Is this bookies’ favourite George Russell’s year? Can McLaren see off rivals for a constructors’ title hat-trick? Will more drivers win a race than just the four in 2025? With pre-season talk ending when the stopwatch starts in Melbourne, seven members of the Sky Sports F1 team made predictions ahead of round one of the 24-race campaign.
Australian GP 1-2-3 predictions
– 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.
– Karun Chandhok: George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris.
– Rachel Brookes: George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli.
– Anthony Davidson: George Russell, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris.
How many drivers will win a Grand Prix in 2026?
– Simon: Five.
– Crofty: Eight (“I’ll say eight, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we had a ninth or 10th”).
– Rachel: Ten (“Every track is going to be so different in terms of energy management… at the start of the year, we will see a lot of different drivers winning races”).
– Anthony: Seven.
– Karun: Five.
– Natalie: Eight.
– Martin: At least six (“more than usual because I think it’s going to be a bit wild”).
Who will win the 2026 Drivers’ Championship?
– Natalie: George Russell.
– David Croft: George Russell (lists other contenders: Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar).
– Martin: George Russell.
– Karun: George Russell.
– Rachel: George Russell.
– Anthony: George Russell (“he seems to have started off on the right footing”).
– Simon: George Russell.
Who will win the 2026 Constructors’ Championship?
– Simon: Mercedes.
– Natalie: Ferrari.
– Martin: McLaren.
– Crofty: McLaren (“strongest driver line-up pairing… I would be surprised if McLaren aren’t constructors’ champions”).
– Rachel: Mercedes.
– Karun: McLaren.
– Anthony: Open — top four incredibly tight; Mercedes and McLaren strong, Red Bull improving, Ferrari quick in Bahrain.
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 podium in the first half of the season.
Which race are you looking forward to most?
– Anthony: Melbourne (the step into the unknown).
– Natalie: Japan.
– Simon: Melbourne (Saturday reveals the starting pecking order).
– Crofty: Silverstone (best track, best fans).
– Rachel: Australia.
– Karun: British GP (George, Lando and Lewis all in contention).
– Martin: The next one!
Will Cadillac score their first points — and where — during their debut year?
– Martin: China (early season).
– Anthony: Montreal (if reliability holds; experienced drivers will help).
– Natalie: Austin.
– Simon: Yes, possibly via an anomaly (weather or other); likely in first half of the season.
– Karun: No.
– Rachel: Brazil (wet, mixed-up conditions could level the field).
– Crofty: China (tyre management and potential rain on a Sprint weekend).
What will be the surprise/shock of the season?
– Crofty: Oliver Bearman to score a podium; biggest shock — Fernando Alonso decides to continue racing in 2027.
– Rachel: Pierre Gasly on the podium this season.
– Martin: Aston Martin heading toward a negative shock; Alpine could be a positive shock.
Sky Sports F1’s Australian GP schedule (local UK broadcast times)
Thursday March 5
– 3am: Drivers’ Press Conference
– 6am: Paddock Uncut
– 9.45pm: F3 Practice
– 10.55pm: F2 Practice
Friday March 6
– 1am: Australian GP Practice One (session starts 1.30am)
– 2.55am: F3 Qualifying
– 3.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference
– 3.50am: F2 Qualifying
– 4.35am: Australian GP Practice Two (session starts 5am)
– 6.15am: The F1 Show
Saturday March 7
– 0.10am: F3 Sprint
– 1.10am: Australian GP Practice Three (session starts 1.30am)
– 3.05am: F2 Sprint
– 4.10am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up
– 5am: Australian Grand Prix Qualifying
– 7am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
– 9.45pm: F3 Feature Race
Sunday March 8
– 12.20am: F2 Feature Race
– 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
– 4am: The Australian Grand Prix
– 6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag
– 7am: Ted’s Notebook
– 7.55am: Australian GP race replay
– 10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky One)
Watch every race of the 2026 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW — no contract, cancel anytime.