Russell favourite to challenge Verstappen in 2026, say bookmakers

George Russell hasn’t won a Formula 1 world championship yet — but if the bookmakers are to be believed, 2026 could be the year he gets it done!

Sky Bet’s opening odds for the 2026 season place Russell as the second favourite at 11/4, sitting uncomfortably close to the sport’s modern benchmark, Max Verstappen, who leads the market at 5/2.

Lando Norris (7/2) and Oscar Piastri (6/1) round out a top four separated by fine margins, a reflection of how uncertain – and potentially explosive – Formula 1’s new regulation era could become.

Russell Right on Verstappen’s Tail

For Russell to be priced almost neck-and-neck with a four-time world champion is a statement in itself. The odds suggest bookmakers see this less as a Verstappen procession and more as a knife-edge duel waiting to erupt once the lights go out.

That confidence isn’t rooted solely in Russell’s growing stature as a driver. It’s also a nod to Mercedes’ looming technical promise.

When Formula 1 rewrites its rulebook, history tells us to look closely at Brackley.

The team’s dominance in the hybrid era still echoes through the betting markets, and with Mercedes also favoured for the constructors’ crown, Russell appears perfectly positioned to spearhead a silver resurgence.

He’s obviously no longer the apprentice. If Mercedes delivers even a slight edge under the new regulations, Russell suddenly looks like a driver ready to turn opportunity into legacy.

Big Names, Big Drift in the Odds

The market’s colder stance on Ferrari is striking. Charles Leclerc is listed at 22/1 by Sky Bet, a price that signals deep scepticism about Maranello’s chances of nailing the new rules.

Even more eye-catching is Lewis Hamilton at 33/1, an almost unthinkable number for a seven-time world champion — and a stark illustration of how little faith bettors currently have in Ferrari’s short-term prospects.

By contrast, Verstappen’s place at the top of the odds remains a vote of confidence in the driver as much as the car.

Red Bull’s new Ford-backed power unit represents a leap into the unknown, yet the market clearly believes Verstappen’s brilliance can smooth over any early turbulence.

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Further down the board, opportunity may lie for those willing to think creatively. Fernando Alonso at 12/1 stands out as a compelling outsider – a driver whose experience could become priceless if rivals stumble through the regulation reset and Aston Martin designer Adrian Newey delivers a stunner.

It’s not a conservative wager, but it’s one that makes sense in a season primed for surprises.

What’s clear is this: George Russell’s proximity to Verstappen in the betting is no coincidence. It’s a warning shot.

As Formula 1 prepares to reinvent itself, the bookmakers are already whispering that the balance of power could shift – and Russell may be the man ready to seize the moment.

Sky Bet's odds for the entire grid:

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