Formula 1 entered 2026 with major technical changes, new power-unit regulations, a reshaped grid and considerable uncertainty over which teams would adapt most successfully. As the season has developed, those changes have produced a very different competitive picture.
Mercedes has emerged as the team to beat, while Kimi Antonelli has become the standout driver of the season. Ferrari and McLaren remain major forces near the front, and Red Bull continues to search for the consistency required to challenge Mercedes regularly.
Further down the grid, Audi’s arrival as a full works operation and Cadillac’s Formula 1 debut have added another dimension to the championship.
Following the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid on September 13, Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 292 points, ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell on 211. Lewis Hamilton sits third for Ferrari on 191 points, followed by McLaren’s Lando Norris on 186 and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on 167.
Mercedes also holds a commanding position in the Constructors’ Championship with 503 points, ahead of Ferrari on 358, McLaren on 306 and Red Bull Racing on 230.
With important races still ahead, here are the Formula 1 teams and drivers worth watching during the remainder of the 2026 season.
Why the 2026 Formula 1 Season Is Different
The 2026 season represents one of Formula 1’s most significant technical resets in recent years.
New regulations have affected both chassis and power units, forcing every constructor to reconsider fundamental aspects of car design. Whenever Formula 1 introduces major technical changes, there is an opportunity for the competitive order to shift.
That has certainly happened in 2026.
Mercedes has taken advantage of the new era more effectively than its major rivals so far. Ferrari has remained competitive, while McLaren has shown flashes of the performance that made it such a major force in previous seasons.
Red Bull, meanwhile, has faced a more challenging campaign despite having Max Verstappen in its line-up.
The grid itself has changed as well.
Audi is competing as a full Formula 1 works team, while Cadillac has expanded the championship to 11 teams and brought Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas back together as an experienced driver pairing.
These changes make 2026 an important season not only for the championship battle but also for determining which teams may become the dominant forces of Formula 1’s new technical era.
Mercedes: The Team Setting the Standard
Mercedes is the clear benchmark of the 2026 season so far.
After the Spanish Grand Prix, the team leads the Constructors’ Championship with 503 points. Ferrari is second on 358, meaning Mercedes has established a substantial advantage.
The team’s success has been driven by both performance and the strength of its driver pairing.
Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship, while George Russell occupies second place. Having both drivers consistently collecting major points has allowed Mercedes to build its constructors’ advantage quickly.
Why Mercedes Has Been So Strong
Formula 1 regulation changes can reward teams that interpret the new rules effectively from the beginning.
Mercedes appears to have produced a competitive package across different types of circuits rather than relying on performance under only specific conditions.
Reliability and execution have also mattered.
Raw speed is important, but championships are built through qualifying performance, race strategy, pit stops and consistent points finishes.
Mercedes currently possesses the combination required to perform strongly across those areas.
The question for the remainder of 2026 is whether Ferrari, McLaren or Red Bull can close the performance gap quickly enough to put sustained pressure on the championship leader.
Kimi Antonelli: The Breakout Star of Formula 1 2026
Few drivers have attracted more attention during the 2026 season than Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian arrived in Formula 1 with enormous expectations, but his current championship campaign has elevated him beyond the category of promising young driver.
Antonelli leads the championship with 292 points after the Spanish Grand Prix.
His Madrid victory was his eighth win of the season and increased his advantage over Russell to 81 points.
The result was particularly significant because it followed another extraordinary victory at Monza, where Antonelli charged from 19th on the grid to win his home Grand Prix.
What Makes Antonelli One to Watch?
Antonelli’s pace has never been the main question. He progressed rapidly through the junior categories and was viewed as one of Mercedes’ most important long-term prospects before reaching Formula 1.
What has stood out in 2026 is his ability to turn speed into championship results.
Young drivers often require time to develop consistency, particularly when competing against experienced champions. Antonelli has instead become the driver everyone else is chasing.
His performances at Monza and Madrid demonstrated two different qualities.
