Is this the year of bookworm favorite George Russell? Can McLaren beat the competition for a hat-trick of constructors’ titles? Will more drivers than these four win races in 2025?
With at least part of the pre-season in talks to call it quits when the track stopwatch starts in Melbourne this weekend, it’s almost time to find out who is really rushing to usher in a new era for the sport.
So, just for a little fun, we decided to meet up with seven members of the Sky Sports F1 team and ask them to peer into their crystal ball and make their predictions ahead of the first round of the 24-race campaign…
What will be the 1-2-3 finish on the Australian GP podium this Sunday?
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.
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Karun Chandhok: George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris.
Rachel Brooks: George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli.
Anthony Davidson: George Russell, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris.
How many drivers will win the 2026 Grand Prix?
Simon: Five.
Crofty: Eight.
I’m going to do big things because there’s a lot of opportunity every race and drivers have to learn every race and even for experienced drivers there’s a lot of work to do. So I’d give it an 8, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it included a 9 or 10.
Rachel: 10.
All trucks are very different when it comes to energy management. But I think early this year we’re going to see a variety of drivers win races. I think everyone will be in the best shape possible by the end of this year. I think there could be up to 10 different winners.
Anthony: Seven.
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Karun: Five.
Natalie: Eight.
Martin: I think it’s going to be a little wild, so it’s more than usual. At least six.
Who will win the 2026 Drivers’ Championship?
Natalie: George Russell.
Crofty: George can handle a lot of adversity, but he also understands that he has to be prepared for every race, and he’s ready to do that.
That means George Russell, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli and Isaac Hajjar. George will be the favorite, but I think Rand, Oscar, and Max will be close runners.
MARTIN: George Russell.
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Karoon: George Russell.
Rachel: George Russell. He’ll be pushed all the way, but I think George will win.
Anthony: George Russell. Looks like he’s off to a good start. The car is not a strange performance that is good enough, it is still fast enough to consistently break into the top positions, and he is ready to win the world championship.
SIMON: George Russell. I think he’s ready and will take the car and do it.
Who will win the constructors’ championship in 2026?
Simon: It’s Mercedes.
Natalie: Ferrari.
Martin: McLaren.
Crofty: The best driver line-up combination is probably McLaren. It would be surprising if McLaren weren’t the constructors’ champion, but it could end up being close and every point is valuable. So McLaren are the constructors’ champions, but if Kimi Antonelli drives like he did at certain times last year, it might give Mercedes a bit of pause.
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Rachel: It’s Mercedes.
Caln: McLaren.
Anthony: The top four are incredibly close. Mercedes has a really big opportunity. You can’t ignore McLaren. Everyone is immediately amazed at what Red Bull has achieved, so it will only rapidly improve as the season progresses. Ferrari looked really fast in Bahrain.
The two McLaren drivers have performed equally well in almost all circuits and in all conditions and I think that will be a huge strength for them as a constructor, so their experience as a driver duo could give them a slight advantage over the course of the season, all things considered.
Want to make one bold prediction for this season?
Karun: Haas takes first podium.
SIMON: Isaac Hajar wins the race.
Anthony: Kimi Antonelli won the world championship.
Natalie: Hajar will be on the podium in the first half of the season.
Which race are you most looking forward to?
Anthony: Melbourne. It’s a step into the unknown for many teams and fans.
We’re looking forward to seeing everything we know early on about these cars come out in Melbourne and see what happens in some totally unpredictable wheel-to-wheel racing.
Natalie: I haven’t raced since September, so Japan!
Simon: I always look forward to Melbourne, but this year I’m especially looking forward to it. In Melbourne on Saturday, when all the talk stops and we start talking, you’re like, ‘Yeah, this is where we are, this is the first pecking order.’ ”
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Crofty: Silverstone – the best track, the best fans and the best place to spend your summer in the UK. This circuit becomes lively when F1 races are held.
Rachel: Australia. We can’t wait to see these cars on track this year and see firsthand what all the teams are working on. Because it’s always completely unknown.
Caloon: George, Lando and Lewis are in contention for the British Grand Prix.
Martin: Next!
Will Cadillac score its first points in its debut year? And where?
MARTIN: Ironically, I think it could be around the beginning of the season, so let’s say China.
Anthony: If they’re going to do it, it’s going to come from authenticity, and that has to be their main focus. They have two incredibly experienced drivers, so that will help.
Let’s say they get their first point in Montreal.
Natalie: Austin.
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Simon: Yes. There will be anomalies, whether weather-related or something else. But I don’t think they’ll do it on pure pace. I think we’re going to need something special, especially in the first half of the season.
Karun: No.
Rachel: Yes. Because I think in Brazil it takes a very long time.
I don’t know if they’ll get points, but if they do, it’s going to be a wet race, a lot of different situations, a lot of different situations, and it’s going to be in Brazil, like when Kevin Magnussen got pole position for Haas that year. I think it will be a completely chaotic race and complicated conditions. And they will take advantage of things going well.
Crofty: They could get their first points in Australia, but I’d say China. Because if the tires are good in China it will pay off and China is a sprint weekend so it will be a big headache for the teams and drivers. And there is a possibility that it will rain in China as well, which would be a major leveler.
What are the surprises and shocks of this season?
Crofty: Oliver Bearman completes the podium. I think the biggest surprise will be Ollie Bearman because he’s an exceptional talent and I think Haas are in a really good position. Biggest shock – Fernando Alonso says he intends to continue racing in 2027.
Rachel: Pierre Gasly has been on the podium this season.
MARTIN: Aston Martin is on the path of negative shocks. In terms of positive shocks, it’s probably Alpine.
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Martin Brundle and Bernie Collins discuss Aston Martin’s position ahead of the start of the 2026 F1 season
Sky Sports F1 Australian GP Schedule
Thursday, March 5th
3am: Driver press conference
6am: Paddock uncut
9:45pm: F3 practice
10:55pm: F2 practice
Friday, March 6th
1am: Australian GP Practice 1 (Session starts at 1:30am)*
2:55am: F3 Qualifying*
3:30am: Team boss press conference
3:50am: F2 Qualifying*
4:35am: Australian GP Practice 2 (session starts at 5am)*
6:15am: F1 Show*
Saturday, March 7th
0.10am: F3 sprint*
1:10am: Australian GP Practice 3 (session starts at 1:30am)*
3:05am: F2 Sprint*
4:10am: Australian GP qualifying build-up*
5am: Australian Grand Prix Qualifying*
7am: Ted’s Qualification Notebook*
9:45pm: F3 Feature Race*
Sunday, March 8th
12:20am: F2 Feature Race*
2:30am: Preparation for Australian Grand Prix: Grand Prix Sunday*
4am: Australian Grand Prix*
6am: Australian Grand Prix reaction: Checkered flag*
7am: Ted’s Notes*
7.55am: Australian GP race replay*
10am: Australian GP Highlights (also on Sky One)*
*Also held at Sky Sports Main Event
Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, including the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
