The 2026 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested in recent memory, with a new era of regulations, a reset in team hierarchies, and a field packed with hungry, world-class talent. As the Australian Grand Prix approaches, anticipation is building not just among fans but within the paddock itself—where uncertainty reigns and opportunity beckons. Seven drivers—George Russell, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri—stand at the forefront of the championship conversation, each with a legitimate shot at the ultimate prize if their machinery delivers.
Perhaps the most compelling endorsement comes from former F1 star Johnny Herbert, who didn’t mince words when asked about his pick for the 2026 World Championship. “I’m obviously backing George Russell for the championship victory,” Herbert declared in a recent interview, sending ripples across the motorsport world. Herbert’s confidence isn’t unfounded. Russell, now Mercedes’ lead driver following Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari, has spent the last few seasons refining his craft, enduring the frustrations of a car that rarely matched his ambitions. Now, at 28, Russell is poised to seize the opportunity he’s been waiting for since his return to Mercedes in 2022.
Herbert’s forecast isn’t limited to Russell, however. He predicts a fierce, season-long battle involving Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri as well. “It would be fantastic to see Max and George go head-to-head. It’s going to be a tight race, reminiscent of the fierce rivalry between Oscar and Lando. Oscar has learned from last year’s experience, and that motivation can be a powerful asset. I believe the top three drivers this season will be George Russell, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri.”
That sentiment is echoed in the paddock, where the 2026 pre-season testing has revealed no clear dominant car. The so-called ‘big four’—McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari—remain at the top of the order, but the introduction of new power unit and chassis regulations has thrown the hierarchy into flux. Bookmakers and analysts alike are finding it tough to separate the contenders, with the top seven drivers closely grouped in the odds. It’s anybody’s game, and that’s just the way fans like it.
Russell’s journey to this moment has been anything but smooth. After three years on loan at Williams, he returned to Mercedes expecting to inherit the best car on the grid. Instead, he found himself in the midst of a team struggling through the ground-effect era. Despite this, Russell enhanced his reputation, notching up five race wins and establishing himself as a match for Hamilton—before dominating rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli last season. Now, with Hamilton gone and the team’s focus squarely on him, Russell’s lifelong dream of a title is closer than ever. The only question: can he maintain his superb form under the pressure of a full-blown championship fight?
Of course, standing in his way is the indomitable Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion remains a threat, even as Red Bull embarks on a new chapter by producing its own power unit for the first time. Last season, Verstappen came within a whisker of a fifth consecutive title, despite McLaren’s dominance in the Constructors’ Championship. His intuitive understanding of his car—what Herbert described as a ‘seventh sense’—sets him apart. Verstappen’s innovative energy deployment strategy in Bahrain, swiftly copied by rivals, is just the latest example of his ability to extract performance where others can’t. “Drivers who have a playful approach tend to adapt better. Max Verstappen, for instance, possesses a ‘seventh sense’ when it comes to understanding his car,” Herbert noted.
Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, is eager to capitalize on the lessons of last year. The 24-year-old Australian endured a rollercoaster season in 2025, marked by a string of podiums and victories, but also a late-season collapse after a disastrous weekend in Baku. Piastri’s adaptability and hunger for redemption make him a genuine threat if McLaren delivers a strong package. Herbert sees Piastri as part of the new breed of adaptable, resilient drivers who thrive in high-stakes environments.
But the field is deeper than ever. Charles Leclerc, after a disappointing 2025 with Ferrari, has emerged as a dark horse following a strong pre-season showing. The Monegasque driver’s raw speed is unquestioned, but questions linger over his consistency under pressure. Still, if Ferrari’s improvements are real, Leclerc could finally mount a sustained title challenge. His new teammate, Lewis Hamilton, brings his own intrigue. Now 41, Hamilton is chasing a record eighth world championship with Ferrari, a team he insists has benefited from his input in the design of the new SF-26. Despite technical hiccups in testing and the search for a new race engineer, Hamilton’s post-testing message was one of renewed focus and confidence: “For a moment, I forgot who I was,” he posted, hinting at a rediscovered self-belief.
Mercedes’ other young gun, Kimi Antonelli, is also in the mix. At just 19, Antonelli impressed last season by matching and even beating Russell in the latter part of the year, particularly with a standout performance in Brazil. If Mercedes’ car proves to be the class of the field, Antonelli’s adaptability—honed by his rapid rise through the junior ranks—could make him a surprise contender.
And then there’s Lando Norris, the reigning world champion. Having finally shaken off doubts about his championship mettle, Norris enters his eighth F1 season with McLaren, motivated to prove that last year’s triumph was no fluke. At 26, turning 27 in November, Norris is arguably entering his prime, and with the pressure of winning his first title behind him, he could be even more formidable.
Underlying all these storylines is the critical interplay between driver and machine. Herbert was quick to point out that while all cars are relatively similar in performance—except for the uniquely designed Aston Martin—the connection between driver and car is paramount. “As a driver, it doesn’t matter how the car looks; what truly matters is its speed,” Herbert said. He cited Lewis Hamilton’s struggles last year as a cautionary tale, emphasizing that without confidence in the car’s responsiveness, even the greatest talents can falter.
With the 2026 season set to kick off in Melbourne from March 6-8, the stage is set for a showdown unlike any in recent memory. Will George Russell fulfill the bold predictions and claim his first world title? Can Verstappen’s genius overcome Red Bull’s technical challenges? Will a resurgent Ferrari or McLaren upset the established order? As Herbert so aptly put it, “It’s going to be a tight race.” The only certainty is that Formula 1 fans are in for a wild, unpredictable ride.