After team launches, the Barcelona shakedown and two Bahrain tests, all eyes turn to the Australian Grand Prix to kick off a busy 24-round 2026 calendar. Our writers Lawrence Barretto, James Hinchcliffe, Chris Medland and Alex Jacques share 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 win his first World Championship with a strong Mercedes package; Max Verstappen second; Lewis Hamilton third.
– James Hinchcliffe (IndyCar race winner and analyst): A wide-open year thanks to sweeping rule changes. George Russell, Lando Norris (returning-champion mentality plus Mercedes PU), and Max Verstappen (excellent at managing the complex energy demands) make my top three.
– Chris Medland (Special Contributor): Max Verstappen, George Russell and Lando Norris — playing it relatively safe given uncertain race-winning machinery across teams.
– Alex Jacques (F1 TV Commentator): George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli.
Who will be the top three teams in 2026?
– LB: Mercedes to reclaim the Constructors’ title, edging out Ferrari, with McLaren just pipping Red Bull for third.
– JH: Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari look strongest based on testing, driver pairings and handling of the new regs — though Kimi Antonelli needs more mileage to become a genuine threat.
– CM: Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari — driver line-ups and recent history indicate these three are likeliest to occupy the top spots.
– AJ: Mercedes out front (perhaps fragile early), Ferrari strong on medium/slow-corner tracks, McLaren slipping to third but improving through development.
What will be the biggest surprise of the season?
– LB: Alpine, benefiting from an early focus on the 2026 rules and switching to Mercedes power, jumps from last year’s position to the top of the midfield, with Pierre Gasly finishing inside the year-end top 10.
– JH: Echoes the Alpine-Gasly call — the team quietly worked on 2026 and the Mercedes PU could lift them well into midfield points contention.
– CM: How hard points will be to come by. The big four could lock out top positions regularly, creating a wide gap to the midfield; teams that scored modest totals last year might finish surprisingly high in the Teams’ table this time.
– AJ: Divergent team race strategies and far more Grands Prix decided late in races.
What are you most looking forward to in 2026?
– LB: The development race. Early-season pace won’t guarantee end-of-year superiority; performance should fluctuate as teams bring updates at different times, creating unpredictability.
– JH: Variation in car concepts and where they excel — long fast tracks vs tighter layouts, cool vs hot conditions — making it interesting to see which venues suit which designs.
– CM: Rapid development across the grid. Curious to see how newcomers (Cadillac, Audi as a full constructor and PU, and Aston Martin’s recovery) perform and evolve.
– AJ: The unpredictability of opening races under a new formula and the development swings that follow.
One bold prediction for 2026?
– LB: Williams will score their first Grand Prix win since 2012.
– JH: Haas will get their first podium in 2026; both drivers capable, with the team’s testing showing promise and Ferrari PU advantages potentially benefiting them.
– CM: At least seven different race winners across the season — a bigger spread of winners than last year.
– AJ: Audi will achieve a first podium in their debut season.