‘The favourite’ – Karun Chandhok names next F1 world champion that would equal 16-year feat

Karun Chandhok believes George Russell is the favourite to become the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ champion.

The 27-year-old has won just five races for Mercedes since joining four years ago, but may finally now have a car ready to challenge for glory.

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F1 will undergo a radical regulations change for the new season, with the cars smaller, nimbler and now with 50-50 hybrid power units.

Mercedes, who dominated the turbo-hybrid era from 2014 to 2021, made a mess of the most recent regulation overhaul four years ago.

The Silver Arrows ended up with a porpoising car, which allowed Red Bull, and McLaren to dominate the ground effect era instead.

However, Mercedes have already been installed as the early frontrunners for 2026, with Russell the pre-season favourite.

George Russell named favourite as next F1 world champion

The Brit is 9/4 with talkSPORT Bet to win the drivers’ title this season, with compatriot and defending champion Lando Norris in third.

Should Russell claim the crown this December, it would be the first time two British drivers have won their first F1 championship in successive seasons, but for different teams, since Jenson Button‘s Brawn triumph followed the first of Hamilton’s seven titles.

“I believe he’s the favourite in my book, anyway for the World Championship, because we’ve got this big rule change in F1 “, Chandhok said ahead of the Formula E Miami E-Prix.

“I think having a team where the engine power unit side and the chassis side are so integrated will be key to success.”

Chandhok, an 11-time F1 GP winner, added: “Now Ferrari and Mercedes are the two teams who’ve got that along with Red Bull and Audi, but Red Bull and Audi are brand new power unit companies.

“So I think you have to cut them a bit of slack and give them a bit of time.

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“But I think Mercedes and Ferrari with that integrated structure they’ve got to have an advantage at the beginning of a rule cycle.

“George Russell, in my opinion, was the second-best driver in F1 last year after Max Verstappen. He had an outstanding season.

“I think he’s ready to be a championship contender if the car is capable of it. I think he’s ready to be world champion.”

Russell ‘wants to go head-to-head’ with Verstappen

Four-time world champion Verstappen is currently the second favourite among the bookies to reclaim the title he lost to Norris.

That could present a blockbuster new chapter to the Dutchman’s rivalry with Russell, whom he’s repeatedly clashed with.

Last year, Verstappen was punished for intentionally driving into his rival, which later proved decisive in his losing his title by two points.

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“I do want to go head-to-head with Max and obviously Lando had a great season last year but, no, it didn’t add any more pressure,” Russell said.

“Probably the fans and people were expecting potentially Mercedes versus McLaren because there was a lot of anticipation that Mercedes would clearly have the best power unit,” Russell added.

“But it seems like the other power-unit manufacturers have done a good job and we know that Red Bull have always had an amazing car.

“Even through the years of dominance of Mercedes, it was their engine that was letting them down not their car and we obviously know how good Max is.

So I think he’s very much going to be in the fight this year and that is great.”

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F1 2026 world champion betting odds

George Russell – 9/4

Max Verstappen – 5/2

Lando Norris – 5/1

Oscar Piastri – 8/1

Fernando Alonso – 8/1

Kimi Antonelli – 9/1

Charles Leclerc – 18/1

Lewis Hamilton – 25/1