Is that this bookies’ favorite George Russell’s yr? Can McLaren see off aggressive rivals for a constructors’ title hat-trick? Will extra drivers win a race than simply the 4 in 2025?
With no less than some of the pre-season speaking to cease when the stopwatch on aggressive observe motion begins in Melbourne this weekend, it is nearly time to search out out who actually is wanting fast for the beginning of the game’s new period.
So simply earlier than then, and for a little bit of enjoyable, we caught up with seven members of the Sky Sports activities F1 workforce and requested them to look into their crystal balls for some predictions earlier than spherical one of many 24-race marketing campaign…
What is going to the 1-2-3 ending order be this Sunday’s Australian GP podium?
Martin Brundle: Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri.
Simon Lazenby: George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton.
Natalie Pinkham: Lando Norris, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton.
David Croft: George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Sky Sports activities F1’s David Croft takes a more in-depth have a look at how F1 in 2026 will evolve as the game begins a brand new period of recharge, that includes extra electrical energy, new groups, and engine suppliers
Karun Chandhok: George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris.
Rachel Brookes: George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli.
Anthony Davidson: George Russell, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris.
What number of drivers will win a Grand Prix in 2026?
Simon: 5.
Crofty: Eight.
I will go massive as a result of there’s quite a lot of alternative from race to race and drivers having to be taught from race to race and, even for the extra skilled drivers, there’s quite a lot of studying to be accomplished. So I am going to say eight, but it surely would not shock me if we had a ninth or tenth in there as effectively.
Rachel: Ten.
Each observe goes to be so totally different by way of power administration. However I feel at the beginning of the yr, we are going to see quite a lot of totally different drivers successful races. I feel the again finish of the yr, they will all be on high of it. I feel we might have as many as 10 totally different winners.
Anthony: Seven.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Former racing driver Anthony Davidson believes if Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton can handle qualifying, he might compete for his eighth world title
Karun: 5.
Natalie: Eight.
Martin: Greater than standard as a result of I feel it will be a bit wild. At the least six.
Who will win the 2026 Drivers’ Championship?
Natalie: George Russell.
Crofty: George can address quite a lot of adversity but additionally is aware of the preparation that he’ll must put in for each race and is ready to do it.
So George Russell, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar. George would be the favorite however I feel Lando and Oscar and Max are working shut.
Martin: George Russell.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Martin Brundle believes George Russell has the arrogance to compete for the title if his automotive permits it
Karun: George Russell.
Rachel: George Russell. He will likely be pushed all the best way, however I feel George will win it.
Anthony: George Russell. I feel he appears to have began off on the precise footing. The automotive is fast sufficient to persistently be up there now, moderately than the odd efficiency that was ok and he is able to win a world championship.
Simon: George Russell. I feel he is prepared and he could have the automotive to do it.
Who will win the 2026 Constructors’ Championship?
Simon: Mercedes.
Natalie: Ferrari.
Martin: McLaren.
Crofty: The strongest driver line-up pairing might be McLaren. I’d be stunned if McLaren aren’t constructors’ champions but it surely might go proper right down to the wire and each level is treasured. So McLaren as constructors’ champions but when Kimi Antonelli drives like he did at sure occasions final yr, then Mercedes may take a little bit of stopping.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Oscar Piastri appears forward to the brand new F1 season and the challenges McLaren will face with the brand new rules
Rachel: Mercedes.
Karun: McLaren.
Anthony: The highest 4 are extremely tight. Mercedes have a extremely sturdy likelihood. You possibly can’t rely out McLaren. Everybody has been tremendous stunned by what Pink Bull have achieved immediately, in order that they’re solely going to enhance quickly because the season progresses. Ferrari regarded genuinely fast in Bahrain.
The 2 McLaren drivers are so evenly-matched at almost each circuit in all circumstances, I feel that offers you as a constructor nice power, so their expertise as a driver pairing might be the factor that offers them that slight benefit over the course of a season, with all that it will throw at you.
Make one BOLD prediction for the season?
Karun: Haas to get their first podium.
Simon: Isack Hadjar to win a race.
Anthony: Kimi Antonelli wins the World Championship.
