F1 2026 Bookmaker’s Odds – Can George Russell Claim the Title?

With the first official race in the 2026 calendar a little over a week away, keen F1 racing fans will be gearing up for another season of thrills, excitement, twists, and turns. With another nine months of races and events set to take place, the Championship couldn’t be closer and the first race in Australia has not even taken place yet.

With new engines, new cars, new racers, and new factory teams in the form of Cadillac and Audi, excitement is definitely building. Will Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claim his fifth Driver’s Championship title? Is George Russell, this year’s dark horse, going to steal the win, or will McLaren’s Lando Norris make it two on the bounce?

Before the action even kicks off, even casual F1 fans will likely have a rough idea of how the table will look by December with the ‘big four’ – McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes all likely to be contending for both the Constructor’s Title, as well as the Driver’s Title.

But what do the bookmaker’s think? Here are a few drivers likely to compete for the title, and the odds from Irish F1 bookmakers on Scs.ie; BOYLE Sports and Ladbrokes.

Can Charles Leclerc Come Good?

Remember how, a couple of years back, Charles Leclerc looked like the only realistic driver able to give Max Verstappen a run for his money? Well, since then, the Ferrari man has a new teammate in former multi-time champion Lewis Hamilton, and the bookies are certainly favoring him.

2025 was considered a failure for Leclerc, as he placed a disappointing 5^th. After finishing 3^rd for Ferrari the previous year, he was a heavy favorite at the start of the season. After the team failed to secure a single win, the team has invested heavily and have their sights set on both the Driver’s Championship and the Constructors Championship.

Leclerc is currently at 9/2 to take the title with BOYLE Sports, whereas Ladbrokes are providing odds of 11/2. If he and Hamilton can find the right synergy, 2026 could very well be the year of the dark horse, or should that be, the black horse?

Verstappen Back on Form?

At the start of 2025, virtually everybody expected Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to claim his fifth consecutive title for the season, particularly based on how dominant the Dutch-Belgian driver had looked in previous years.

In 2023, for example, he’d secured the title by October. In 2024 it was his by November. 2025, however, didn’t quite go his way, although he still managed to claw his way back, securing a victory in Abu Dhabi but narrowly missing out on his fifth Driver’s Championship by just two points to McLaren’s Lando Norris.

While 2025 was the year of McLaren, you should never count out the bull. At 28 years of age, Max is still young enough to make history and become the first driver ever to win eight titles (Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher currently top that list with 7 titles each). He’s currently half-way there, so you best believe he has his sights set on that record.

Currently, Max is second-favorite to secure the title. Ladbrokes and BOYLE Sports are both currently providing 3/1 odds.

Lewis Hamilton Looking to Make History

While there has been a lot of talk in recent years of Hamilton being ‘washed’ as the kids like to say, the 41-year-old will not only be looking to make history and secure a record-breaking eighth title, but to also show that 41 is the new 31.

Since joining Ferrari, Lewis seems much more upbeat and optimistic, despite a few wobbles during the final testing stages in Bahrain. While he’ll likely not be Ferrari’s favored driver at the start of the season, who knows what will happen months down the line? To be in with a shot at the title, it will be down to Lewis to find that dominant form he had a decade prior, when he was virtually untouchable.

2025 was deemed a failure for Hamilton in his debut year for Ferrari. He finished in 6^th place and described it as his ‘worst season ever’. Despite this, he has still demonstrated glimpses of the brilliance that helped him to secure 7 titles. If he gets so much as a sniff at that 8^th title, he’ll be like a shark that smells blood.

Sir Lewis is currently 7/1 for the title with Ladbrokes, whereas BOYLE Sports have him at 13/2.

George Russell Stepping Out of the Shadows

And finally, we have the favorite. Mercedes’ George Russell.

Despite playing second fiddle to Hamilton in the early 2020s, once Hamilton left for pastures new, this allowed Russell to grab the limelight and show Mercedes what he was all about. Now, Russell is the number one driver and 2026 could be his time to shine.

Last season, Russell proved he was more than a match for Hamilton, ultimately securing 4^th place with 319 points for the season. With Norris winning last season, the bookies appear to be backing away from obvious favorites such as Verstappen , as you never know what can happen.

Currently, Russell is the favorite to win the 2026 Formula 1 Driver’s Championship with BOYLE Sports providing odds of 9/4, and Ladbrokes having him at 2/1 to secure the title.