Constructors Championship:
5th Aston Martin: As usual, Aston Martin will come out with a strong car at the beginning of the year, but fail to improve upon it. However, I think that this will be a reasonable decision as they will be working vigorously to give a title fighting machine for 2026.
4th Mercedes: Mercedes will have a tough fight with RedBull for 3rd place, but will ultimately lose. Their drivers are promising with Kimi Antonelli having a decent rookie year and George Russel taking a leadership role. However, their focus will shift to 2026 as they look to escape the treachery the ground effect era has brought them.
3rd RedBull: Red Bull will have a disappointing year. After losing key personnel and Liam Lawson having a tough time, I believe their only saving grace will be a win over Mercedes for 3rd place. And that Max Verstappen is still Max Verstappen.
2nd McLaren: McLaren will engage in a long title battle with Ferrari and will keep with them at the beginning of the year. They may pull ahead just slightly in the middle of the season, but eventually fall after Singapore. This will be due to inconsistency of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris’s inability to pass a key driver, in the drivers’ standings.
1st Ferrari: Ferrari will bring the strongest driver lineup of the teams and beat McLaren by fewer than 20 points. This entire championship win is dependent on three things. First, one of their drivers wins the title. Second, the other driver is within contention for the title for at least a third of the season. Third, Ferrari doesn’t have a midseason meltdown (they definitely will).
Drivers’ Championship:
5th Oscar Piastri: Piastri will pick up multiple top podium spots and multiple wins. His consistency will help him overcome Russel, but now with more competition than ever he will htake step back year, as he gets used to fighting new foes.
4th Lewis Hamilton: Lewis Hamilton is an amazing driver. Unfortunately, getting used to a new car and being out of winning circle will hurt him. He will perform well relative to Carlos Sainz, but must show more consistency throughout the middle of the year. His high finishes and multiple wins will help him secure his place once more as a leading contender.
3rd Lando Norris: Norris will fight hard and this fight will almost win him the constructors and second place. Ultimately falling to his hardest foe, Max Verstappen will leave him out of the top spot. His two wins and multiple podiums will serve him well, but he has yet to develop a championship mentality.
2nd Max Verstappen: Logistically Max Verstappen should be around the 5th – 3rd range, but he is not for one reason. He is the greatest driver at this moment on planet Earth. A weak car and abysmal teammate will put all the weight on him. He will pull through with 3-5 wins, securing 2nd place over Lando Norris. A little too far from the winner, but just enough to keep McLaren out of the Constructors.
1st Charles Leclerc: After the best season of his life last year, Leclerc will take a major step forward. Winning 5-8 races and securing several top 5 finishes by mid-season he will be the favorite. With the help of teammate Lewis Hamilton he will secure the constructors championship as well. But heed this warning. Ferrari can only win with him. And he can only win with Ferrari. If either of them make a critical error, it all comes crashing down.
