The 2026 Formula 1 season has taken shape with a dominant run of results for Mercedes, as young star Kimi Antonelli has surged to the front of the championship with five victories in the opening races of the campaign.

Antonelli's five-win start

The season opened in Australia on 8 March with George Russell taking the chequered flag for Mercedes in 1:23:06.801 across 58 laps. From there, however, Antonelli seized control of the campaign, reeling off a remarkable sequence of victories.

Antonelli triumphed in China (15 March), Japan (29 March), Miami (3 May) and Canada (24 May) before adding a fifth win at Monaco on 7 June, completing 78 laps in 2:23:31.243 around the streets of the principality.

Hamilton and Leclerc strike for Ferrari

Ferrari interrupted the Mercedes charge at Barcelona-Catalunya on 14 June, where Lewis Hamilton claimed victory in 1:32:28.105 across 66 laps. Teammate Charles Leclerc then took the top step at the British Grand Prix on 5 July, crossing the line in 1:27:11.335 after 52 laps.

Russell back on top in Austria

Russell added a second win of the season at the Austrian Grand Prix on 28 June, powering through 71 laps in 1:26:37.979 to keep Mercedes firmly in the title conversation.

Norris and McLaren close the summer

McLaren's Lando Norris has emerged as the strongest challenger in the summer stretch, winning the Hungarian Grand Prix on 26 July (70 laps, 1:39:56.180) and then going back-to-back at the Dutch Grand Prix on 23 August with a 72-lap run in 2:04:44.859.

Antonelli rounded out the most recent running with victory at the Italian Grand Prix on 6 September, completing 53 laps in 1:51:15.281 to strengthen his grip on the championship standings.

Season so far at a glance

• Australia (8 Mar): George Russell, Mercedes
• China (15 Mar): Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
• Japan (29 Mar): Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
• Miami (3 May): Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
• Canada (24 May): Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
• Monaco (7 Jun): Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
• Barcelona-Catalunya (14 Jun): Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
• Austria (28 Jun): George Russell, Mercedes
• Great Britain (5 Jul): Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
• Belgium (19 Jul): Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
• Hungary (26 Jul): Lando Norris, McLaren
• Netherlands (23 Aug): Lando Norris, McLaren
• Italy (6 Sep): Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

With Antonelli winning five of the thirteen rounds contested so far and Mercedes taking seven overall, the championship picture points firmly in the Brackley squad's favour heading into the closing stretch of the season.