2026 F1 Season Preview: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The countdown to the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix is nearly over, with Melbourne's Albert Park set to provide the first chequered flag of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.

Pre-season testing in Bahrain has already shaken up expectations ahead of the highly-anticipated new season.

With the latest regulations placing greater emphasis on electric energy deployment within the power unit, teams have been forced into a steep learning curve.

The result has been a level of unpredictability in the outright market that hasn’t been seen for several seasons.

That uncertainty creates opportunity and there’s early value to be found in 2026 F1 season markets.

2026 F1 Season betting picks and predictions

Charles Leclerc to win Drivers' Championship (+500)

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc made the strongest statement during testing, posting the outright fastest lap.

Not only did he top the timesheets, he did so emphatically, finishing 0.811 seconds clear of his nearest challenger Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. It was the kind of performance that signals genuine title intent.

Last season proved frustrating for the Monegasque driver. While he showed flashes of pace, neither he nor Ferrari managed to secure a race victory, as McLaren and Red Bull controlled much of the campaign in 2025.

This year, however, Ferrari appear to have responded well to the regulation changes. Early signs suggest Leclerc has extracted more from the car than teammate Lewis Hamilton heading into round one in Melbourne.

If the Scuderia can combine their evident pace with consistency in terms of car reliability across the calendar, 2026 may finally present Leclerc with his breakthrough moment and a first world championship title.

Ferrari to win Constructors' Championship (+250)

With Ferrari showing signs of significant progress in testing and Leclerc being tipped up as a serious contender for the title, then going with the Scuderia to win the Constructors' Championship appeals this season.

Hamilton might have endured a tough opening season with a team he dreamed of racing for in his youth but the Brit can get back to winning ways in 2026.

A seven-time world champion, Hamilton is more than familiar with what it takes to compete at the front of the grid and the battle between himself and Leclerc should push Ferrari on to big things in the Constructors’ Championship.

The upgrades Ferrari have brought in for this season, including an exhaust winglet and a rotating rear wing mainplane on their car, the Italian outfit are pushing the envelope this term.

It’s an exciting time for the team and the early value of +250 for Ferrari to claim the Constructors' Championship gets the green light here.

Fernando Alonso to win a race (+250)

With the uncertainty over how teams will adapt to the new regulations for 2026, this campaign could well throw up some surprise race winners.

Aston Martin brought in experienced designer Adrian Newey to work on their AMR26 for the new season and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso could benefit.

There is still plenty of work to be done after challenges became present during pre-season testing, however, if Aston Martin can resolve those, they have a driver in Alonso who is capable of winning at least one race this season.

2026 F1 Drivers' Championship odds

George Russell (Mercedes)	+200
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)	+300
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)	+500
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)	+650
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)	+900
Lando Norris (McLaren)	+1000
Oscar Piastri (McLaren)	+1400
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)	+4000
Carlos Sainz (Williams)	+10000
Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)	+10000

2026 F1 Constructors' Championship odds

Mercedes	+120
Ferrari	+250
McLaren	+250
Red Bull	+700
Aston Martin	+5000
Alpine	+6600
Williams	+10000
Audi	+17500
Haas	+25000
Racing Bulls	+40000
Cadillac	+50000

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.