With the Hungarian Grand Prix accomplished, the 2026 Method One season has reached the midway level and with it the summer time break. It’s, then, the proper time to evaluate how every of the 22 drivers has been faring.
To compile these rankings Telegraph Sport dug past the race outcomes to provide you with a complete working order, considering a wide range of metrics. Kimi Antonelli leads the way in which within the driver standings, however does he lead our rankings?
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22. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
Championship factors: 0 (twentieth)Qualifying report: 12-2 loss to Alonso
The excellent news for Lance Stroll is that he has out-qualified Fernando Alonso twice this season. However these have been outstandingly uncommon occasions of their time collectively. The dangerous information is that the Aston Martin AMR26 is so dangerous that it’s nearly not possible to inform how good a job he’s doing, although it’s actually not a superb one.
21. Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
Championship factors: 0 (twenty first)Qualifying report: 9-5 loss to Pérez
Valtteri Bottas’s return to F1 has, up to now, been a disappointment. Cadillac are, as anticipated, nicely off the tempo however it’s simpler to guage the Finn’s and his team-mate’s output as a result of they aren’t that woefully adrift. After a troublesome begin he has began to show issues round.
Valtteri Bottas’s early exit from the Hungarian Grand Prix was the most recent disappointment for the Finnish driver this season – Andrej Isakovic/AFP
20. Esteban Ocon, Haas
Championship factors: 3 (seventeenth)Qualifying report: 11-4 loss to Bearman
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As was the case final season, Esteban Ocon is being outclassed by his youthful team-mate Oliver Bearman. Factors have been more durable to come back by for the reason that first few rounds for Haas, however Bearman has been the sooner and extra constant performer. That’s mirrored by the quarter-second common qualifying deficit. In grands prix they’ve each completed, Ocon has ranked forward simply as soon as.
19. Alexander Albon, Williams
Championship factors: 5 (sixteenth)Qualifying report: 12-1 loss to Sainz
It has been a troubling yr for Williams, however particularly so for Alexander Albon. By the Italian Grand Prix final yr he had scored 73 factors to team-mate Carlos Sainz’s 16. Since then Sainz has scored 54 to Albon’s six.
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Sure, the Williams is a poor machine, however Albon will not be near getting probably the most from it, and that has been proven over each a single lap (he trails 12-1 and by 0.138sec on common) and a race distance.
18. Sergio Pérez, Cadillac
Championship factors: 0 (twenty second)Qualifying report: 9-5 win over Bottas
In contrast to his team-mate Bottas, Sergio Pérez has used his return to F1 to point out everybody that he’s not washed up. The Cadillacs have typically been forward of the Aston Martins and behind the Williams vehicles, so can solely be pretty in contrast with each other. The Mexican is forward of Bottas by most metrics with a good flip of tempo in qualifying, although has slipped again.
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17. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
Championship factors: 1 (nineteenth)Qualifying report: 12-2 win over Stroll
You do wonder if Alonso has merely had sufficient. Once more, the Aston Martin is up to now off the tempo and so unreliable that it’s not possible to guage Alonso pretty, although there have been brilliant indicators in Hungary after their improve.
He has, at the least, the most important hole in qualifying over his team-mate (greater than 4 tenths) and, one way or the other, managed to attain some extent meaning Aston Martin should not behind Cadillac within the standings.
Has Fernando Alonso had sufficient? His Aston Martin is off the tempo and the previous world champion has scored only one level this season – Alastair Staley/LAT Pictures
16. Nico Hülkenberg, Audi
Championship factors: 2 (18th)Qualifying report: 8-7 win over Bortoleto
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There have been a number of respectable performances from Nico Hülkenberg this season and little or no that has been substandard. He and Gabriel Bortoleto have been intently matched for many of the season however extra not too long ago the German has struggled relative to his team-mate, extra so in races.
15. Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Championship factors: 19 (twelfth)Qualifying report: 9-6 loss to Gasly
Franco Colapinto was lucky to maintain his Alpine seat for this yr, however has up to now justified the religion proven in him with some useful performances which have put him twelfth within the standings, with six factors finishes from 11 races. That’s not to say the rawness has disappeared fully, however there was consistency of tempo and maturity, too.
