Formula 1 2026 mid-season review: The biggest winners, losers and surprises so far
The 2026 Formula 1 season has reached its halfway point, and the first campaign under the sport's new regulations has already delivered plenty of storylines.
Mercedes have emerged as the class of the field after getting the new rules right from the start, while 19-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli has established himself as the championship favourite in just his second season in Formula 1.
Ferrari have also taken a significant step forward, Red Bull have struggled to keep pace with their rivals and Aston Martin have endured a disappointing first half of the year despite high expectations.
With 11 races complete and 12 still to come, here's a look at the biggest talking points from the 2026 season so far.
F1 news: Five drivers to miss Hungarian GP FP1 as teams hand rookie opportunities
Formula 1 teams will give five rookie drivers valuable track time during the opening practice session for this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri among the regular drivers sitting out.
Under Formula 1 regulations, every team must run a rookie driver in each car at least twice during the season.
With the championship heading into its final race before the summer break, several teams have chosen Budapest to complete one of those mandatory sessions.
F1 news: Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton heads to Silverstone with renewed belief as Jenson Button predicts British GP breakthrough
Lewis Hamilton arrives at Silverstone with growing confidence after a strong run of form in his early Ferrari career.
Former team-mate Jenson Button believes the seven-time world champion is well positioned to challenge for victory at his home Grand Prix.
With momentum building after recent podiums and a breakthrough win in Barcelona, Hamilton’s weekend carries real significance for his season, writes Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
F1 2026 takeaways: Kimi Antonelli's dominance, Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence and more from the first seven races
Seven races have been run since the 2026 Formula 1 season got underway in Melbourne in March, the most recent being the Spanish Grand Prix.
In these seven races, we’ve witnessed the pinnacle of motorsport adjusting to brand new regulations, with many fans outraged with the ‘anti-racing’ rules.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jack George takes a look at the key takeaways from this all-new Formula 1 2026 season.
F1 news: Lewis Hamilton secures maiden Ferrari win at Barcelona GP as Kimi Antonelli forced to retire
Lewis Hamilton secured his maiden Ferrari win at the Barcelona Grand Prix on Sunday as Mercedes’ winning streak came to an end after Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli retired and George Russell finished in P2.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu discusses the key takeaways from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
F1 analysis: Silent winners and main characters in Monaco - Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli and more
The Monaco Grand Prix is often characterised as a challenging and demanding circuit with its tight corners and close proximity barriers, writes Sports News Blitz’s Mukonazwothe Mamphitha.
But beneath that, the 2026 Formula 1 circuit crafted a group of drivers who took to the track and quietly optimised an eventful Sunday and one driver who owned the weekend.
While Monaco focuses on Kimi Antonelli's dominance, the story of the circuit runs deeper.
For drivers like Oscar Piastri and Alexander Albon, damage limitation turned into strong results.
F1 news: Kimi Antonelli dominates Monaco GP as Lewis Hamilton achieves back-to-back podiums
Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix as he extended his lead in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu discusses the biggest takeaways from a chaotic Monaco GP.
F1 news: Kimi Antonelli sets new Formula One record after Miami Grand Prix win
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing 3.264 seconds clear of Lando Norris, while Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri secured the final podium position.
The Italian, who started from pole, recorded his third win of the season.
His only non-win this year came in the season opener in Australia, where he finished second behind his team-mate George Russell.
Sunday’s pole position was also his third of the campaign, writes Sports News Blitz’s Katie Butler.
F1 news: Miami GP takeaways - Kimi Antonelli extends championship lead, Red Bull improves with upgrades, Ferrari’s forgettable race, and more
It’s three in a row for Kimi Antonelli as he takes the chequered flag in Miami, surviving the threat from McLaren's improved pace.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu discusses the takeaways from an eventful Miami Grand Prix.
F1 news: Formula One arrives in Miami for a pivotal race weekend
Formula One returns to Miami this week after a one-month break.
The paddock heads to Florida for Round 4 of the 2026 season, bringing updated regulations and unanswered questions.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Lucy Armour takes a closer look at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix and what to expect from the sport's return following its five-week break.
F1 analysis: Five things we could see for the rest of the Formula One season
The 2026 Formula One season has already delivered chaos, controversy, and huge shake-ups thanks to the new regulations.
With the Miami Grand Prix still a few weeks away, and a long calendar still ahead, Sports News Blitz writer Tyler Cooke looks at five storylines that could define the rest of the 2026 season.
