The 2026 Formula 1 season has kicked off with Mercedes firmly in control. After five races, the Silver Arrows have re-established themselves as the dominant force for the first time in six years, leaving their rivals playing catch-up.
New technical regulations have shaken up the grid, while the addition of Madrid’s new Grand Prix to the European leg has injected fresh excitement into the calendar. The result has been a thrilling and dramatic start to the campaign.
The standout story is the resurgence of Mercedes and, in particular, the meteoric rise of Kimi Antonelli. Now firmly out of his rookie shoes, the Italian has claimed four wins and five podiums, positioning him as the clear favorite for the Drivers’ Championship at odds of 1.60. With plenty of racing still ahead, however, the season remains wide open.
Let’s take a closer look at the leading teams and drivers at this early stage, and the key tracks that are likely to play a major role in the championship battle.
The Early Surge From Mercedes Leaves Opponents in the Dust
As we mentioned earlier, the biggest story of the early 2026 season is the incredible performance of the Mercedes team. As of the writing of this article, the Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, have 131 and 88 points respectively, putting Mercedes at 219, a full 72 points ahead of their nearest competitor, Ferrari.
While impressive, this margin is by no means insurmountable. It does, however, position Mercedes as the team to watch and the drivers to beat, having very attractive odds at 1.10 to win the 2026 constructors’ championship. Considering the performance of Mercedes since 2021, when a 5-year period began that positioned them as seeming underdogs against the other big teams, sometimes referred to as ‘the best of the rest’, the start of the 2026 season is very promising for the Silver Arrows.
Leading this surge is the younger of the two Mercedes stars, Kimi Antonelli, who has racked up 4 wins and 5 podium finishes at the season start, with his compatriot George Russell taking the win he failed to achieve.
2026 Miami GP winner Kimi Antonelli, #12 Mercedes
This one-two punch has set Mercedes comfortably ahead of their competitors, and should it manage to keep up this pace, it will dominate the entire season. Platforms like FanDuel are offering attractive betting odds on Mercedes already, and interested bettors can go here to find bonus bet offers that could be used for the F1 title race.
Ferrari Holds a Comfortable Second Place
The team in second for the Constructors Championship at present are Ferrari, with two experienced drivers racing for them in Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Despite being in 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the season standings, they have odds of 26 and 51 to take the drivers’ championship.
Charles Leclerc #16 Ferrari at the 2026 Miami GP. Image provided by Ferrari via X
Both drivers for Ferrari have managed to secure two podiums apiece, and as the season progresses, there is no reason why they shouldn’t stay competitive. Hamilton is one of the most experienced F1 drivers in the season, and Leclerc has proven himself many times over. All it will take for Ferrari to edge into the lead for the constructors’ championship is for the Mercedes drivers to slip a few times and for their team to maintain a consistent effort.
While the Ferrari name might be synonymous for many people with Formula 1, the Ferrari team have been unable to achieve the consistency required to net either the drivers or constructors championships since 2007 and 2008. They have consistently produced the fastest overall package on the track for the last few seasons, and if they can keep the title race close, tracks like Baku or Monza might see them seize an advantage thanks to their straight-line speed advantage.
McLaren Seeks to Cement its Recent Reputation
The last two seasons have seen a story of dominance from McLaren, with 2024 seeing the McLaren team take the constructors’ championship, and in 2025, achieving a double crown with seeming ease. While the McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri currently sit 5th and 6th, respectively, on the drivers’ standings after 5 races, their recent historic success still places McLaren second for many sportsbooks, with odds of 7.00 to win the constructors’ championship.
Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (1) McLaren MCL40 Mercedes on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brett Farmer/LAT Images for Pirelli)
Regardless of how the season opens, it’s clear that McLaren’s recent success is no accident, and they intend to remain fierce competitors in the top half of the field. Fans are eagerly awaiting tracks that benefit the McLaren designs, such as Silverstone and Suzuka, with fast-flowing corners, hoping that the McLaren drivers will take the initiative there.
Red Bull Falling Behind
Fans of F1 know that in recent years the name to watch is Max Verstappen, who seems able to make magic happen on the track and, from 2021 to 2024, takes the driver’s crown year after year. But despite a late rally from Verstappen in 2025, his streak ends, and Red Bull’s strength seems to be ebbing.
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 01, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Bloxham/LAT Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //
The opening rounds of 2026 echo this historic reality, with Verstappen sitting 7th overall with only 1 podium finish and 43 points, under all of his rivals in the other big squads. His teammate, Isack Hadjar, is sitting in a tied 12th place overall, yet to show the quality Red Bull might want from him.
However, despite sitting so low in the pack, Verstappen still has competitive odds on him in most sportsbooks, at 34.00, just a little behind Piastri. The Dutchman has proven that he can push himself and his machinery further than maybe anyone else on the track, and fans are not ready to discount that.
What Should Fans Expect From the Rest of 2026?
Antonelli’s surging performance has been an exciting spectacle, and many Formula 1 fans see a new darling of the sport in the young Italian. He has even displayed a cool and level head when, as reported by ESPN, he stated that he wants the relationship between him and George Russell to remain cordial, even as they battle it out on the track. What this means for fans is that, on top of the battle between the teams, they might have a friendly inter-squad battle within Mercedes to watch as well.
While it might seem like a new era of Mercedes dominance is in the offing, basing expectations of a winner from the first few races is no sure thing. There are lots of races still to come in the season, and Mercedes is not so far ahead that they cannot be easily passed by Ferrari or McLaren. The season is only beginning, but it’s already shaping up to be very promising.