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14. Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
Championship factors: 10 (14th)Qualifying report: 8-7 loss to Hülkenberg
The issue that Gabriel Bortoleto has within the Audi is that scoring factors often requires a DNF or three from the pack forward of them. Each he and Hülkenberg are battling to make it into Q3 however hardly ever succeeding. And from there the race tempo – and reliability – are inclined to drop off in comparison with closest challengers, Alpine and Racing Bulls.
Two eighth-place finishes at Silverstone and Spa have been reward for his work and he has hardly ever been out of rivalry for factors. Within the first 9 rounds, Bortoleto’s worst end was thirteenth and his finest eighth, with three Eleventh-place finishes. Stable enchancment from a promising debut yr in 2025.
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13. Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull
Championship factors: 68 (eighth)Qualifying report: 11-3 loss to Verstappen
There’s an argument that Hadjar might be ranked a number of locations larger than this, as a result of this has been a strong begin to life at Pink Bull. A constant points-scorer, he has stored Max Verstappen trustworthy and solely trails him by 41 factors after 11 rounds. He appears a superb match for the problematic second seat, lastly.
Isack Hadjar seems as if he is an efficient match for the second seat at Pink Bull – Kym Illman/Getty Pictures
12. Carlos Sainz, Williams
Championship factors: 6 (fifteenth)Qualifying report: 12-1 win over Albon
Given the issues with the Williams automotive this season, it has been troublesome for Carlos Sainz to face out, however, when you dig into the numbers, he has performed that.
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He has been dominant in qualifying over team-mate Albon, successful 12-1, and has three factors finishes in comparison with Albon’s two. Nonetheless, the issues with the FW48 imply that it’s not possible to get a full gauge on simply how nicely he’s driving.
11. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Championship factors: 92 (seventh)Qualifying report: 11-4 loss to Norris
The final yr has been a little bit of a battle for Oscar Piastri. Firstly he didn’t convert a wholesome championship lead right into a maiden world title and this season he has been combating a comparatively uncompetitive (and sometimes unreliable) McLaren.
Given he failed to start out both of the primary two grands prix, 92 factors from 11 rounds and two podiums is an inexpensive return. It might have been extra. But, like final marketing campaign, it has been Lando Norris who has been higher in a position to become familiar with these new-regulation vehicles.
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10. George Russell, Mercedes
Championship factors: 160 (third)Qualifying report: 9-6 loss to Antonelli
What a irritating yr it has been for George Russell up to now. He waited three seasons to get right into a aggressive staff after which one other three to get right into a championship-contending automotive. Final season he had the beating of rookie Kimi Antonelli, however this season, for a wide range of causes, he has been second finest – and comfortably so.
There was some dangerous luck earlier within the yr, in addition to the well-documented issues with straight-line velocity in the latest rounds. Nonetheless, he has been missing, particularly over one lap. He has been sooner than Antonelli occasionally however not by a lot.
George Russell has been second finest to Mercedes team-mate Antonelli this season – Clive Mason/Getty Pictures
9. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Championship factors: 138 (4th)Qualifying report: 8-7 loss to Hamilton
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This season has been Charles Leclerc’s hardest in F1. Final yr he trounced Lewis Hamilton, however this marketing campaign has seen the tables turned. Hamilton has arguably been the higher driver throughout most measures, although by a small margin. Brake points have been the most important drawback, however they can’t be used as an excuse.
Leclerc trails in common qualifying and ending place, qualifying head-to-head, common qualifying tempo and whole factors. And this comes after a robust begin, with two podiums and a dash second within the opening three rounds. He has, although, seemed the higher Ferrari driver over the previous few weekends.
8. Oliver Bearman, Haas
Championship factors: 18 (thirteenth)Qualifying report: 11-4 win over Ocon
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After scoring 17 factors within the first two rounds, Oliver Bearman has managed only one within the following 9. Most of that has been as a result of Haas have dropped again as others have discovered their ft underneath the brand new laws.
But once more Bearman is making Ocon look abnormal. Solely Pierre Gasly and Alonso have bigger common qualifying gaps to their team-mates and, in grands prix alone, solely Gasly has a bigger common ending place benefit.
7. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Championship factors: 43 (ninth)Qualifying report: 8-6 win over Lindblad
Lawson, like his team-mate Arvid Lindblad, is benefitting from the truth that the Racing Bulls automotive is driver-friendly and that it has been extra constant than Alpine. This has helped Lawson to ninth place within the standings. Most of the time he has completed within the factors.
