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.
Formula 1 confirms Malaysia return as Sepang added to 2026 calendar for Bahrain Grand Prix
Formula 1 has confirmed that the Sepang International Circuit will return to the calendar later this year after Malaysia was announced as the host venue for the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix.
The race, officially titled the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, will take place from October 2-4, filling the gap left after the original Bahrain event was postponed earlier this season due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The revised schedule remains subject to final agreements and approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
Lewis Hamilton confident Ferrari can fight for 2026 F1 title ahead of Hungarian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton says he believes Ferrari can challenge for the 2026 Formula 1 world championship after the team's strong progress during the opening half of the season.
The seven-time world champion has enjoyed a much stronger campaign after a difficult debut season with Ferrari in 2025.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton praised the work done by the Scuderia while insisting there is still more to come.
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: 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 Betting Markets Explained: What You Are Actually Betting On
Formula 1 looks simple from the sofa: twenty cars, one winner.
The betting markets built around a race weekend are a good deal more layered, and understanding what each one actually asks you to predict is the first step to enjoying them without confusion.
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.
Toto Wolff questions Ferrari's aggressive upgrade strategy amid F1 development race
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has questioned how Ferrari have been able to introduce so many upgrades to their 2026 Formula 1 car, suggesting the Italian team could soon reach the limits of the sport's cost cap.
With Formula 1's new regulations creating one of the most intense development races in recent memory, teams have been bringing new parts almost every race in an attempt to gain an advantage.
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 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 refuses to rule out title challenge after emotional first Ferrari victory
Lewis Hamilton says he is not giving up on the possibility of winning an eighth Formula 1 world championship this season after claiming his long-awaited first race victory with Ferrari at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion delivered a dominant performance in Spain to secure his first win since July 2024 and finally end Ferrari's wait for a victory with the British driver.
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: 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.
Women are driving a new era of sports growth as female viewership numbers continue to increase
The number of women watching sport is growing – and the statistics are there to back it up. From the ashes of Heated Rivalry and Formula 1: Drive to Survive rise female sport fans, who are loyal and ready for sporting fun.
They not only aid consumer statistics and records, but also expand the realms of diversity, virality, and financial stability. Here, Sports News Blitz writer Katie Butler unpacks the growth of female viewership within sport.
Former Formula 1 leader reveals the leadership rule that stops teams burning out under pressure
Sebastian Sheppard is a peak performance speaker, strategic advisor and former Formula 1 engineering leader whose work sits at the sharp end of pressure, precision and people management.
In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, Sebastian Sheppard explains how leaders can keep teams motivated when results are not coming, why discomfort is essential to development, and how executives can build cultures where people are trusted to solve problems rather than wait for instructions.
Remembering Alex Zanardi: F1 driver, paralympian, and an unstoppable spirit
On Friday, May 1, 2026, sport lost a great champion and a great man. Alex Zanardi, aged 59, passed away in Padua, Italy, not far from where he was born in Bologna.
His spirit lives on through his wife, Daniela, and their son, Niccolo.
The Italian was a Formula 1 driver, two-time CART (now IndyCar) champion, and Paralympic medalist in handcycling.
In this article, Sports News Blitz’s Katie Butler reflects on his legendary career.