2026 Australian Grand Prix: Race preview, odds & favourites

• Ladbrokes previews the 2026 Australian Grand Prix

• George Russell priced as the early favourite ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen

• Ferrari expected to impress, while McLaren are tipped to struggle

The 2026 Formula One season is finally here, so get ready for the opening weekend with this Australian Grand Prix race preview, featuring a look at favourites.

With new rules, new teams, and new expectations, this season feels like something of a new era for F1, and as so many drivers vie to get their hands on the coveted World Championship trophy, unmissable drama is guaranteed between now and December - starting this week.

Below, you'll find our Australian GP race preview, with key details, expert predictions, and the latest live odds.

• 6 March - Practice 1 (01:30 GMT)

• 6 March - Practice 2 (05:00 GMT)

• 7 March - Practice 3 (01:30 GMT)

• 7 March - Qualifying (05:00 GMT)

• 8 March - Race (04:00 GMT)

We've already predicted a strong year for the British contingent in our F1 2026 season preview, and with the bookies tipping George Russell to take the chequered flag on the opening weekend, it seems everybody is expecting big things in 2026 - and what better way to start the year than with a statement win in Melbourne?

The 28-year-old is the early favourite to win both the Australian Grand Prix and the 2026 Drivers' Championship, with Mercedes performing well in testing and Russell looking ready to add his name to the exclusive F1 winners list - but he'll have to fend off serial winner Max Verstappen.

Verstappen is second-favourite ahead of the weekend in Australia, with the Red Bull driver always in the running for a podium, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc makes up the top three. Ferrari have looked powerful in testing too, with Leclerc's teammate Lewis Hamilton also tipped to have an enjoyable race in Melbourne, as the seven-time F1 champion seeks his maiden podium in the famous red.

Kimi Antonelli is next in line according to the odds, before the top seven is completed by the two McLaren drivers, as reigning world champion Lando Norris and Aussie Oscar Piastri come in as the only other men with odds of shorter than 100/1.

It's never easy to predict how drivers will start the year, with one or two surprises always coming through, but we're staying pretty aligned with the odds in our predictions for the Australian GP. If testing is anything to go by - which it certainly is - then Mercedes and Ferrari have an excellent chance in Melbourne, and despite winning here last year, we think Lando Norris could struggle to really assert himself at the Albert Park Circuit.

• 1st - George Russell (Mercedes)

• 2nd - Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

• 3rd - Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

• 4th - Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

• 5th - Lando Norris (McLaren)

• 6th - Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

• 7th - Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

• 8th - Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

• 9th - Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

• 10th - Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

• 11th - Carlos Sainz (Williams)

• 12th - Ollie Bearman (Haas)

• 13th - Alex Albon (Williams)

• 14th - Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

• 15th - Esteban Ocon (Haas)

• 16th - Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

• 17th - Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

• 18th - Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

• 19th - Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

• 20th - Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

• 21st - Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

• 22nd - Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

View the latest Formula One odds.

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.