Carlos Sainz says only George Russell can stop Max Verstappen winning 2026 F1 title

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Carlos Sainz believes Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen are the only true title contenders heading into the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Russell is the favourite for the championship on the basis that Mercedes are expected to have the fastest car. He comfortably saw off rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli last year.

However, Verstappen finished just two points adrift of a fifth consecutive title in 2025, which would have equalled Michael Schumacher’s record. Many experts have placed Red Bull fourth in the pecking order but even that isn’t enough to rule Verstappen out.

Carlos Sainz names George Russell and Max Verstappen as the two 2026 title contenders

During an appearance on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Sainz was asked to pick his world champion for 2026. He can’t choose between Russell and Verstappen.

Sainz was tight-lipped on his reasoning, but indicated that Red Bull’s first-ever power unit had impressed him in the first Bahrain test.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said Red Bull had the best engine in an interview last month, but this was largely dismissed as sandbagging at the time.

Could Russell beat Verstappen?

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Sainz said: “I’ll say two names, okay. George Russell or Max Verstappen.

“Can I ask you to explain that?” host Tom Clarkson replied.

“No, you cannot!” Sainz laughed.

When it was put to him that it was a ‘huge statement’ given the inexperience of Red Bull Powertrains, he said: “From what I’ve seen in Bahrain, three days of testing.”

A close title battle between Russell and Verstappen would be gripping given the historic tension between the two drivers. Their relationship appeared to improve last year after their explosive fallout in December 2024, but direct competition could lead to renewed hostility.

F1 pundit picked George Russell for the title, now he’s changing to Max Verstappen

Jolyon Palmer has warned that Verstappen is a ‘difference-maker’ who can win with ‘no pace in the car’. He lost out on the 2025 title by the smallest margin ever seen under the current points system, even though his teammate Yuki Tsunoda finished 17th in the championship.

The Red Bull may be fourth in the hands of the ‘average’ driver, but Verstappen has consistently been a ceiling-raiser. If they are within a few-tenths of the pacesetters, he’s bound to be in the conversation.

Palmer’s F1TV colleague James Hinchcliffe originally picked Russell to win the title but has now switched to Verstappen at the last moment. His concerns about the Red Bull engine were addressed during testing.

This year’s title race could come down to upgrades, with the development curve likely to be steeper than ever. Red Bull excelled in this area last season, though the picture was somewhat skewed by McLaren shifting focus to 2026.