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It’s welcome to see him discover his ft as a constant and quick F1 driver after his brutal demotion from Pink Bull after simply two races. An actual take a look at for the Kiwi, although, can be how he fares towards Lindblad within the second half of the yr.
6. Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Championship factors: 23 (Eleventh)Qualifying report: 8-6 loss to Lawson
Arvid Lindblad didn’t come into F1 with the strongest junior-racing pedigree, however clearly confirmed sufficient to the Pink Bull higher-ups for them to signal him for this season. He has repaid that religion with a tremendously spectacular debut season up to now. The automotive is aggressive, arguably the midfield chief, however the driver nonetheless has to ship.
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A number of issues have stood out: how shut he has been to team-mate Lawson from the off, and the way unfussy, unfazed and at dwelling he seems in F1. The subsequent step can be to beat Lawson extra persistently.
Arvid Lindblad has impressed throughout his debut season – Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Pictures
5. Max Verstappen, Pink Bull
Championship factors: 109 (sixth)Qualifying report: 11-3 win over Hadjar
It has been some time since Max Verstappen was outdoors the highest three in considered one of these lists, however he simply misses out for the primary half of 2026. Why? Effectively, in contrast to in late 2024 and 2025, the restrictions on Verstappen’s automotive have been more durable for him to drive round.
After all, he has had the beating of Hadjar however the margin has not been the chasm that it was in earlier seasons with Pérez, Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. His frustrations have been robust and frequent. Not combating for a championship might be a demotivating issue, as will detesting these new laws as a lot as he does. He has nonetheless been in a position to produce a few stunning outcomes.
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4. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Championship factors: 169 (2nd)Qualifying report: 8-7 win over Leclerc
Hamilton ended our 2025 driver rankings outdoors the highest 10 after a troubling first season at Ferrari. That he sits second within the standings and with a win and 4 different podiums to his title is credit score to his resilience and talent.
For many of the first a part of the season, he had the higher of Leclerc, who struggled with this yr’s automotive. That hole has closed in latest rounds however Hamilton remains to be not too distant. Three penalties in three races, when he had respectable tempo, too, dented his title hopes earlier than the summer time break. A a lot better Hamilton, however removed from an ideal one.
Hamilton has loved this season way over final yr, successful in Barcelona – Kym Illman/Getty Pictures
3. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Championship factors: 42 (tenth)Qualifying report: 9-6 win over Colapinto
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Alpine are a much-improved staff after a troublesome 2025. Gasly is way extra in a position to present his abilities on this yr’s Alpine. He has performed that with seven factors finishes, together with a Monaco podium, within the first a part of the season.
We’re at first of a brand new laws cycle which implies the groups are comparatively staggered in efficiency phrases. That makes the team-mate comparability a good more true measure and no driver has the benefit that Gasly has over his team-mate, therefore his lofty place on this record.
2. Lando Norris, McLaren
Championship factors: 128 (fifth)Qualifying report: 11-4 win over Piastri
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Wanting on the standings alone, this has not been an particularly spectacular title defence for Lando Norris. These impressions are just a little deceptive, as Norris has once more been the higher McLaren driver, at a time when the staff have slipped again to 3rd or fourth within the pecking order. He has gone underneath the radar however has been glorious.
There’s, in nearly all metrics, a small however important hole between the pair. Whereas Piastri and Norris started the season pretty evenly matched, Norris has taken the higher hand in latest rounds and registered McLaren’s first pole and win of the season, within the Miami dash – earlier than taking a dominant grand prix victory on the Hungaroring final weekend.
1. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Championship factors: 219 (1st)Qualifying report: 9-6 win over Russell
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Kimi Antonelli’s debut-season struggles are barely even a distant reminiscence now. It’s not a lot that Russell has not given him a problem in 2026, however extra that Antonelli has been in a position to rise to it and head into the summer time break with a commanding 50-point lead over Hamilton and 59 factors over Russell, his team-mate.
Antonelli has maybe not had fairly a lot dangerous luck as Russell, however that’s about it. At no level has he seemed unconvincing whether or not in qualifying or within the race. He has not seemed overawed by the strain at any level, both. It’s perhaps the most important praise to say that it could be a shock have been he to not take the drivers’ crown in December.
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