F1 opinion: The rise of the new stars – Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman and more
The new F1 season is already hinting at a generational shift, with a wave of young talent making an immediate impact.
Teams are no longer waiting for experience to mature – raw speed and adaptability are being fast-tracked to the top.
Here, Sports News Blitz F1 writer Ella Magyar documents the rise of the grid’s young stars.
F1 analysis: Italy rejoices as Kimi Antonelli makes history in Shanghai
Kimi Antonelli wrote his name into the history books on Sunday with his maiden win at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
The race win made him the second teenager to stand at the top of an F1 podium and the first Italian to win a Grand Prix in almost 20 years.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Luca Salmasi reports on Kimi Antonelli’s journey and Italy’s long-awaited return to the top step of Formula 1.
F1 news: Five talking points after the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix
The 2026 Formula 1 season continued with an action-packed race at the Shanghai International Circuit, with surprise winners and serious reliability concerns for several teams.
The Chinese Grand Prix delivered plenty of drama, and here Sports News Blitz’s Tyler Cooke looks at five key talking points following the race.
Takeaways from the 2026 Chinese GP - Kimi Antonelli’s maiden Grand Prix win, Lewis Hamilton’s first podium in red and a double McLaren DNS
Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory after winning the Chinese Grand Prix as Mercedes showed blistering pace yet again.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu discusses the takeaways from the second race of the 2026 F1 season.
Australian GP takeaways: Mercedes set the benchmark, Ferrari close behind and Arvid Lindblad shines
The opening race weekend of the new F1 season saw George Russell win the season opener, converting pole position into a race-winning Mercedes one-two with Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Despite the pressure from Ferrari on the Silver Arrows, the first race of the season showed the potential of the Prancing Horse and a promising rookie debut.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu discusses the takeaways from the Australian Grand Prix.
Abu Dhabi GP: Debriefing the 2025 F1 season - Lando Norris a worthy champion, Max Verstappen’s statement victory, a look towards 2026, and more
On Sunday, December 7, the 2025 F1 season came to an end with McLaren’s Lando Norris delivering a professional P3 finish to secure his first-ever World Drivers’ Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Beating Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to the title, the Brit brought the curtain down on what has been another thrilling year of action. And with just under 90 days until the circus gets going again in Melbourne, there is a lot to unpack in the build-up to a new era of F1.
Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer, Henry Eccles, analyses the major talking points to come out of the season finale at Abu Dhabi.
Qatar GP preview: McLaren’s double disqualification in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen’s title hopes, shock leadership changes at Aston Martin, and more burning questions
F1 returns to the fast and flowing Lusail Circuit for the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, November 30, with all eyes firmly on the three-way championship battle between Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
After a dramatic weekend both on and off track at Las Vegas, with McLaren’s double disqualification, Verstappen’s crucial victory, and a bombshell leadership change at Aston Martin, there is much to discuss as we continue the triple-header season finale.
Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer, Henry Eccles, dives into five burning questions in the build-up to the Qatar Grand Prix.
F1 analysis: From Mercedes to Red Bull - the ease of modern record-breaking
Andrea Kimi Antonelli achieved his personal best result in Brazil with a P2 that ended with a gleaming silver trophy and a pleased champagne celebration.
This achievement added 18 points to Antonelli’s standing, giving him a grand total of 122 - and there remains another three more races left to go until the season comes to an end.
The impressive amount of points has been the topic of much attention and praise, with Antonelli surpassing Lewis Hamilton’s long-standing record of 109 points scored in his rookie year.
Consequently, this has also led to much conversation and comparison between the two drivers as Antonelli filled the seat in Mercedes-AMG Petronas that had previously been Hamilton’s for 12 years.
However, this evaluation by Sports News Blitz writer Ellie Man is not as straightforward as the raw numbers suggest.
São Paulo GP: Lando Norris takes control of title fight, another Max Verstappen masterclass in Brazil, Ferrari in chaos after disastrous weekend, and more
F1 returned to the fan-favourite Interlagos Circuit for the São Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, November 9.
A season-defining win for Lando Norris, another all-time great drive from Max Verstappen, and infighting at Ferrari, there is yet again a lot for F1 fans to discuss after a thrilling weekend of action.
Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer, Henry Eccles, takes a look at the five big talking points to come out of the São Paulo GP.