F1 2026 Drivers Championship Standings

Kimi Antonelli leads the 2026 F1 Driver Standings after the British GP, with George Russell second and Lewis Hamilton third heading into the Belgian GP.

With a new regulatory era reshaping the competitive order, early points could prove decisive. Here is the latest Drivers Championship table, how the points system works, and what it means heading into the next round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

F1 2026 Drivers Championship Standings

The table below shows the F1 driver standings after the British GP, including the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli following Round 9 of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Last updated: July 5, 2026, after the British GP

2026 F1 Driver Standings

Driver standings table

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Kimi Antonelli leads the F1 drivers championship after the British GP with 179 points, ahead of Mercedea teammate George Russell on 154 as the 2026 season begins to take shape.

How the F1 points system works in 2026

The Formula 1 points system remains unchanged for 2026:

  • 1st place: 25 points
  • 2nd place: 18 points
  • 3rd place: 15 points
  • 4th place: 12 points
  • 5th place: 10 points
  • 6th place: 8 points
  • 7th place: 6 points
  • 8th place: 4 points
  • 9th place: 2 points
  • 10th place: 1 point

Sprint events, where applicable, award additional points to the top eight finishers.

F1 2026 championship battle

The 2026 Formula 1 season still belongs to Kimi Antonelli, but the British GP changed the tone of the title fight after a disastrous Sunday for the championship leader and a huge result for his rivals.

Antonelli arrived at Silverstone in control and strengthened his position by winning the Sprint and taking pole for the Grand Prix, but his race unravelled late on when an issue dropped him out of contention and left him 16th. That scoreless finish means his Drivers’ Championship lead has been cut to 25 points.

George Russell was the biggest beneficiary, finishing second at Silverstone after a chaotic race that included a slow puncture and a late Safety Car call. It wasn’t the cleanest afternoon for the Mercedes driver, but it was a vital result that brought him back closer to Antonelli in the standings.

Lewis Hamilton remains firmly in the title picture too after completing the podium for Ferrari, though his false start penalty and late strategy call prevented him from turning strong home-race pace into an even bigger result. He continues to look increasingly comfortable in red, and Ferrari now have two Grand Prix wins this season.

The biggest momentum shift belonged to Charles Leclerc, who claimed his first victory of 2026 after rediscovering the feeling he had been missing with the SF-26. After a difficult run of races, his Silverstone win gives Ferrari renewed belief that they can pressure Mercedes in both championships.

Mercedes still hold the strongest hand overall, but Silverstone proved they are not untouchable. Antonelli had the speed to win, yet Ferrari capitalised when his race fell apart, and Russell’s recovery ensured the damage to Mercedes was limited.

McLaren remain dangerous but inconsistent. Lando Norris finished fourth after another strong drive, while Oscar Piastri ended outside the points following early damage. The pace deficit to Mercedes and Ferrari remains clear, leaving McLaren with significant work to do if they are to turn podium chances into a true title challenge.

Red Bull endured another uneven weekend. Max Verstappen retired late after spinning off at Stowe, while Isack Hadjar impressed with fifth. Verstappen remains a threat on his day, but Red Bull’s inconsistency continues to hurt their championship ambitions.

With the British GP complete, Antonelli still leads, but the gap is shrinking. Russell has revived his title hopes, Hamilton remains within range, and Ferrari now have real momentum after Leclerc’s Silverstone breakthrough.

What happens if drivers are level on points?

If two or more drivers are tied on points, positions are decided by:

  1. Number of race wins
  2. Number of second places
  3. Number of third places, and so on

If still tied, the FIA can determine the outcome based on further criteria outlined in the sporting regulations.

When are the standings updated?

The F1 driver standings are updated after every Grand Prix and Sprint event once the official FIA results are confirmed.

The next update will come after the Belgian GP, where Antonelli will look to extend his championship lead, Russell will aim to build on the momentum gained at Silverstone, and Hamilton will try to close the gap after another strong run with Ferrari.