F1 | Bookmakers believe in Ferrari’s title: the odds make fans dream
Can Ferrari truly win the championship? According to bookmakers, the probability is higher than in previous years. The new Formula 1 season kicks off in Melbourne with Ferrari once again considered one of the top contenders. After a difficult 2025 season without victories, one of the toughest in Maranello’s recent history, the new regulations have completely reshuffled the deck. The SF-26 seen during Bahrain testing has convinced experts and industry insiders alike. The odds for the drivers’ world championship clearly reflect this change in perception: Charles Leclerc is offered around 5.00–6.00, placing him firmly among the top contenders, while Lewis Hamilton is listed between 7.50 and 8.00, signaling real confidence in the seven-time world champion now driving for Ferrari.
After 18 years, Ferrari returns among the favorites
The drivers’ title has eluded Maranello for 19 years, the constructors’ championship for 18. Yet, according to early bookmaker assessments, Ferrari starts immediately behind—and in some cases almost level with—Mercedes, which sees George Russell among the absolute favorites at around 3.00, with Max Verstappen slightly behind at roughly 4.00. Further back, at least in pre-season predictions, is the reigning champion McLaren with Lando Norris, whose odds are even in double digits for a repeat title.
Ferrari rated just behind Mercedes for the constructors’ crown
Even more significant is the outlook for the constructors’ championship. Ferrari is credited at around 3.50, a very low number that positions the team firmly in the fight for the top, alongside Mercedes (around 2.20–2.30) and McLaren (between 3.50 and 4.50). Red Bull, dominant in recent years, appears further back in initial evaluations. Now it remains to be seen whether Ferrari truly has the potential to compete at the very front, a question that will start to be answered at the first GP of the season in Australia, scheduled from March 6 to 8, 2026.
The shift in betting odds therefore underscores a renewed sense of belief in Ferrari’s technical direction under the new regulations. While Mercedes and George Russell enter Melbourne as the statistical favorites, the narrow gap between the top three teams suggests that the 2026 championship will be a high-stakes development war. For Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the goal is clear: translate this pre-season promise into race wins and finally bring a world title back to Maranello.
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