It’s that point of the yr once more and it’s pre-season predictions time!
A brand new period is dawning in 2026 with new vehicles, new laws and a brand new group in Cadillac. Whereas Mercedes are the favourites – with George Russell the decide for the bookies – no person really is aware of what’s going to occur come the primary race on 8 March in Melbourne.
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received his first world championship final yr, however McLaren look to be a tad wanting tempo in comparison with Mercedes and , who’re filled with optimism after a winless 2025 and a podium-less marketing campaign for .
We’ve a rookie on the grid in British 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad, driving for Pink Bull’s junior group. And what about ? The Dutchman is chasing a fifth world title in six years, at a group who’ve constructed their very own energy unit for the primary time alongside Ford.
Forward of the season-opener in Melbourne, these are my predictions for 2026:
World champion – George Russell
I do know, I do know, not precisely daring, however Russell is undoubtedly now prepared for a championship tilt.
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The British driver, now in his fifth season at Mercedes, loved his best-year in F1 final season, maximising each alternative potential, with two wins and 9 podiums. All he wants now’s constant race-winning equipment beneath him and, it appears, Mercedes are the main outfit.
George Russell is the favorite (Copyright 2026 The Related Press. All rights reserved)
Constructors’ champions – Mercedes
Whispers within the paddock have lengthy billed the Silver Arrows because the primary group – however the top-four stay carefully bunched heading into Melbourne.
Ferrari, McLaren and Pink Bull are bang in competition, however Toto Wolff’s outfit have been eyeing these new set of laws after a troublesome four-year interval. Given their expertise and experience, I again them to get it nearly proper.
Toto Wolff’s Mercedes group are the frontrunners (AP)
Constructors’ wood spoon – Cadillac
Something increased than eleventh place for can be a monumental achievement.
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Merely attending to the primary check was an enormous achievement, one thing Williams couldn’t obtain, however the exams in Bahrain confirmed that Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas had been nicely brief on tempo, commonly on the backside of the timesheet.
Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are driving for Cadillac (Cadillac Method 1 group)
Who finishes increased out of Hamilton or Leclerc at Ferrari?
Hamilton’s optimism forward of race one is promising, however given his know-how at Ferrari and his dominance of the head-to-head final yr, Leclerc is the favorite to win the Scuderia teammate battle.
It feels as if the Monegasque has gone just below the radar in pre-season. If Ferrari are aggressive, he might have a real shot at his first world title.
Charles Leclerc is hoping for a aggressive automotive from Ferrari (Getty Photographs)
Greatest shock: Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin look in a state of utter helplessness for the time being, amid their issues with new power-unit supplier Honda.
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Two-time world champion Alonso, 44, has been ready for 2026 for a while as his last likelihood to maybe launch one last championship tilt. At present, it seems 1,000,000 miles away.
So right here goes my wild prediction: Alonso will lose persistence and retire halfway by means of the season, across the summer season break.
Fernando Alonso is a two-time world champion (Getty Photographs)
Greatest underdog: Pierre Gasly
Alpine had been bottom-of-the-table final yr however, having ditched their in-house programme, they’ve taken on Mercedes engines. A smart transfer.
They appear proper on the high of the midfield in pre-season and, due to this fact, might be in competition for normal factors. I’m not satisfied by Franco Colapinto, however his teammate, Pierre Gasly, now in his ninth consecutive season, is extraordinarily succesful. I again him to register a podium.
Pierre Gasly is Alpine’s lead driver (Copyright 2025 The Related Press. All rights reserved)
Greatest race – Australia
Given the uncertainty of the brand new guidelines and new laws, together with the lively aero, increase mode and overtake mode, the primary race must be filled with drama.
Anticipate lock-ups. Anticipate collisions. Anticipate the unknown. With 500,000 followers within the grandstands over the course of the race weekend, it must be a cracker.
Albert Park hosts the season-opener (Getty Photographs)
