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 key takeaways from Ferrari’s Belgian Grand Prix as optimism continues to grow
Scuderia Ferrari arrived at Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix looking to build on Charles Leclerc’s win at Silverstone in the first race of a doubleheader before the summer break.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and Ferrari fan Luca Salmasi takes a look at five key takeaways from the Scuderia’s weekend.
F1 news: Five takeaways from Ferrari’s British GP as Charles Leclerc wins and optimism grows
Scuderia Ferrari arrived at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix looking to maximise on their recent upgrades after a disappointing Austrian GP.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and Ferrari fan Luca Salmasi takes a look at five key takeaways from the Scuderia’s successful British GP.
F1 news: Five takeaways from Ferrari’s Austrian Grand Prix as progress tempered by frustration
Scuderia Ferrari arrived in the Styrian hills after the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix full of momentum and with the addition of a new, more powerful power unit. Whilst both Ferraris performed well across the first part of the race weekend, especially in qualifying, their Sunday was awful.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and Ferrari fan Luca Salmasi takes a look at five key takeaways for Ferrari.
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: Four takeaways from Ferrari’s Monaco Grand Prix, a tale of mixed fortunes
Scuderia Ferrari arrived in the principality after a fairly successful Canadian Grand Prix. Whilst Lewis Hamilton kept up momentum with another P2 on the podium, Charles Leclerc continued to have poor luck at his home Grand Prix, crashing out in the final corner of the safety car restart.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and Ferrari fan Luca Salmasi takes a look at four key talking points from their sixth race of the season.
F1 news: Five takeaways from Ferrari’s Canadian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton leads resurgence
Scuderia Ferrari arrived at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and showcased vast improvement from their previous race weekend in Miami.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and Ferrari fan Luca Salmasi takes a look at five key talking points from their fifth race of the season.
F1 returns in Miami after extended break as teams prepare major upgrades
After an unexpected month-long break, Formula 1 is back, with the Miami International Autodrome hosting the sixth edition of the Miami Grand Prix.
This weekend will see the second sprint race of the season, with plenty of action to usher F1 back in.
Ferrari firmly second best as Fred Vasseur outlines clear path for improvement
Three races into the 2026 Formula 1 season, and it’s almost clear where every team stands.
Ferrari have set the pace as the second fastest team behind Mercedes this year, although McLaren were in the mix in Japan.
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.
Ferrari’s Australian GP: Five key takeaways from a weekend of mixed fortunes
Scuderia Ferrari’s season kicked off at Albert Park in Melbourne, and the action provided plenty of talking points.
Whilst the weekend didn’t entirely go to plan, it gave indications of a potentially wide-open title race and glimpses of how successful the team could be this season.
F1 analysis: How Ferrari fell short in the 2025 Formula 1 season
With few highs and many lows, Ferrari endured a disappointing Formula 1 season in 2025.
The team wrestled with efforts to find consistency and reliability - issues that marked the overall campaign in an underwhelming year.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Ellie Man reflects on what was a long and difficult season for the Scuderia.
F1 news: Ferrari under pressure as 2026 regulations usher in a new era
With Lando Norris claiming the World Championship, the 2025 Formula 1 season has drawn to a thrilling close.
But developments for next year are already well underway.
New regulations and a reimagining of car design mean that the teams face a reset, reshaping the competitive order of the grid.
Sports News Blitz’s Ellie Man explores the new F1 regulations to be introduced in 2026, as well as Ferrari’s prospects after a disappointing season.
F1 news: Winners and losers from the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Lando Norris secures world title
Lando Norris finished third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to clinch the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, while Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri did all they could to deny him by finishing first and second, respectively.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Eloise Stevens breaks down the winners and losers from the final race of the season.
Qatar GP: McLaren’s strategy howler hands Max Verstappen crucial victory, Carlos Sainz podium makes Williams’ dreams a reality, Red Bull announce 2026 driver lineup, and more
The triple-header season finale continued at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, November 30, with McLaren’s Lando Norris looking to secure the Drivers’ title in his thrilling fight with Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
But after a disastrous strategy error from McLaren, the three-way battle for the championship goes down to the wire at Abu Dhabi, with Verstappen’s win, Sainz’s surprise podium, and Red Bull’s 2026 driver lineup the other important highlights of this season’s penultimate weekend.
Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer, Henry Eccles, takes a look at the five key talking points to come out of the Qatar GP.
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 news: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc address Ferrari chairman’s criticism
Ferrari Executive Chairman John Elkann stirred debate after the Brazilian Grand Prix by publicly suggesting that the team’s drivers need to “talk less and focus on driving.”
His comments followed a difficult weekend for the Scuderia, which saw both cars retire. Charles Leclerc was involved in a first-turn incident with Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri, while Lewis Hamilton retired after sustaining damage in earlier collisions.
Elkann acknowledged the improvements made by Ferrari’s mechanics and engineers but stressed that the team still had room for growth elsewhere.
Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo reports on the comments made by Hamilton and Leclerc in response.
Ferrari’s 2026 aspirations: Project 678, championship aims, and ‘talking less’
The 2025 F1 season has been undoubtedly underwhelming for Scuderia Ferrari, with no wins, seven podiums, and a slim shot at P2 in the Constructors’ Championship to date.
With only three races left to go in the season and the championship already secured by McLaren, Ferrari’s next car is in development, titled ‘Project 678,’ writes Sports News Blitz’s F1 writer Ellie Man.
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.
F1 news: Ferrari chairman John Elkann urges focus at the Scuderia after disastrous Brazil GP
John Elkann, chairman of the Italian racing team Scuderia Ferrari, has called for his drivers to “talk less and focus on driving” after a disappointing weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
At the Sao Paulo GP, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc failed to finish the race - Leclerc after a collision and Hamilton following a series of issues, including damage and penalties.
The team’s hopes of making up ground this season have taken a hit: Ferrari now find themselves fourth in the Constructors’ Championship behind Red Bull and Mercedes.