The 18 F1 Driver Standings 2026

F1 Driver Standings 2026

The 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship has taken another major turn following a dramatic Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli strengthening his position at the top of the standings.

Antonelli produced one of the most impressive performances of the season at his home race, recovering from 19th on the starting grid to claim victory. The result gave the young Italian his seventh win of the 2026 campaign and increased his championship advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell to 66 points.

The victory was particularly significant because Antonelli had started at the back of the field after receiving an engine-related grid penalty. Despite that setback, he worked his way through the field during a race filled with changing strategies, overtaking battles and safety-car interruptions.

Russell finished second at Monza after leading large parts of the race. However, Antonelli’s late charge proved decisive as the Italian took control and eventually crossed the finish line first. Max Verstappen completed the podium for Red Bull in third place.

With the Italian Grand Prix now completed, Antonelli sits at the top of the championship with 267 points. Russell follows in second with 201 points, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton occupies third place with 191 points.

Lando Norris remains fourth in the championship with 171 points. The McLaren driver finished fourth at Monza, narrowly ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, and continues to remain within mathematical reach of the championship fight.

Charles Leclerc is fifth with 155 points. The Ferrari driver endured a difficult home Grand Prix after crashing early in the race, preventing him from challenging for the podium in front of the passionate Italian crowd.

Max Verstappen occupies sixth position with 127 points. The Red Bull driver secured third place at Monza and continues to sit ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who has 116 points and is seventh in the standings.

Isack Hadjar remains eighth with 71 points, although his season has recently been affected by injury. Hadjar is set to miss another race as he continues recovering from a wrist injury, with Liam Lawson stepping in for him at Red Bull.

Lawson is ninth in the Drivers’ Championship with 51 points, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly completes the top 10 with 41 points.

Further down the standings, Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad has accumulated 29 points, followed by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto on 21 points. Haas driver Oliver Bearman has 18 points, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto has collected 10 points.

Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz are level on 6 points, with Hülkenberg listed ahead in the standings. Williams driver Alexander Albon has 5 points, while Haas driver Esteban Ocon has 3 points.

2026 F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

Position| Driver| Team| Points
1| Kimi Antonelli| Mercedes| 267
2| George Russell| Mercedes| 201
3| Lewis Hamilton| Ferrari| 191
4| Lando Norris| McLaren| 171
5| Charles Leclerc| Ferrari| 155
6| Max Verstappen| Red Bull| 127
7| Oscar Piastri| McLaren| 116
8| Isack Hadjar| Red Bull| 71
9| Liam Lawson| Racing Bulls| 51
10| Pierre Gasly| Alpine| 41
11| Arvid Lindblad| Racing Bulls| 29
12| Franco Colapinto| Alpine| 21
13| Oliver Bearman| Haas| 18
14| Gabriel Bortoleto| Audi| 10
15| Nico Hülkenberg| Audi| 6
16| Carlos Sainz| Williams| 6
17| Alexander Albon| Williams| 5
18| Esteban Ocon| Haas| 3

The championship now heads toward the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s new Madring circuit. Antonelli arrives with a substantial advantage, but the season is far from over. Russell, Hamilton, Norris and the other leading contenders will all be looking to close the gap during the remaining rounds.

For Antonelli, however, the momentum could hardly be stronger. His remarkable comeback at Monza not only delivered a memorable home victory but also strengthened his position as the leading contender for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.