The 2025 Formula 1 season has concluded with Lando Norris securing his first world title, yet attention has already shifted toward the 2026 campaign. A specialised Supercomputer has begun generating early projections, offering an unexpected forecast for next year’s Drivers’ Championship standings. After a season defined by McLaren’s resurgence and Norris’ composed finale under pressure, anticipation is growing regarding how the defending champion will respond to a fresh set of challenges.
Max Verstappen remains central to the narrative, having showcased remarkable skill despite a demanding car. Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, is expected to seek redemption after setbacks late in the year. Ferrari and Mercedes both enter 2026 with the burden of improvement after inconsistent performances across the grid. The Supercomputer’s simulation, built from complex JeffBet calculations, has introduced some surprising shifts in competitive order and raised fresh questions about team trajectories.
The early rankings place Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in unexpectedly low positions, signalling a grim outlook for Ferrari’s progress. Even Lewis Hamilton, after a turbulent debut season at the Scuderia, is projected to drop further down the standings. Conversely, Fernando Alonso’s predicted seventh-place finish highlights his enduring competitiveness at 45, provided Aston Martin can deliver a capable machine. Rising talent Isack Hadjar is expected to handle Red Bull’s second seat with promise, outperforming recent predecessors.
The model forecasts a difficult year for Oscar Piastri, placing him fifth during McLaren’s transitional engine shift. Young star Kimi Antonelli is tipped to surge forward with Mercedes, potentially exploiting instability at rival teams. The standings narrow toward the top, where Norris is predicted to finish third, Verstappen second, and the title race extending deep into the final rounds. The simulation anticipates another tightly contested fight, shaped by sweeping technical changes and shifting team dynamics.
The boldest forecast crowns George Russell as the 2026 Drivers’ Champion, marking another British first-time winner after Norris’ triumph. With Mercedes maintaining organisational stability, the Supercomputer suggests this continuity could give Russell a decisive edge over Verstappen and Norris. Such an outcome would deliver Formula 1 its third different champion in as many seasons—an achievement not seen in over a decade—and add new intrigue to long-standing rivalries as the sport enters another transformative era.
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