F1 2026: Predictions from Sky Sports F1 team for Australian GP podium, world champions, race winners, driver surprises | F1 News

Is this bookies’ favourite George Russell’s 12 months? 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 a minimum of 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 F1 team and requested them to look into their crystal balls for some predictions earlier than spherical one of many 24-race marketing campaign…

What will the 1-2-3 ending order be on 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.

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’m going to go huge as a result of there’s a number of alternative from race to race and drivers having to study from race to race and, even for probably the most skilled drivers, there’s a number of studying to be completed. So I’ll say eight, but it surely would not shock me if we had a ninth or tenth in there as nicely.

Rachel: Here.

Every observe goes to be so totally different when it comes to vitality administration. But I believe at first of the 12 months, we are going to see a number of totally different drivers successful races. I believe the again finish of the 12 months, they’re going to all be on high of it. I believe we might have as many as 10 totally different winners.

Anthony: Seven.

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Karun: Five.

Natalie: Eight.

Martin: More than common as a result of I believe it will be a bit wild. At least six.

Who will win the 2026 Drivers’ Championship?

Natalie: George Russell.

Crofty: George can address a number of adversity however he additionally is aware of the preparation that he’ll must put in for every 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 favourite however I believe Lando and Oscar and Max are operating shut.

Martin: George Russell.

Karun: George Russell.

Rachel: George Russell. He can be pushed all the way in which, however I believe George will win it.

Anthony: George Russell. I believe he appears to have began off on the appropriate jogging. The automobile is fast sufficient to persistently be up there now, slightly than the odd efficiency that was ok and he is able to win a world championship.

Simon: George Russell. I believe he is prepared and he may have the automobile 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 might be shocked if McLaren aren’t constructors’ champions but it surely might go proper right down to the wire and each level is valuable. So McLaren as constructors’ champions but when Kimi Antonelli drives like he did at sure occasions final 12 months, then Mercedes may take a little bit of stopping.

Rachel: Mercedes.

Karun: McLaren.

Anthony: The high 4 are extremely tight. Mercedes has a very robust probability. You cannot rely out McLaren. Everyone has been tremendous shocked by what Red Bull have achieved immediately, in order that they’re solely going to enhance quickly because the season progresses. Ferrari appeared actually fast in Bahrain.

The two McLaren drivers are so evenly-matched at almost each circuit in all circumstances, I believe that provides you as a constructor nice energy, so their expertise as a driver pairing might be the factor that provides 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’s that step into the unknown for many groups and followers.

I’m excited to see if all that we learn about these automobiles in these early phases will come to gentle 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 at all times sit up for Melbourne, this 12 months greater than something. Saturday in Melbourne, the entire discuss stops and we get going and then you definately’re like, ‘proper, that is the place we’re, that is the beginning pecking order’.”

Crofty: Silverstone – Best observe, finest followers, the very best place to be in Britain within the summertime. It’s a circuit that simply comes alive when F1 is there.

Rachel: Australia. I am unable to wait to see these automobiles on observe this 12 months and see firsthand what all of the groups have been engaged on as a result of it is at all times an entire unknown.

Karun: British GP with George, Lando and Lewis all in competition.

Martin: The subsequent one!

Will Cadillac rating their first factors – and the place – throughout their debut 12 months?

Martin: Ironically, I believe 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 way of reliability, which needs to be their principal focus. They’ve obtained two extremely skilled drivers, in order that’s going to assist.

Let’s say they’re going to rating their first factors in Montreal.

Natalie: Austin.

Simon: Yes. There can be an anomaly – whether or not that be weather-related or one thing else. But I do not suppose they’re going to do it in pure peace. I believe it would want one thing particular within the first half of the season, significantly.

Karun: No.

Rachel: Yes. In Brazil as a result of I believe it will take a really, very very long time.

I’m undecided they’ll rating a degree, but when they do, it might be a moist race with mixed-up situations, all kinds occurring, and it will likely be a Brazil, like Kevin Magnussen did with Haas when he put it on pole that 12 months, I believe it will likely be a totally blended up race, blended up situations, and so they’ll make the most of issues going their approach.

Crofty: They might rating their first factors in Australia however I’m going to say China as a result of when you’re good in your tires 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 Sprint weekend. And it could even rain in China, which might be an enormous leveler.

What would be the shock/shock of the season?

Crofty: Oliver Bearman to attain a podium. He is an distinctive expertise and I believe Haas are in a very good place, so I’m going to go largest shock is Ollie Bearman. Biggest shock – Fernando Alonso says he will stick with it racing in 2027.

Rachel: Pierre Gasly on the rostrum this season.

Martin: Aston Martin are heading the way in which of a adverse shock. In phrases of a optimistic shock, most likely Alpine.

Sky Sports F1’s Australian GP schedule

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 begins at 1.30am)*
2.55am: F3 Qualifying*
3.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference
3.50am: F2 Qualifying*
4.35am: Australian GP Practice Two (session begins at 5am)*
6.15am: The F1 Show*

Saturday March 7
0.10am: F3 Sprint*
1.10am: Australian GP Practice Three (session begins at 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 response: Checkered Flag*
7am: Ted’s Notebook*
7.55am: Australian GP race replay*
10am: Australian GP highlights (additionally on Sky One)*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Watch each race of the 2026 Formula 1 season stay on Sky Sports, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime