Formula 1: Australia Grand Prix – Copybet
Lando Norris begins the defence of his Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship in this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but the McLaren driver is 10/1 sixth-favourite to repeat last year's win in the race.
It has been a winter of change for F1 and Mercedes and Ferrari have emerged as the likely pace-setters for the early part of the 2026 season.
Australian Grand Prix
For some time it has been the widely held belief that Mercedes have the best handle on the very different 2026 technical regulations. And while they didn't exactly dazzle in pre-season testing, neither was there anything to suggest they won't be at the front in Melbourne.
Ferrari sprang something of a surprise by setting the pace in the two weeks of pre-season testing in Bahrain, but Mercedes were clearly not concerned with recording fast lap times.
It is likely there is a lot more to come from the Silver Arrows, and British driver George Russell looks a worthy favourite to win his first World Championship.
Russell has done a fine job with a sometimes difficult car over the last few years, and managed two race victories in each of the last two years. With a more competitive machine he will be capable of dramatically increasing that tally.
The man who finished third at Albert Park last season looks a fine bet to become the seventh different winner of the Australian Grand Prix in as many years.
Australian Grand Prix
From winter evidence the midfield teams look a bit further away from the established big four - McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes - than they ended last year, but reliability could become a factor in the early races.
Only McLaren completed more laps in testing than Haas, and the American team looked pretty quick as well.
Oliver Bearman, who won't turn 21 until May, looks a real star of the future, while his more experienced team-mate Esteban Ocon showed great improvement towards the end of his first season with the team.
They finished the last campaign by picking up points in six of the final seven races, and both Haas cars were in the top 10 in two of the last five events.
The Ferrari engine in the back of their car will be a huge asset off the starting grid - a more challenging phase of the race under the new regulations - and even if they don't have to rely on faster cars breaking down, Bearman and Ocon look capable of reaching the top 10 in Australia on their own merits.