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Robbie Von’s Formula 1 2026 Preview

Posted on | Posted by Robbie Von

Can Oscar Piastri get justice in 2026? Here’s your TABtouch Formula 1 Season Preview.

Punters, start your engines! The chaos is about to unfold for another year of Formula 1 Racing.

2026 should prove to be the season of new frontier for the sport. New regulations, new engine partnerships, new aerodynamic philosophy and the biggest rules overhaul in over a decade is about to reshape the grid. It’s certainly going to make interesting punting for the first few weeks, as we monitor how teams deal with all this change.

2022 was the last time we saw a massive overhaul of rules and regulations. Mercedes were top of the tree going into that year. They had won seven titles in a row and seemed unstoppable. But 2022’s new era saw the German juggernaut struggle to perfect the new design, resulting in the infamous ‘porpoising’ which plagued the team for a couple of years.

Keeping this in mind, all eyes will be on McLaren in 2026. Reigning Constructors Champion and the Drivers World Championship in the cabinet for Lando Norris, McLaren were unstoppable in 2025. Can they keep this momentum in 2026? Or will McLaren find themselves back to the pack.

Plenty of storylines in play for 2026, lets unpack all 11 teams:

McLaren

Odds for Constructors Championship: $6.50*

Drivers: Lando Norris $8*, Oscar Piastri $10*

Last Year: Constructors Champion, Drivers Champion (Norris), 3rd (Piastri)

With ‘Papaya Rules’ still in play, expect the competition between Norris and Piastri to be at fever pitch. Norris has the newfound confidence of been crowned World Champion, whereas Piastri has something to prove. Tantalising. Other big question for me, will the new regulations bring McLaren car back to the pack. Early testing says yes. Proof will be in the pudding.

Mercedes

Odds for Constructors Championship: $2.50*

Drivers: George Russell $3.25*, Kimi Antonelli $9*

George Russell’s first year of being Number 1 driver saw him become a really strong leader for the team. Russell’s experience and Antonelli’s youth make for a really good pairing. Bahrain testing was positive, largely due to the highly touted new power unit. With two strong drivers, Mercedes is looking to be a real force in 2026. Early favourites to win everything.

Red Bull

Odds for Constructors Championship: $4.25*

Drivers: Max Verstappen $4.50*, Isack Hadjar $81*

Max Verstappen drove out of his skin in 2025. He proved once again why he is the best in the business. With a pretty average Red Bull car and no help form teammate Yuki Tsonda, it’s almost like he willed himself into second spot. Has he finally found a worthy teammate in Isack Hadjar? If so, then Drivers World Championship Number 5 could be on the horizon.

Ferrari

Odds for Constructors Championship: $3*

Drivers: Charles Le Clerc $4.50*, Lewis Hamilton $8*

2025 was a strange year for Ferrari. They ditched Carlos Sainz for super star Lewis Hamilton. The jury is still out on that decision. Le Clerc was strong but not consistent enough. The car was too slow. Ferrari switched their focus to 2026 early in the season. Will getting that jump on the competition pay dividends? Big question, when will we see Kim Kardashian trackside supporting her new beau, Lewis Hamilton.

Williams

Odds for Constructors Championship: $151*

Drivers: Carlos Sainz $251*, Alex Albon $251*

Williams is a hard team to read. They were on the rise in 2025. The strong driver partnership of Sainz and Albon delivered a 5th place in the championship. Testing in Bahrain wasn’t great though, the car appears to be overweight, causing a lag in pace. The team you want to see succeed, so hopefully they can fix those design issues before Melbourne. An interesting watch.

Racing Bulls

Odds for Constructors Championship: $251*

Drivers: Liam Lawson $401*, Arvid Lindblad $401*

One of the most enthralling teams on the grid over the last couple of years. So many driver changes (Dan Riccardo soap opera anyone?). Last year was great thanks to Isack Hadjar. With Hadjar promoted, the pressure is on Lawson to find consistency early as senior driver. If rookie Lindblad pushes him, Lawson may not last the season. Always interesting, won’t be a challenger.

Aston Martin

Odds for Constructors Championship: $67*

Drivers: Fernando Alonso $81*, Lance Stroll $401*

I can’t get a read on this team. Lance Stroll is a nepo baby who hasn’t performed since getting in the seat. The greatest F1 mind in the business, Adrian Newey, as joined as Team Principal, but the car is a rabble. Absolute nightmare testing week in Bahrain. Expect a bottom three finish, but with Fernando Alonso in the car, who knows.

Haas

Odds for Constructors Championship: $101*

Drivers: Estaban Ocon $401*, Ollie Bearman $151*

From a racing point of view, Haas are expected to be the ‘best of the rest’ in 2026. A result like this haas (enter the dad jokes!) been a LONG time coming. Testing in Bahrain was great, they’ve majorly improved pace. American team who have always just been a bit ‘meh’. Expect a good year, but not much excitement.

Audi

Odds for Constructors Championship: $251*

Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg $401*, Gabriele Bortoletto $401*

No longer Kick Sauber. New name, new sponsors, new expectation. Audi entered F1 to be competitive over the long term, not necessarily this season. The mindset of the German manufacturing giant looks to be toward progression throughout the season. Hulkenberg and Bortoletto will be an interesting pairing in this bigger, better team.

Alpine

Odds for Constructors Championship: $67*

Drivers: Pierre Gasley $81*, Franco Colapinto $401*

Alpine were garbage in 2025. Pierre Gasly is an underrated driver, but even someone of his calibre had no chance in Alpine’s 2025 bucket of bolts. 2026 looks better. The switch to Mercedes appears to have brought more pace. Alpine have a glitzy angle, with Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, Michael B. Jordan, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Rory McIlroy, and Anthony Joshua taking a 24% stake in the team. Expect serious improvement.

Cadillac

Odds for Constructors Championship: $401*

Drivers: Sergio Perez $751*, Valtteri Bottas $751*

What to expect: Not much in their first year. New team, new car, new story. Gun drivers in the seat with Perez and Bottas both highly capable. Think GWS and GC Suns when they joined the AFL. Expansion teams take time and patience.

So who takes it out?

If you want to win the Drivers World Championship, you need a fast car. Based on that, my prediction is the eventual Champion will need to be driving one of Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari or McLaren.

Hard to say exactly who will be quickest with the change in regulations, so I’m going to take the man who could drive a billy cart and somehow win. Max Verstappen at $4.50 in a Red Bull. Mercedes seem to be the car with the most hype, so I’ll take them for the Constructors at $2.50.

There you have it, Max and Mercedes the two champions for 2026. Could it be Max IN Mercedes 2027, I wonder the futures odds I could jag on that?!

*Odds correct at the time of publication.

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