Lando Norris is the defending champion heading into the new Formula 1 season.

Lando Norris enters 2026 as the defending Formula 1 champion (Image: Getty)

Defending champion Lando Norris and four-time Formula 1 title-winner Max Verstappen were both overlooked as Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert named their “dark horse” for the 2026 title. Oscar Piastri was also not given that tag, meaning the two British former F1 racers both believe a driver who was not in the top three last year might be best placed for the crown this term.

Norris was declared world champion for the first time in December, with a podium finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which was enough to ensure Verstappen’s late-season charge would be for nothing. He beat the Red Bull racer to the title by just two points, while Piastri was third in the standings despite having spent six months at the top of the pile earlier in the year.It means nothing in terms of what is to come, though, with new engine and aerodynamic design rules threatening to shake up the grid. No-one knows what the true balance of power will be when the lights go out at the season opener in Melbourne at the beginning of March. The paddock’s best guesses have suggested Mercedes could be the ones to beat, given their past record of adapting swiftly to engine rule changes.

If that happens, three-time F1 race-winner Herbert can see George Russell being the man to beat. “I’m probably going to go Mercedes, because I think, as a partnership at the moment, I think it’s working very well. I think [Kimi] Antonelli has probably got to improve on his consistency, that’s probably his weakness at the moment,” he said on the Stay on Track podcast.

George Russell could become the title favourite if Mercedes live up to the hype (Image: Getty)

“George has done a brilliant job for them. I’m sure they are going to be at the sharp end fighting for race wins and potentially the championship. I tell you what, I’m going to go George.”

Co-host and 1996 world champion Hill replied: “I think you nicked my answer! Because we’ve been spending so long talking about the usual suspects. And I think there are question marks over Red Bull, I think. I would say the dark horse here is George Russell, who performed brilliantly, consistently all year in a car that was not a regular winner. Yeah, I think they’re in a good place.”

And Herbert added: “Yeah, I think they are. And Antonelli proved a lot last year, I think he will be stronger as well. And if the car is a car that’s going to be the dominant force, they have the right pairing from a constructors’ point of view as well. I think it could be a double win for them.”

It remains impossible to say whether Mercedes will live up to the hype, and Russell has been keen to play down the noise surrounding his and his team’s chances. “I’d be a fool to say I’m putting all my money on Mercedes,” the Brit told German outlet Auto Motor und Sport, though he did go on to admit: “Mercedes has been the benchmark in this area for many years.”