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 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 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.
F1 news: McLaren to debut ‘completely new car’ in Miami and Canada, confirms Andrea Stella
McLaren will introduce a “completely new car” across the upcoming Miami and Canadian Grands Prix as they look to close the gap to early-season leaders Mercedes.
Team Principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the major upgrade has long been part of the team’s development plan, with a strong focus on aerodynamic improvements.
F1 news: McLaren’s Pato O’Ward rejects Formula 1 dream over 2026 ‘Mario Kart’ regulations
McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward has given up on his dream of driving in Formula 1 – not due to his age or continued success in IndyCar, but purely because of F1’s new “Mario Kart” style of racing.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Luca Salmasi takes a closer look at O’Ward’s thoughts on the new regulations and why his dream no longer lies in F1.
Johnny Herbert: Max Verstappen to McLaren ‘makes sense’ as Red Bull face losing their biggest asset
Three-time Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert believes Red Bull are heading towards a difficult period, warning that the potential loss of Max Verstappen could leave the team in a “real predicament.”
F1 news: Oscar Piastri confident Mercedes can be caught despite dominant 2026 start
Oscar Piastri has expressed confidence that Mercedes’ early dominance in the 2026 Formula 1 season can be challenged, despite the Silver Arrows winning each of the opening races.
F1 news: Lando Norris weighs in on the future of new regulations
McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris has given another damning verdict on the future of the 2026 F1 regulations
With three races now done and dusted, and a four-week gap until the next race, could further discussions about potential changes to the regulations be had in the meantime?
Sport New Blitz’s Oscar Trinick has more on this ongoing controversy.
McLaren show signs of life in Japan after difficult start to 2026 F1 season
It goes without saying that McLaren have had a challenging start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Japanese Grand Prix, however, saw a different McLaren.
WATCH! Pole Position podcast - Mercedes vs Ferrari, Australian GP and Chinese GP madness, and more
The latest episode of the Pole Position Podcast, powered by Sports News Blitz, reflects on the thrilling start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, following the conclusion of the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix.
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.
Ex-Red Bull strategist reveals how Formula 1 races are really won
Neil Martin is one of Formula 1’s most respected race strategists and a highly sought-after F1 speaker, with more than three decades at the forefront of performance modelling and competitive decision-making.
In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, Neil Martin reflects on strategy under pressure, the realities behind race-day decision-making and what business leaders can learn from operating in one of the most intense performance environments in the world.
Oscar Piastri says Lando Norris’ title win won’t change McLaren dynamics - ‘He’s not become Superman’
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri has made it clear that the relationship with his team-mate Lando Norris will stay the same, despite Norris winning the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
Piastri insists that Norris hasn’t suddenly become unbeatable or “Superman” after securing the sport’s biggest prize.
F1 news: Winners and losers from the 2025 Formula 1 season as Lando Norris is crowned champion
Lando Norris came out on top at the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season, winning both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships with McLaren to end the four-year reign of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Eloise Stevens breaks down the winners and losers from a campaign that saw the crowning of a new world champion.
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.
Lando Norris crowned F1 world champion at Abu Dhabi finale despite Max Verstappen win
On Sunday, December 7, at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lando Norris made history.
By finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, Norris secured his first-ever Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship - a title he clinched by a bare two-point margin.
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.
F1: Winners and losers from the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix
Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix, capitalising on a poor McLaren strategy that denied Lando Norris the chance to seal the 2025 Drivers’ Championship.
Sports News Blitz writer Eloise Stevens breaks down the winners and losers of the race at the Losail circuit as the Drivers’ Championship goes all the way to the last race of the season.
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.