Chinese Grand Prix 2026: Predictions and Betting Odds for the Formula 1 Race

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix will take place from 13 to 15 March at the Shanghai International Circuit. It will be the second race of the current season.

What odds have the bookmakers prepared for the Shanghai round? Find the best odds for the racing weekend in our review.

Who will win the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix?

Russell to win

3/4

Antonelli to win

6/1

Leclerc to win

6/1

2026 Chinese Grand Prix Winner Odds

While Albert Park traditionally leaves room for chaos, whether through a Safety Car intervention or the usual tactical blunders from Scuderia Ferrari, the Shanghai International Circuit is far better suited to revealing the true balance of the cars and testing how the new machines cope with increased tyre wear in race conditions.

Remarkably, even after his stunning climb from 20th to sixth, bookmakers are still reluctant to back Max Verstappen for victory. The same applies to the Scuderia Ferrari drivers, whose excellent pace was once again neutralised by foolish calls on the pit wall. Mercedes, meanwhile, look fully intent on mounting a title challenge by extracting every ounce of performance from their not entirely legal power units.

Formula 1 Drivers' Championship Title Betting Odds

Based on what we saw in Australia, it is fair to say that Russell is capable of delivering a consistent and productive season. His acceleration is hugely impressive, while the extra power that appears when the battery is deployed only adds fuel to the rumours surrounding a cheat-code engine.

Kimi Antonelli will also be expected to use the full potential of a well-calibrated car, but there is a feeling that if the young driver makes even the slightest mistakes or shows any uncertainty, Toto Wolff will make George Russell the clear number one and ask his second driver to step aside if the championship picture demands it.

George Russell to win

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Bet

3/4

Logically, Charles Leclerc should be the main challenger, with his car already looking polished during testing. Scuderia Ferrari once again have the pace to run in the lead group, even if it is only with one car. Leclerc’s battle with Russell in the opening laps showed that the new active aerodynamics system has real potential, and there is every chance that over the course of the season we will see fewer leaders disappearing up the road by a huge margin of 10 seconds or more.

Charles Leclerc to win

Bet

8/1

Lewis Hamilton will also keep collecting major points on a regular basis, but age and motivation could yet undermine his plans. The first signs of that downturn were already visible last season. Far more concerning, though, are the McLaren cars, which produced distinctly modest results in Australia, especially after such a dominant 2025 campaign. It is no surprise that the odds on a Lando Norris win have now drifted to astronomical levels.

Lando Norris to win

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Bet

20/1

And moving away from the front-runners, it is impossible to ignore the deeply worrying news from the back of the grid. Spanish media are widely reporting that veteran Fernando Alonso could retire during the season itself. The problem lies in long-standing joint injuries caused by constant strain. Pain in his neck and wrist worsens over long distances and flared up again during testing because of excessive vibration from the Honda engines. So it is entirely possible that we are watching Fernando’s final season in Formula 1.

Personal standings for the 2026 season and odds to win

Will Scuderia Ferrari’s strategists throw away another certain podium?

Be honest, you have missed Scuderia Ferrari’s traditional tactical blunders even more than the sound of the engines. What stands out is that the team’s mistakes have become so routine recently that they no longer shock Formula 1 fans in the way they once did.

But the latest strategic failure, when neither Lewis Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc was brought in under the Safety Car, cost Scuderia Ferrari not just points but a dream double podium in the very first race.

Even Juan Pablo Montoya could not resist weighing in on the issue:

Mistakes like that hurt even more now for a team that has finally found the pace it has been craving. But will Scuderia Ferrari have enough speed and composure in China to turn that endless promise into a real result?

The one encouraging sign is that this track, which places huge demands on aerodynamics and balance through long corners, is perfectly suited to the new cars. Now only one thing remains, which is to pit at the right time and finally start taking a few risks in pursuit of victory.

Charles Leclerc has every chance of claiming a second podium. Melbourne showed that the new energy recovery system, combined with the active wings, works well enough and prevents the race leader from vanishing from the pack within a couple of laps.

2026 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship Odds

Chinese Grand Prix Prediction

Max Verstappen may have spent the whole of last season talking about walking away from Formula 1, but it would be a mistake to write off Red Bull Racing so quickly. He may have been disappointed after Australia, but do not expect the reigning champion to lose motivation in the races ahead.

The pace is there for him to fight his way forward and take on anyone, and it would be no surprise if upcoming upgrades help Red Bull Racing rediscover the speed they need. The key thing is that the new engines hold together and Verstappen avoids the fate that befell Isack Hadjar.

Max Verstappen to finish in the top 3

Bet

6/5

As was the case before Melbourne, Charles Leclerc looks the leading candidate for victory. We know that one of his greatest strengths is on circuits where he can dictate the rhythm with confidence and use the car aggressively in the early stints. It would be no surprise if Shanghai delivers his first win of the season. The only question is whether he will be hit with yet another bizarre instruction from the pit wall.

Charles Leclerc to finish in the top 3

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Bet

3/4

As for the race winner, bookmakers quite logically see George Russell as the clear favourite. His acceleration, overall pace and tyre management have shown that Toto Wolff’s team are ready to make up for years of frustration and start filling the shelf with gold trophies once again.

Chinese Grand Prix Schedule and Weather Forecast 

Air temperature at the Shanghai circuit is expected to stay around 17°C. Sunday will be cloudy, though the chance of rain remains low for now.

Where to watch the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix in the UK

Every session from the Chinese Grand Prix, including practice and qualifying, will be shown live on Sky Sports F1.

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