Antonelli On Fire as Mercedes Stamp Authority On 2026 Grid

Kimi Antonelli has emerged as the dominant force of the early 2026 Formula 1 season, racking up an extraordinary run of victories across the opening 11 rounds of the campaign.

The young Italian, driving for Mercedes, has won the Chinese, Japanese, Miami, Canadian, Monaco and Belgian Grands Prix — six wins in total — establishing himself as the championship favourite at the season's midpoint.

Mixed Fortunes Across a Punishing Early Calendar

The season opened with George Russell taking the chequered flag in Australia on 8 March, crossing the line at Albert Park in 1:23:06.801 across 58 laps to give Mercedes a flying start to the campaign.

Antonelli then seized control of the championship momentum, winning in China (15 March), Japan (29 March) and Miami (3 May) before adding another victory in Canada on 24 May. The Monaco Grand Prix on 7 June went his way too, before the series travelled to Barcelona-Catalunya where seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton secured Ferrari's first win of the year on 14 June, completing 66 laps in 1:32:28.1.

A Season of Winners

Great Britain's Charles Leclerc delivered for Ferrari at Silverstone on 5 July, and Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate George Russell returned to the top step in Austria on 28 June. Meanwhile, Lando Norris handed McLaren its first 2026 triumph with victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix on 26 July, rounding out a 70-lap, 1:39:56.18 affair at the Hungaroring.

With a record five different race winners already in the opening stages of the season, the 2026 Formula 1 campaign is sustaining intense interest — and Mercedes' Antonelli has emerged as the driver to beat.