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.
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 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: 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 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: 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 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 opinion: Ferrari are right to be furious, Mercedes’ ‘innovation’ is just legal cheating
Here we go again. Different regulations, same circus, writes Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
Ferrari spend years preparing for a regulation reset, playing by the book, trying to build something competitive...and then along comes Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team with yet another “clever interpretation” that just happens to give it a massive edge.
F1 news: Toto Wolff addresses Christian Horner future and warns of ‘repercussions’
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has not always had the best relationship with the former Red Bull team principal.
Still, he denies attempting to block Christian Horner from returning to Formula One.
Horner was sacked last July, but tensions with Wolff have always been clear, especially during the 2021 title race between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Wolff’s latest comments tackle the implications of a possible Horner return.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Luca Salmasi takes a closer look at Toto Wolff’s thoughts on a potential Christian Horner return.
F1 news: Ferrari fight back while Mercedes play politics
Formula 1 in 2026 is shaping up to be a battle not just on the track but in the boardroom, and Ferrari are proving they know how to play both arenas with integrity, writes Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
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.
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.
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.
F1 News: Five talking points ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix
The 2026 Formula One season heads to Shanghai this weekend for the next chapter of what is already shaping up to be a fascinating title fight.
After a dramatic opening race in Melbourne, where George Russell led a dominant Mercedes one two, several storylines are beginning to emerge as teams prepare for the Chinese Grand Prix.
2026 Chinese Grand Prix: Sprint format and Mercedes-Ferrari battle headline Shanghai
F1 returns to Shanghai this weekend for the Chinese Grand Prix, and the 2026 edition could be one of the most unpredictable races of the season.
With the sprint format compressing the schedule and limiting practice time, teams face a high-pressure weekend where small mistakes could have major consequences.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Ella Magyar breaks down the key storylines ahead of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.
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.