In Italy, he recovered from a difficult starting position and navigated a dramatic race to take victory. In Madrid, he took advantage when circumstances changed and then managed the race successfully under pressure from Verstappen.
That combination of speed and adaptability has made Antonelli the defining driver of the 2026 season so far.
George Russell: Mercedes’ Other Championship Contender
Antonelli’s extraordinary campaign should not overshadow George Russell.
Russell sits second in the Drivers’ Championship with 211 points, giving Mercedes control of the top two positions.
The British driver has been a crucial part of Mercedes’ constructors’ campaign and remains one of the most complete drivers on the grid.
Russell’s challenge is straightforward: he needs to reduce the points gap to his teammate.
When two drivers have access to the same machinery, their performances inevitably receive close comparison. Antonelli’s run of victories has therefore increased the pressure on Russell to maximise every qualifying session and race.
Even if the Drivers’ Championship becomes increasingly difficult, Russell’s points remain vital to Mercedes’ constructors’ ambitions.
His battle with Antonelli also provides one of the most interesting internal storylines for the remainder of the season.
Ferrari: Still Mercedes’ Closest Team Rival
Ferrari remains second in the Constructors’ Championship with 358 points.
Although Mercedes has established a considerable advantage, Ferrari has accumulated enough points to remain the nearest challenger in the teams’ standings.
The combination of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc gives Ferrari one of Formula 1’s strongest driver pairings.
Hamilton currently sits third in the Drivers’ Championship with 191 points, while Leclerc is fifth with 167.
That places both Ferrari drivers among the leading competitors of the season.
Lewis Hamilton: Chasing Success With Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari created enormous attention, and 2026 has seen the seven-time world champion competing near the front of the championship.
Hamilton has accumulated 191 points and currently sits third.
His season has included competitive performances, but Madrid produced a setback when a brake problem forced him to retire.
Mechanical retirements are particularly costly when championship rivals are consistently scoring.
Hamilton nevertheless remains one of the drivers to watch whenever Ferrari has the performance required to challenge at the front.
His experience is also valuable during a season shaped by unfamiliar technical regulations. Few drivers possess comparable experience of adapting to different generations of Formula 1 machinery.
Charles Leclerc: Ferrari’s Established Star
Charles Leclerc remains another major threat in Ferrari’s line-up.
The Monegasque driver sits fifth in the championship with 167 points and finished fourth at the most recent Spanish Grand Prix.
Leclerc is particularly dangerous over a single qualifying lap. When Ferrari provides him with a competitive car, his ability to extract maximum performance can put him into positions from which victories become possible.
His challenge during the remainder of 2026 is consistency.
Mercedes has established its advantage partly because both Antonelli and Russell regularly collect large points totals.
For Ferrari to apply more pressure, Hamilton and Leclerc will need to maximise weekends simultaneously.
McLaren: Still Capable of Challenging at the Front
McLaren occupies third place in the Constructors’ Championship with 306 points.
The team has not matched Mercedes’ consistency, but it remains capable of competing near the front.
Lando Norris sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship on 186 points, while Oscar Piastri is seventh with 120.
Norris demonstrated McLaren’s potential at the Spanish Grand Prix by taking pole position and controlling the opening stages.
His race changed when a Virtual Safety Car and the timing of his pit stop cost him track position. He ultimately finished third behind Antonelli and Verstappen.
That race demonstrated both McLaren’s speed and how quickly strategy can influence Formula 1 results.
Lando Norris: McLaren’s Leading Driver
Norris entered 2026 as one of the biggest names on the grid and remains central to McLaren’s ambitions.
With 186 points, he is only five behind Hamilton in third place.
His Madrid performance showed that McLaren can still produce a car capable of fighting for pole positions and victories.
For Norris, the challenge is converting that speed into maximum points more consistently.
Strategy, pit stops, reliability and track position all become particularly important when several teams are closely matched.
Norris has the pace to challenge Ferrari’s drivers in the standings and could become an increasingly important factor in the closing stages of the season.
