If there were any doubts that George Russell and Mercedes were the ones to beat at the start of the 2026 F1 season, they were put to bed in Australia.
Russell dominated in Melbourne, with teammate Kimi Antonelli checking in second in the season lid-lifter.
Our Chinese GP predictions and free betting picks assess the latest F1 odds and tell you whether or not we're in for more of the same in Shanghai on Sunday, March 15.
2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix odds
| Driver |  |
|---|---|
 George Russell |
-138 |
 Charles Leclerc |
+550 |
| Kimi Antonelli |
+600 |
| Lewis Hamilton |
+750 |
 Max Verstappen |
+900 |
 Lando Norris |
+2800 |
| Oscar Piastri |
+2800 |
| Isack Hadjar |
+4000 |
 Liam Lawson |
+25000 |
| Arvid Lindblad |
+25000 |
 Esteban Ocon |
+40000 |
| Oliver Bearman |
+40000 |
 Nico Hulkenberg |
+40000 |
| Gabriel Bortoleto |
+40000 |
 Carlos Sainz |
+50000 |
| Alex Albon |
+50000 |
 Pierre Gasly |
+50000 |
| Franco Colapinto |
+50000 |
 Sergio Perez |
+50000 |
| Valtteri Bottas |
+50000 |
 Fernando Alonso |
+50000 |
| Lance Stroll |
+50000 |
Odds as of 3-11.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026 pre-qualifying favorites
With Mercedes off to a flying start with a one-two finish in the Australian GP, the first race held with the new cars required for Formula One, it's no surprise to see No. 1 pilot George Russell (-138) topping the leaderboard for the Chinese GP.
Teammate Kimi Antonelli (+600) is just behind Charles Leclerc (+550) of Ferrari for second-choice status. Leclerc completed the trifecta in Melbourne.
Lewis Hamilton (+750) and Max Verstappen (+900) round out the options at less than +2800.
Previous F1 Chinese Grand Prix winners
| Year | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 2024 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2020-2023 | Race Not Held — COVID-19 | N/A |
| 2019 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2018 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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