How to bet F1 in 2026: Can Verstappen Rise up Again?

A fresh season of Formula 1 racing is nearly upon us, and it's still tough to get past the last campaign when looking at how to bet on F1 in 2026.

It was a frenzy that's still lingering for many, and the beautiful chaos resulted in nearly the narrowest margins possible separating the top three drivers.

Part of that story was the late-season surge of a four-time champion. Will that continue now? And can McLaren defend its crown amid significant new F1 regulations for 2026?

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🏎️ How to bet on F1 in 2026

The new season of everyone's favorite high-speed soap opera, Netflix's Drive to Survive, comes out on Feb. 27, and it'll dive deep into the storylines, successes, and failures of the previous campaign.

The first round of preseason testing was held last week, with the second coming up Feb 18-20. But it's worth briefly touching on the main angles from last year now before fully turning the page to a new season. With that in mind, please recall this all happened in one year:

• There were a mere 13 points separating champion Lando Norris from his teammate Oscar Piastri in third atop the drivers' standings, with Max Verstappen only two back of his rival in second
• That happened despite Piastri dominating to begin the season and winning five of the first nine races
• Meanwhile, Christian Horner was dismissed from Red Bull amid the team's immense struggles that included Verstappen being off the podium entirely in eight races

A rapid resumption of peak form from Verstappen included three straight victories to end the year. Unsurprisingly, the result has been a return to the top of the F1 championship odds at the best F1 betting sites.

F1 drivers' championship odds 2026

F1 championship odds via DraftKings.

Predictably, there are some familiar faces atop the oddsboard, though the presence of George Russell as the favorite is at least mildly surprising.

But one of the many elements to keep in mind when betting on the 2026 F1 season is the immense uncertainty, at least early in the campaign as teams adjust to new rules. The hovering unknowns are why the drivers' champion betting odds are somewhat varied throughout the best sports betting sites, with the defending champion Norris listed as long as +700 through bet365 and Caesars.

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🏁 What are the new F1 regulations?

2025 vs. 2026: F1 changes cheat sheet

The previous F1 regulations had been in effect since 2014, and in June 2025 a new road map for the 2026 season and beyond was laid out.

The overarching motivation is to increase on-track competition, which had lagged at times last season. One of the key differences lies in weight, as F1 is now allowing cars to be just over 30 kg lighter. That should increase maneuverability and lead to more battling.

The aerodynamics of the car can also be tweaked through the use of moveable front and rear wings, which again can translate to scrappier on-track outcomes.

There's a new power unit as well, and the structure of it shifts the focus from raw top-end speed to increased battery power. Critically, it will be the latter and how drivers use their battery deployment that could be the difference.

Everything will take some getting used to in the early going. That's why even in a sport known for producing repeat champions, getting a proper gauge on how to approach both the championship odds, or shorter term, the outright winner odds for the early races is a challenge.

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♟️ Manual override mode vs. DRS: Chess on wheels?

DRS zones were featured until last season, which meant a trailing driver could open his rear-wing flap when within one second of the car in front.

The result was significant, as it came with a drag reduction of around 10%, leading to roughly 20 km/h more on the straights. The issue though is that a DRS train was created when cars were packed together, making overtaking highly difficult because the advantage of any one car is negated. Another problem is that it was too restricted to certain areas of every circuit.

To combat those flaws, F1 is introducing manual override mode. To simplify, think of it like when you were given the mushroom power-up while playing Mario Kart. Sure, the idea of a power boost pumps the adrenaline, but there's a strategy. You'll wait for the ideal time to deploy that mushroom/energy boost.

That thinking, and the idea of battery deployment and management, is now central to F1. The manual override system gives drivers a brief boost of battery power while within one second of the car in front.

Beyond that boost, the new power units can produce twice as much energy as the previous ones during a lap. How that can be best maximized, and what team can squeeze the most from the juice, will go a long way toward determining the next champion.

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🏆 Does previous form matter in 2026?

The answer to this question was usually a resounding and all caps "YES."

We don't need to look far back to see examples of repeated cruising to titles. Verstappen had won the previous four drivers' titles before 2025. And prior to that, Mercedes had taken eight straight constructors' championships, with Lewis Hamilton snagging six on the drivers' side.

But there are a lot of great unknowns at least early in the 2026 season for everyone given the new regulations and power unit, even including the defending champion Norris. He still sits fourth by the odds to defend his title, though at +450 Norris is in another tier behind Verstappen and Russell.

There are plenty of good reasons to still back Norris in that market, especially at a comparatively appealing price. McLaren remains a powerhouse after winning two straight constructors' titles.

But there's now a whole different approach in F1, minimizing the impact of prior form.

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🏅 Cadillac F1 podium odds: Does new 11th team offer long-shot value?

Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas make their returns to F1 while driving for Cadillac, the new 11th team. Combine the natural working through challenges of a debut team with the F1 regulations everyone is adapting to now, and there's an assumption Perez and Bottas will struggle.

That's shown in both the long- and short-term odds tied to Cadillac. Neither driver is positioned to win the championship, but both are receiving odds that could soon prove to be a little too astronomical, with Perez at +30000 and Botta sitting at +45000. And to get an idea of the race odds we can expect, both are at +17500 to win the Australian Grand Prix, via FanDuel.

But they may offer a quality case study for an ideal early-season strategy: Target the top six and points finish markets early.

Here are the Australian Grand Prix odds as we stick with that event to use as an example.

The best sports betting apps haven't yet posted the top six or points finish markets for the season-opening race, but we can expect those odds to surface early during race week.

Given their basement-dwelling position in the outright winner market for the race, it's reasonable to assume Bottas and Perez will get similar treatment in the secondary markets. That's an opportunity to pounce, as there's frequently mispricing during the opening few races, which will be especially true this year while everyone gets a feel for the new realities of F1, including oddsmakers.

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🔮 F1 prediction for 2026

Yes, there's plenty of murky waters ahead. And yes, while 2025 form still counts for something and isn't meaningless, it matters less this year.

But Verstappen's pedigree runs deep after his repeated championships. Combine that with his Red Bull car impressing the competition and fellow drivers during preseason testing under the new regulations, and Mad Max could be set to reclaim his throne.

The praise includes Mercedes saying Red Bull is capable of harnessing more power on some straights. Russell and team boss Toto Wolff said that's worth as much as a second per lap.

"They're not just a small step ahead," Russell said, via ESPN. "You're talking in the order of half a second to a second in deployment over the course of a lap, so it's pretty scary to see that difference."

Prediction: Verstappen wins championship (+290 via FanDuel)

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📅 Key upcoming dates for the 2026 F1 season

Here are some important dates to keep in mind early as a new season approaches.

• Feb 18-20: More preseason testing in Bahrain
• Feb. 27: Netflix releases season eight of Drive to Survive
• March 8: Season opens with Australian Grand Prix

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📜 F1 drivers' championship history

Here are the F1 title winners over the past decade, a period of time that's featured plenty of dominance from Lewis Hamilton during his Mercedes reign, and then Verstappen took over before Norris' triumph.

❓ F1 season FAQ

Who is favored to win the drivers' championship in 2026?

George Russell is the slight favorite to win at +225, though Max Verstappen is close behind at +250.

When does the 2026 F1 season start?

A new season of F1 racing begins on March 8 with the Australian Grand Prix from the Albert Park Circuit.

When does the 2026 F1 season end?

The final race of the 2026 F1 season is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 6.

How many races are in the 2026 F1 season?

The 2026 F1 season will feature 24 races.

When is the new season of Drive to Survive released?

The always anticipated Netflix series releases its eighth season on Feb. 27.

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