George Russell is on Max Verstappen’s heels in the 2026 F1 title odds
Max Verstappen leads the board, but George Russell’s price is the bigger tell: bookmakers are already leaning toward Mercedes as the 2026 rules reset approaches
Max Verstappen and George Russell are the frontrunners in the 2026 Formula 1 championship odds according to bookmakers. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri complete the top four.
Sky Bet's opening board for the drivers' championship makes Verstappen the favourite at 5/2. Russell is close behind at 11/4 and Norris sits third at 7/2. Piastri is next at 6/1. These prices roughly translate to Verstappen at just under 29%, Russell around 27%, Norris 22%, and Piastri about 14%. These tight margins are fair considering the championship is entering a season that sees a major overhaul of regulations.
For Russell to sit within touching distance of Verstappen implies there is plenty of faith in not just the Briton, but also the machinery he will be piloting. After Mercedes' success with hybrid-powered cars from 2014, there is plenty of confidence from the market in its 2026 package.
Reinforcing this idea, Mercedes is priced as a favourite for the 2026 constructors' championship at 8/5, according to aggregator Oddschecker. The team sits narrowly ahead of McLaren at 13/8, with Ferrari and Red Bull much further back.
Verstappen's place at the top of the driver odds is also interesting considering Red Bull's challenge of bringing its partnership with Ford to a successful start. It seems as though the market isn't spooked by Ford's part in the team's all-new power unit. It does, however, also confirm the market's confidence in the four-time champion's level of driving - something he's proven countless times over the last several years.
Further back on Sky Bet's list, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Antonelli sit at 12/1 with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at 22/1. Lewis Hamilton sits even further at 33/1. There is little confidence in Ferrari.
Odds will change periodically, but were correct at the time of publishing.
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