Lando Norris has recently spoken about who could become a future Formula 1 world champion, offering his view on the drivers most likely to fight for the title. After securing his first world championship last season, the British driver is now preparing to defend his crown, even if bookmakers are already looking further ahead.
Norris claimed his maiden world title last year with just a two-point advantage over Max Verstappen. It was a 2025 season marked by ups and downs, but one that ultimately ended in triumph for the McLaren driver. Now, as the new campaign approaches, Norris is ready to defend his championship. According to the bookmakers, however, the driver most likely to become Formula 1 world champion in 2026 would not be Lando Norris himself. So who is considered the main contender?
The “big favorite”
Last season, alongside Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, who fought for the title until the final race, there was another major protagonist: George Russell. The Mercedes driver finished the championship in fourth place, delivering one of the strongest seasons of his career. For the bookmakers, George Russell is seen as the perfect candidate to become a future world champion.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports F1, Lando Norris addressed the topic directly. The current number one on the grid jokingly referred to Russell as “the big favorite.”
Putting the humor aside, Lando Norris then added: “I fully believe that [Russell] will win a championship in the future, whether it’s this year or next year, or at some point down the line. I’ve enjoyed my battles with him, and he’s a great person, so I’ve enjoyed every moment.”
The drivers will return to the track from February 11 to 13 and again from February 18 to 20 in Bahrain, where pre-season testing will be completed following the sessions that began at the end of January in Barcelona. Mercedes, as highlighted by the McLaren team principal, was one of the teams that impressed the most. Over the three days on the Catalan circuit, the Brackley-based squad covered the highest number of kilometers.
Lando Norris’s endorsement of George Russell reflects the high level of competition and mutual respect defining the current era of Formula 1. While Norris is focused on defending his hard-won title, he is clearly aware that the threat from Mercedes and a rejuvenated Russell could be the defining story of the 2026 season. As the teams head to Bahrain for the final technical refinements, the debate over the championship favorite will only intensify. Whether the bookmakers’ predictions hold true or Norris manages to pull off a back-to-back triumph, the fans are in for a strategic and high-speed battle for the history books.
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