Formula 1 Picks & Predictions
2026 Formula 1 Betting Predictions - Driver Picks to Win May & June Races
The 2025 F1 season saw a dramatic finale as 3 top drivers fought for the World Championship, and the 2026 season is now well underway. New rule changes have forced drivers and teams to adapt, and we’ve seen a few major surprises already. You can check out the latest F1 betting odds on Stake now and place your winning F1 bets when you join Stake Sportsbook. But before you do, make sure to read on for our picks and predictions of the upcoming season.
2026 F1 Season Updates
This season, teams have to follow all new regulations that introduced active aerodynamics, 50-50 power between internal combustion and electric power, plus completely sustainable fuel. What’s more, regulatory overhauls mean car designs are significantly lighter than the previous season, and DRS has been replaced by the electrical power boost known as Overtake Mode.
We’ve already seen Mercedes and Ferrari starting strongly, with Mercedes winning all 3 races so far. Meanwhile, Cadillac and Aston Villa have failed to register a point, while Red Bull Racing has struggled compared to their dominance of previous seasons.
Notably, the F1 has had to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs due to safety concerns over the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. As a result, the 2026 season has been reduced from 24 to 22.
Current F1 Driver & Team Standings
The F1 heads to Miami at the start of May, with the F1 2026 standings as follows:
Drivers
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
George Russell
Charles Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
Oliver Bearman
Pierre Gasly
Max Verstappen
Liam Lawson
Arvid Linblad
Isack Hadjar
Garbeil Bortoleto
Carlos Sainz Jr.
Esteban Ocon
Franco Colapinto
Nico Hulkenberg
Alex Albon
Valtteri Bottas
Sergio Perez
Fernando Alonso
Lance Stroll
Constructors
Mercedes
Ferrari
McLaren
Haas
Alpine
Red Bull
RB
Audi
Williams Racing
Cadillac
Aston Martin
2026 F1 Schedule
March 8: Australian Grand Prix
March 15: Chinese Grand Prix
March 29: Japanese Grand Prix
May 3: Miami Grand Prix
May 24: Canadian Grand Prix
June 7: Monaco Grand Prix
June 14: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
June 28: Austrian Grand Prix
July 5: British Grand Prix
July 19: Belgian Grand Prix
July 26: Hungarian Grand Prix
August 23: Dutch Grand Prix
September 6: Italian Grand Prix
September 13: Spanish Grand Prix
September 26: Azerbaijan Grand Prix
October 11: Singapore Grand Prix
October 25: United States Grand Prix
November 1: Mexico City Grand Prix
November 8: São Paulo Grand Prix
November 21: Las Vegas Grand Prix
November 29: Qatar Grand Prix
December 6: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2025 Season Recap
The 2025 Formula 1 season ended with McLaren as the dominant winners of the Constructors’ Championship. The Drivers’ Championship was a closely contested battle, which saw Lando Norris win by 2 points on the final day of the season. He finished just ahead of Max Verstappen, who was chasing his 5th consecutive title, and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
The final top 10 driver standings were:
Lando Norris
Max Verstappen
Oscar Piastri
George Russell
Charles Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli
Alexander Albon
Carlos Sainz Jr.
Fernando Alonso
Drivers & Teams Performance Review
The start of the 2025 F1 season was dominated by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The McLaren teammates won 12 out of the first 15 races of the season. However, Max Verstappen showed excellent form in the later stages of the season, overcoming initial car troubles to win 6 of the remaining 9 races. The only other driver to win a race during the season was George Russell for Mercedes.
McLaren built an insurmountable lead in the F1 Constructors’ Championship, with both Norris and Piastri racing well throughout the season. Despite Verstappen’s performances, Red Bull finished 3rd, 18 points behind Mercedes, with Antonelli's form over Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda making the difference.
F1 2026 Race Predictions
May 1-3 Miami Grand Prix
The Miami GP will take place at the Miami International Autodrome at the start of May, with a street circuit that is known for its unique atmosphere, tricky technical sections and high-speed straights. Mercedes has won every race so far this season, and after the break, we expect their dominance to continue. Right now, the odds are even between Antonelli and Russel, but we’re backing Antonelli to pick up his 3rd win of the season.
May 22-24 Canada Grand Prix
The Canada GP uses a semi-street layout, which includes closed public roads, and features several high-speed straights followed by low-speed chicanes and hairpin turns. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is also often affected by unpredictable weather, with rain potentially affecting team strategies. Although Mercedes has started the season well, so has Ferrari, and Lewis Hamilton could overtake Schumacher to take the title of most wins on this track.
June 5-7 Monaco Grand Prix
Few races carry the prestige of the Monaco GP, which features an incredibly narrow and demanding street circuit. It requires the utmost concentration and bravery from drivers, although overtaking is rare. Because of how narrow the track is, qualifying is key, as the driver in pole will usually take the win. However, there’s a huge chance of a safety car, which can affect the race order. We’re predicting Mercedes to return to form, with Russel taking the win.
June 12-14 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
Teams will descend on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this June for an extremely technical test of driving capabilities and the engineering of their F1 cars. This circuit is known for its balanced mix of high-speed and technical sections that are demanding of a car’s aerodynamic qualities. In addition, the abrasive surface of the track will affect tyre strategy. Ferrari has had the most success at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and we predict Lewis Hamilton to win his 7th race here.
June 26-28 Austria Grand Prix
The Austrian GP is held at the Red Bull Ring, which has a unique track layout, featuring just 10 corners. Significant elevation changes are also a factor, with gradients of up to 12%, while the high curbs can damage car suspension if corners are taken without care. Unpredictable weather can affect the Austrian GP too, with heavy rain potentially causing teams to change strategies mid-race. Verstappen holds the record for most wins here, although Red Bull has been struggling so far this season. We’re predicting another win for Antonelli.
Who Will Win Driver's Champion?
Verstappen started the season as the betting favourite following his electric form at the end of the 2025 season. However, Red Bull has struggled so far, and he’s now the 7th favourite. While we can’t count out a late comeback, it looks like a close battle between Mercedes teammates George Russell and Kimi Andrea Antonelli. Both drivers have won races already, though Antonelli is slightly ahead. We think Russell’s experience will give him the edge in the race for the Driver’s Championship.
Who Will Win Constructors’ Champion?
After winning every race so far, Mercedes are strong betting favourites to win the Constructors’ Championship. Of course, it’s still early in the season, and Ferrari has looked strong too. McLaren and Red Bull Racing could also sort things out and have drivers with more than enough quality to win races.
Who is Favoured to Win F1 2026?
It’s currently more or less even odds between teammates Russell and Antonelli. However, Russell is slightly ahead as we approach the Miami GP. That’s likely because he has more experience in F1, having raced at the highest level since 2019. Antontelli, on the other hand, is in only his 2nd season and may not be able to handle the pressure as well, though there’s no doubt he’s incredibly talented
How to Bet on F1?
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Search for the F1 and then choose any live race, upcoming race, or outright betting market.
Choose from any of the available betting options.
Enter your stake in the bet slip, check your potential payout, then confirm to place.
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