Oscar Piastri: Looking for Greater Consistency
Oscar Piastri remains one of Formula 1’s most talented younger drivers.
He currently has 120 points, placing him seventh in the Drivers’ Championship.
Piastri has already demonstrated during his Formula 1 career that he can compete at the front, but his 2026 campaign has been less productive than that of teammate Norris.
The remainder of the season provides an opportunity to close that gap.
McLaren needs both drivers scoring heavily if it wants to challenge Ferrari for second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Piastri’s performances could therefore have a major influence on where McLaren finishes.
Red Bull Racing: A Different Kind of Season
Red Bull enters the final part of 2026 in an unfamiliar position.
The team sits fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with 230 points, behind Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
Max Verstappen remains its leading driver, but the Dutchman is sixth in the championship with 145 points.
That represents a significant change from the seasons in which Verstappen and Red Bull dominated Formula 1.
The 2026 regulations have created a new challenge, and Red Bull is still attempting to maximise its package.
However, recent results demonstrate that Verstappen remains capable of competing near the front.
He finished third at Monza and second in Madrid.
Max Verstappen: Still a Major Threat
Championship position does not tell the entire story with Verstappen.
The multiple world champion remains one of Formula 1’s most formidable competitors.
In Madrid, he finished only 4.351 seconds behind Antonelli and successfully kept Norris behind him during the closing stages.
Verstappen’s ability to maximise difficult weekends makes him particularly important for Red Bull.
Even when the car is not the strongest package on the grid, he can still fight for podiums and potentially victories.
For fans following individual races rather than only the championship standings, Verstappen remains a driver who cannot be ignored.
Isack Hadjar: A Young Driver Facing a Major Test
Isack Hadjar partners Verstappen at Red Bull and currently sits eighth in the Drivers’ Championship with 71 points.
Driving alongside Verstappen is one of Formula 1’s most demanding assignments.
Hadjar’s task is not simply to match his teammate immediately but to develop consistency while contributing enough points to Red Bull’s constructors’ campaign.
His performances will be closely monitored because Red Bull’s second seat has historically carried considerable pressure.
A strong finish to 2026 could help establish Hadjar as an important part of the team’s future.
Racing Bulls: Young Talent Making an Impact
Racing Bulls currently leads the midfield battle in fifth place with 77 points.
Liam Lawson has scored 59 points, while rookie Arvid Lindblad has 31 in the Drivers’ Championship.
The team is well behind the four leading constructors but has performed strongly enough to establish itself at the front of the midfield.
Lindblad is particularly interesting because of his age and potential.
Young drivers are often judged not only on outright results but also on how quickly they improve across a season.
Watching Lindblad’s development against more experienced opponents will therefore be one of the interesting subplots during the remaining races.
Alpine: Gasly and Colapinto Chasing Racing Bulls
Alpine sits sixth in the Constructors’ Championship with 68 points.
Pierre Gasly has collected 41, while Franco Colapinto has 27.
The gap to Racing Bulls is relatively small, making the battle for fifth an important target.
Colapinto’s seventh-place finish in Madrid helped Alpine move closer.
For teams outside the leading group, positions in the Constructors’ Championship have significant importance because they provide a clear measurement of development and competitive progress.
The Racing Bulls-Alpine contest could therefore remain interesting until late in the season.
Audi: Building for the Future
Audi’s arrival as a works Formula 1 team was one of the biggest developments associated with the 2026 regulations.
The German manufacturer fields Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Results have been modest so far, with Audi eighth in the Constructors’ Championship on 17 points.
Bortoleto has scored 10 and Hulkenberg seven.
However, Audi’s first season should also be viewed in the context of a long-term factory project.
Building a successful Formula 1 operation takes time. Developing the power unit, chassis, personnel and race operations simultaneously is a significant challenge.
Every race provides information that can influence future development.
Bortoleto is especially worth following because he represents the younger side of Audi’s driver pairing, while Hulkenberg provides experience and technical feedback.
Williams: Sainz and Albon Searching for More
Williams currently occupies ninth place with 11 points.
