2026 F1 Season: Predictions and Bold Calls

After team launches, the Barcelona shakedown and two Bahrain tests, focus turns to the Australian Grand Prix to kick off a busy 24-round 2026 calendar. Our panel — Lawrence Barretto, James Hinchcliffe, Chris Medland and Alex Jacques — offer their predictions for the season, from title contenders to the biggest surprises.

Who will be the top three drivers in 2026?

• Lawrence Barretto (F1 Correspondent & Presenter): George Russell to secure his first World Championship thanks to a strong Mercedes package; Max Verstappen second; Lewis Hamilton third.
• James Hinchcliffe (IndyCar race winner and analyst): A wide-open year after major rule changes. My top three are George Russell, Lando Norris (bringing a champion's mindset and Mercedes power), and Max Verstappen (excellent at managing complex energy demands).
• Chris Medland (Special Contributor): Max Verstappen, George Russell and Lando Norris — a cautious call given the uncertainty about which cars will win regularly.
• Alex Jacques (F1 TV Commentator): George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli.

Who will be the top three teams in 2026?

• Lawrence Barretto: Mercedes to reclaim the Constructors' title, with Ferrari in second and McLaren just ahead of Red Bull for third.
• James Hinchcliffe: Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari look strongest based on testing, driver pairings and how teams handled the new regs — though Antonelli needs more mileage to be a consistent threat.
• Chris Medland: Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari — driver line-ups and recent form make these three the likeliest front-runners.
• Alex Jacques: Mercedes out front (possibly vulnerable early on), Ferrari strong on medium/slow-corner tracks, McLaren slipping to third but improving through development.

What will be the biggest surprise of the season?

• Lawrence Barretto: Alpine, having focused early on 2026 and switching to Mercedes power units, leaps from last year to the top of the midfield. Pierre Gasly finishes inside the year-end top 10.
• James Hinchcliffe: Echoes the Alpine-Gasly pick — the team quietly prioritised 2026 work and the Mercedes PU could push them well into consistent midfield points.
• Chris Medland: How difficult points become. The big four could regularly occupy the top positions, creating a wide gap to the rest; teams that scored modestly last year might finish surprisingly high in the Teams' standings.
• Alex Jacques: Very different team race strategies and many more Grands Prix decided late in races.

What are you most looking forward to in 2026?

• Lawrence Barretto: The development race. Early-season pace won't guarantee end-of-year supremacy; performance should ebb and flow as teams bring updates at different times, producing unpredictability.
• James Hinchcliffe: Variation in car concepts and how they perform on different circuits — long fast tracks versus tighter layouts, cool versus hot conditions — making it fascinating to see which designs suit which venues.
• Chris Medland: Rapid development across the grid. I'm curious to watch newcomers — Cadillac, Audi as a full constructor and power unit supplier, and the trajectory of Aston Martin — and how they evolve.
• Alex Jacques: The unpredictability of the opening races under a new formula and the development swings that follow.

One bold prediction for 2026?

• Lawrence Barretto: Williams will score their first Grand Prix win since 2012.
• James Hinchcliffe: Haas will achieve their first podium in 2026; both drivers are capable, and the team's testing plus Ferrari PU advantages could pay off.
• Chris Medland: At least seven different race winners across the season — a wider spread than last year.
• Alex Jacques: Audi will claim a first podium in their debut season.