2026 F1 Drivers' Championship Odds, Mercedes' Russell Favored

F1 began the 2026 season on March 8, 2026, and for the first time ever the field is contested by 22 racing drivers.

2026 F1 Drivers' Championship Odds

Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)		-500
George Russell (Mercedes)		+500
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)		+2000
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)		+2500
Lando Norris (McLaren)		+3300
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)		+4000
Oscar Piastri (McLaren)		+5000
Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)		+100000

Mercedes' George Russell (+500) was the favorite to take home his first Drivers' Championship after the first look at the new cars, which saw Mercedes' dominate the rest of the pack. Russell finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship last season, and could be in line for his first Championship in 2026 after winning the Australian Grand Prix.

After winning the Monaco Grand Prix for his fifth win in a row, Russell's teammate 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli (-500) now has the best odds to win the Drivers' Championship.

Antonelli is one of the few teenagers in a seat this season, and the prodigy could take a huge step in his career in 2026 to compete with F1's elite racers in the Mercedes. Antonelli finished P2 behind his teammate in Australia, and then won the Chinese, Japanese, and Miami Grand Prix in the first four races. He currently leads the Drivers' standings with 100 points.

Four-time champion Max Verstappen (+2000) has the third best odds to take home the title after he finished second behind Norris last season that came down to the final day in Abu Dhabi.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton (+2500) and Charles Leclerc (+4000) are fourth and sixth in the odds with a real chance to win the Championship after Ferrari was one of the fastest cars in testing and Australia. Hamilton has finished second in each of the last two grand prix in 2026.

2025 Drivers' Championship winner Lando Norris (+3300) has made a huge jump after McLaren's car looked significantly faster in Miami compared to the first three races, but flamed out in Moncao last time out and has fallen backwards in the odds.

Norris and his Mclaren teammate Oscar Piastri (+5000) were so dominant in the early part of last season and ran away from the rest of the field in the Constructors' Championship.

Piastri earned the first podium of the season for McLaren, finishing second in Japan.




No other drivers are expected to compete with the top-seven cars.

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Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.