Carlos Sainz has six points and Alex Albon five.
That position is disappointing given the experience and ability of the driver pairing.
Sainz has previously demonstrated that he can win races when given competitive machinery, while Albon has produced several impressive performances during his time with Williams.
Their challenge is extracting more from the car and converting opportunities into points whenever races become unpredictable.
Williams’ results during the remainder of 2026 will provide clues about whether the team is moving in the right direction under the new regulations.
Aston Martin: Experience but Limited Results
Aston Martin has endured a difficult 2026 season so far.
The team sits tenth with only three points, all scored by Fernando Alonso. Lance Stroll remains without a point.
Alonso remains one of the most experienced drivers in Formula 1 and continues to attract attention because of his ability to maximise opportunities.
However, even elite drivers are limited by the competitiveness of their machinery.
For Aston Martin, the remainder of the season is therefore likely to be as much about development as individual race results.
Cadillac: Formula 1’s Newest Team
Cadillac’s arrival expanded Formula 1 to 11 teams in 2026.
The American constructor selected an extremely experienced pairing for its debut season: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
Both drivers have extensive Formula 1 experience, including race victories and years spent with leading teams.
That experience is valuable for a new operation because drivers play an important role in helping engineers understand how a car behaves and where development is required.
Cadillac remains without a championship point, illustrating just how difficult entering Formula 1 can be.
However, its first season is about much more than immediate results.
Building reliable operations, understanding race weekends and developing the car provide foundations for future seasons.
That makes Cadillac a team worth following even when it is not competing near the front.
Following Formula 1 Throughout the 2026 Season
Formula 1 can change significantly from one race weekend to another.
Circuit characteristics, weather, tyre performance, qualifying positions and upgrades can all alter the competitive order.
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When evaluating Formula 1 betting markets, recent race results should not be considered in isolation. Track characteristics, qualifying pace, grid penalties, weather, tyre strategies and reliability can all influence outcomes.
Motorsport is unpredictable, and betting should always be approached responsibly using predetermined limits.
What to Watch During the Rest of Formula 1 2026
The biggest question is whether anyone can stop Antonelli’s march toward the Drivers’ Championship.
His advantage over Russell has grown significantly, and his eight victories demonstrate that his position is built on sustained performance rather than one or two exceptional weekends.
The Mercedes battle remains interesting because Russell has the same machinery and occupies second place.
Behind them, Hamilton, Norris and Leclerc are separated by relatively small margins compared with the gap to Antonelli. Their battle for the leading positions behind Mercedes could change several times during the remaining races.
The Constructors’ Championship also provides important storylines.
Mercedes holds a commanding advantage, while Ferrari and McLaren continue their fight behind the leader. Red Bull remains fourth but has demonstrated improved competitiveness at recent races.
Further back, Racing Bulls and Alpine are separated by a relatively narrow margin, while Audi, Williams, Aston Martin and Cadillac continue developing their 2026 projects.
Final Thoughts
Formula 1’s new technical era has already changed the competitive landscape.
Mercedes has emerged as the dominant force of 2026, and Kimi Antonelli has transformed himself from exciting prospect into championship leader.
George Russell remains an important part of Mercedes’ success, while Ferrari’s Hamilton and Leclerc continue to provide strong competition.
McLaren remains capable of challenging for race victories, particularly with Norris, while Piastri will be looking for a stronger finish to the season.
Red Bull may no longer be setting the championship pace, but Verstappen remains dangerous whenever the car allows him to compete near the front.
The midfield offers its own compelling stories. Racing Bulls and Alpine are fighting for position, Audi is establishing its new works operation, and Cadillac is learning the realities of Formula 1 during its debut campaign.
With more races still to come, reliability, development upgrades, qualifying performance and strategy can continue changing individual race weekends.
Whatever happens next, the 2026 season has already demonstrated exactly why major Formula 1 regulation changes are so fascinating: they create new challenges, new competitive orders and opportunities for a new generation of drivers to emerge.