By Tiana Pringley
The Formula One season has just begun and that means we will have a whole new list of possible contenders for the drivers world championship this year.
Oscar Piastri
Piastri continues to prove why he is one of the most exciting talents in F1. He has shown incredible pace during a race weekend, stayed calm during difficult strategies and performed well under pressure. With more experience, having been in the sport for four years now and a car to back him up, Oscar can very well be a contender for the 2026 world championship.
Lando Norris
Norris has grown into one of the most competitive drivers on the grid. He is known for his speed in qualifying and his amazing race pace and has the talent and determination to challenge other drivers for the championship. With support from his team Norris can be in the running to secure a second world championship.
George Russell
Russell can be seen as the underdog in the title fight but over the past few races he has shown that he has what it takes to be a contender and is someone other drivers need to watch out for. If Russell can be consistent each weekend there is no doubt we could see him winning championships.
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Max Verstappen
You can never count out Verstappen when it comes to talking about championships because even though sometimes the car might not do what it wants him to do, he always finds a way to stay in the points and fight his way through the crowd during a race. Even with the new regulations Verstappen remains one of the best drivers on the grid.
Charles Leclare
This year Leclare has shown that his dream of a drivers championship can come true after topping the times in pre-season testing and securing a podium at the Melbourne GP. And he has demonstrated not only to fans but other drivers what he can bring to the table. If the team can give Charles a reliable strategy to work on, he could finally turn his hard work into a championship win.
Feature image: Five drivers, one goal: the Formula One world title. Photo: Tiana Pringley