fourth on the final day.
Altogether, on this is evidence Russell clearly has the potential to do well in the upcoming grands prix but also needs to show consistency as his reputation and history simply aren’t enough to rely on.
Russell’s chances
Russell, who was born in Norfolk and recently celebrated his 28th birthday, started his career in 2006 and effortlessly progressed higher up the ranks. He is famed for his adaptability to a range of different cars, and is perhaps best known for his skill when it comes to cornering and controlling the vehicle.
Russell is a front-runner not only due to his crazy work ethic, but also because of his performance last season in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship where he had nine podium finishes including two wins in Canada (Round 10) and Singapore (Round 18).
In his Formula 1 career so far, Russell has entered 152 Grand Prix and achieved 24 podiums, and 7 pole positions. He has won five grands prix including Sao Paulo in 2022, Austria and Las Vegas in 2024, and Canada and Singapore in 2025, as mentioned.
In the upcoming season, Russell has the experience and drive to continue improving and hopefully winning the 2026 title.
Who are his rivals..?
Also, in with a chance of snatching the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship are 21 other drivers, including the defending champion Lando Norris. Even though George Russell is a favourite, the competition is fierce but there are only a few other drivers whom the bookies are also backing. These are:
- Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen is one of the youngest and most decorated Formula 1 drivers, who won four consecutive Championships between 2021 and 2024 with Red Bull. Verstappen holds a series of records, such as the highest number of wins in a single season which was 19 in 2023. He has a total of 71 race wins too, but the talented driver’s winning streak was cut short last year when driver Lando Norris secured his first Drivers’ crown. Lando’s current odds are:
BoyleSports: 3/1
Ladbrokes: 3/1
- Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc is another favourite to win the 2026 Drivers’ Championship and has yet to win his first title. Leclerc has notably had many near wins, such as runner-up in 2022. In his 8 seasons so far, he has secured eight wins. Leclerc competes with Ferrari who he joined in 2019 after being a Ferrari Academy driver since 2016. His current odds are:
BoyleSports: 5/1
Ladbrokes: 4/1
- Lewis Hamilton
Sitting alongside Leclerc at Ferrari is legend Lewis Hamilton, who jointly holds the current world record for most Drivers’ Championships with Michael Schumacher. Hamilton won his seven titles between 2008 to 2020. In the pre-season testing in Bahrain, Hamilton claimed that he at last feels connected to his car this season and is feeling confident and refreshed for the upcoming grands prix. His odds currently are:
BoyleSports: 13/2
Ladbrokes: 7/1
- Lando Norris
Lando Norris started his Formula 1 career with McLaren in 2019 after being part of their academy since 2017. The 26-year-old British driver won his first championship last year picking up seven wins and 18 podiums. This was a huge feat and a well-deserved win, especially after the disappointment of finishing second in 2024. Norris, along with the other favourites, has consistently shown talent and determination, so he is a strong rival for this year. His odds are:
BoyleSports: 10/1
Ladbrokes: 10/1
The 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship
- Round 1: Australia (6-8 March)
- Round 2: China (13-15 March)
- Round 3: Japan (27-29 March)
- Round 4: Bahrain (10-12 April)
- Round 5: Saudi Arabia (17-19 April)
- Round 6: Miami (1-3 May)
- Round 7: Canada (22-24 May)
- Round 8: Monaco (5-7 June)
- Round 9: Barcelona-Catalunya (12-14 June)
- Round 10: Austria (26-28 June)
- Round 11: Great Britain (3-5 July)
- Round 12: Belgium (17-19 July)
- Round 13: Hungary (24-26 July)
- Round 14: Netherlands (21-23 August)
- Round 15: Italy (4-6 September)
- Round 16: Spain (11-13 September)
- Round 17: Azerbaijan (24-26 September)
- Round 18: Singapore (9-11 October)
- Round 19: The United States (23-25 October)
- Round 20: Mexico (30 October-1 November)
- Round 21: Brazil (6-8 November)
- Round 22: Las Vegas (19-21 November)
- Round 23: Qatar (27-29 November)
- Round 24: Abu Dhabi (4-6 December)
There is a long, tumultuous road ahead and predictions are guaranteed to chop and change as the competition unfolds.
The only thing we can say with certainty is that George Russell, the current favourite, has the unwavering support of fans based on his raw talent and unabating dedication.
If this is your first time betting on Formula 1, he is definitely the strongest option so far…