Natalie: Hadjar to be on the rostrum within the first half of the season.
Which race are you wanting ahead to probably the most?
Anthony: Melbourne. It is that step into the unknown for a lot of groups and followers.
I am excited to see if all that we learn about these vehicles in these early levels will come to mild in Melbourne and ship some fairly unpredictable wheel-to-wheel racing.
Natalie: Japan as a result of I have never been at a race since September!
Simon: I all the time look ahead to Melbourne, this yr greater than something. Saturday in Melbourne, all the discuss stops and we get going and you then’re like, ‘proper, that is the place we’re, that is the beginning pecking order’.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
With the brand new season set to get underway this weekend, relive what occurred on the previous three events, in 2014, 2017 and 2022, the place regulation modifications have come into impact in Method 1
Crofty: Silverstone – Finest observe, finest followers, the very best place to be in Britain within the summertime. It is a circuit that simply comes alive when F1 is there.
Rachel: Australia. I am unable to wait to see these vehicles on observe this yr and see firsthand what all of the groups have been engaged on as a result of it is all the time a whole unknown.
Karun: British GP with George, Lando and Lewis all in rivalry.
Martin: The following one!
Will Cadillac rating their first factors – and the place – throughout their debut yr?
Martin: Paradoxically, I feel it might be in direction of the start of the season, so for example China.
Anthony: If they are going to do it, it will come by reliability, which must be their major focus. They have two extremely skilled drivers, in order that’s going to assist.
To illustrate they will rating their first factors in Montreal.
Natalie: Austin.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Watch as Cadillac reveals its first-ever F1 livery forward of the 2026 season
Simon: Sure. There will likely be an anomaly – whether or not that be weather-related or one thing else. However I do not suppose they will do it on pure tempo. I feel it’ll want one thing particular within the first half of the season, significantly.
Karun: No.
Rachel: Sure. In Brazil as a result of I feel it will take a really, very very long time.
I am unsure they’ll rating some extent, but when they do, it might be a moist race with mixed-up situations, all types happening, and will probably be a Brazil, like Kevin Magnussen did with Haas when he put it on pole that yr, I feel will probably be a very blended up race, blended up situations, they usually’ll benefit from issues going their manner.
Crofty: They may rating their first factors in Australia however I will say China as a result of when you’re good in your tyres in China it pays dividends and China goes to be a large headache for the groups and drivers as a result of it is a Dash weekend. And it could even rain in China, which might be an enormous leveller.
What would be the shock/shock of the season?
Crofty: Oliver Bearman to attain a podium. He’s an distinctive expertise and I feel Haas are in a extremely good place, so I will go greatest shock is Ollie Bearman. Largest shock – Fernando Alonso says he’ll keep on racing in 2027.
Rachel: Pierre Gasly on the rostrum this season.
Martin: Aston Martin are heading the best way of a adverse shock. By way of a constructive shock, in all probability Alpine.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Martin Brundle and Bernie Collins focus on the place Aston Martin finds itself in forward of the beginning of the 2026 F1 season
Sky Sports activities F1’s Australian GP schedule
Thursday March 5
3am: Drivers’ Press Convention
6am: Paddock Uncut
9.45pm: F3 Follow
10.55pm: F2 Follow
Friday March 6
1am: Australian GP Follow One (session begins at 1.30am)*
2.55am: F3 Qualifying*
3.30am: Group Bosses Press Convention
3.50am: F2 Qualifying*
4.35am: Australian GP Follow Two (session begins at 5am)*
6.15am: The F1 Present*
Saturday March 7
0.10am: F3 Dash*
1.10am: Australian GP Follow Three (session begins at 1.30am)*
3.05am: F2 Dash*
4.10am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
5am: AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
7am: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book*
9.45pm: F3 Function Race*
Sunday March 8
12.20am: F2 Function Race*
2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
6am: Australian GP response: Chequered Flag*
7am: Ted’s Pocket book*
7.55am: Australian GP race replay*
10am: Australian GP highlights (additionally on Sky One)*
*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion
Watch each race of the 2026 Method 1 season dwell on Sky Sports activities, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
