Formula 1 heads into the offseason after a slightly tense finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The early 2026 Formula 1 bets are already here. Now, this always seems hard to believe till one sees them on the internet and such. Lando Norris secured the 2025 World Title for his first crown and dethroned Max Verstappen. Verstappen and Red Bull had won the previous four championships. Let’s sneak a peek!
VegasBetting already has those Formula 1 Vegas online betting odds for the 2026 season. Now, is the time to dive into those 2026 Formula 1 Bets. The numbers draw razor thin with Verstappen, Norris, and George Russell. Russell has apparently tested well early with the 2026 car. Time will tell how that translates to future success. Early on, bettors seem intrigued. Here are the numbers below.
| Formula 1 World Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lando Norris | +250 | +220 | +225 |
| George Russell | +250 | +300 | +300 |
| Max Verstappen | +275 | +300 | +300 |
| Oscar Piastri | +500 | +550 | +450 |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | +900 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Charles Leclerc | +2200 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Fernando Alonso | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
Before going into 2026, one has to digest what a wild ride 2025 was. For a little while there on Sunday, Max Verstappen had a chance to do what felt impossible in September and early October. Charles Leclerc was catching up to Lando Norris for third. Verstappen was in cruise control heading for an almost certain win. He just needed Norris to finish in fourth to claim his fifth straight points championship.
2026 Formula 1 Bets look fondly back to this points race as it was quite the fascinating one. Ultimately, Norris would hold on to third place and secure the title. However, Verstappen fought this to the bitter end. His Red Bull was the best on the track over the final month of the 2025 season. If he had a little more time, the championship might have again been his.
Do give McLaren credit here. They knew their car may not be fast enough and employed an interesting tire strategy that worked in the late stages of the race in Abu Dhabi. Norris was able to gain a bit more cushion on Leclerc. Ultimately, the tires were the difference just not in the way most anticipated. Not every title won and done through victory lane at the end.
At Vegas Betting, Verstappen, Norris, Russell, and Piastri are like a fatal four-way going into 2026. With the new cars, testing will reveal some advantages but right now the money is clustered with the first three. Piastri is lagging behind after struggling some over the final couple months of 2025. The early money hooks on to Norris to repeat but not by much.
So, are we really taking George Russell over Max Verstappen? The betting public has spoken early and they seem to believe in the Mercedes driver just enough. Plenty can change as we are about three months away from competitive racing in 2026. However, it is telling how these early odds shaped up. One half expected Verstappen to be favored over everyone given how 2025 ended.
At Vegas Betting, we dig through the chaos and muck to get to the why. Simply, the betting public seems to have more faith in Russell over Verstappen because the Mercedes may be the better car to start off the 2026 season. Now, that is very well possible. If it was not for the Christian Horner changes, Verstappen may never have gotten as close as he did to a fifth straight world championship.
Alright, so if we believe that Verstappen will struggle again early in 2026. What makes Russell an attractive choice here? Has Mercedes made that many good upgrades for their 2026 car? So far, suggestions lean to yes. Bahrain tests may tell a different tale but what if the Mercedes really does perform faster in these conditions. More data is needed but the idea is squarely planted in experts and bettors alike.
However, until there are a few races under our belts, no one truly knows. As much as people would like to take a chance on the British driver. He is not Lewis Hamilton in his prime. He might have to be close just to contend for a world title. Side with Verstappen over Russell.
So, the 2026 Formula 1 Bets look into the Bahrain tests. Some wanted to talk about the early Constructors numbers. Mercedes and McLaren will be co-favorites out of strength. Due to the Red Bull second driver being like the drummer in Spinal Tap, there is too much danger. If Mercedes really is faster out of the gate, McLaren could be a bit behind in the early going.
The Ferrari cars and Charles Leclerc are the favorite to come out of the Bahrain tests with the fastest lap. Leclerc excels at these tests. Also, take a look at how Leclerc does on tracks like Vegas and even Barcelona. There is not much track correlation. However, with tests like this, having experience in how the car works is paramount. Andrea Kimi Antonelli may be young but he could be the wildcard with the Mercedes.
He proved his mettle as 2025 went on and had some early positive tests which paved the way to a full time gig.
At +200 on Bovada, Mercedes is our pick at the Bahrain tests.
Lando Norris is our pick to repeat in 2026.
With some great online betting site bonuses and the best Las Vegas betting sites expect to be racing for the holidays. Good luck!
