As the drivers and teams take their traditional three-week summer break, the F1 2026 season finds itself at a fascinating point. With new rules and regulations brought in ahead of the first Grand Prix of the year in Melbourne, there was a lot of talk of just how competitive the races would be this year.
Mercedes was expected to do well, but the way that Kimi Antonelli has driven so far has taken everyone by surprise. His talent and potential was never in doubt, but the way he has dominated the early stages of the season was quite phenomenal. If you had checked sportsbettingsites.com a month ago, there was little doubt about who looked set to take the title this year: the Italian, and it wasn't particularly close.
But some close races and different faces on the podium during June and July have now made the 2026 F1 season a little bit more interesting. Antonelli still has a commanding lead in the drivers' championship standings, but with some of his rivals finally coming through to take the checkered flag themselves, might we now finally have an F1 title race to enjoy in the remaining months of the season?
Antonelli Rules
As much as the results of the most recent Grand Prix might have gotten some people excited about a real title race in the offing, the fact is that Kimi Antonelli has looked by far the best driver in 2026. Five straight wins from the first six races set the bar high and still see the Italian a full 50 points ahead of the pack.
With the possibility of the final two races of the season being cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Antonelli may even have fewer races to navigate before claiming his first drivers' championship. Just a few more wins after the mid-season break would probably give him the points he needs.
Russell in the Wings
Antonelli's teammate was supposed to be the more successful driver before the season began, and a win at the first race in Australia seemed to confirm that he would be one of the ones to beat this year. But he has been off the pace ever since then, and is firmly the number two driver in the team right now.
A second win in Austria, and a podium finish a week later at Silverstone, will have given the British driver a little more confidence going into the second half of the campaign. But it is difficult to see how he will be able to get past his teammate at this point, even if he does manage to see off the challenge of Hamilton, Morris, and the rest.
Hamilton is Back
Speaking of Lewis Hamilton, how impressive has the former champion been this year after the debacle of his first campaign with Ferrari? An underperforming car saw him record his worst-ever points total in 2025, but a new lighter model has seen the seven-times world champion back to his very best.
Although Hamilton podiumed in China, it took a few more weeks to fully hit his stride, with the win in Barcelona -- his first there since 2024 -- confirming that he was back in the race for the title. Some poor finishes in the three races before the summer break will have been a disappointment to Hamilton, however, as he should really now be closer to Antonelli in the points race. A return to form in the Netherlands and Italy could see him back in contention, though.
Lando Leaves it Late
It must be hugely frustrating for Lando Norris this year that he has only just won his first Grand Prix of the season as we go into the break. If anything, the British champion is driving just as well -- if not better -- than he did when he won the title. But the simple fact is that his car is not as competitive.
The new regulations have really hit McLaren this year, and Norris is paying the price. He has still been able to make the podium on two other occasions this year, but he is probably fighting against too much to expect to repeat as drivers' champion. But do expect him to give it his all for the remainder of the season.
Leclerc in the Mix
At the beginning of the year, it was Charles Leclerc who looked like the better driver in the Ferrari team. He was driving more consistently than Lewis Hamilton, and it looked like he could be the one from the Scuderia to compete. But brake issues halted his progress, and now he is playing catch-up again.
The win at the British Grand Prix might be considered lucky by some, but there is no doubt that he took advantage of Antonelli's misfortune, and probably deserved the victory over the course of the season so far. He followed that up with another podium finish in Belgium and a fourth-place finish in Hungary last time out. Those finishes will keep him in the mix, but he is looking more of an outsider to the main challengers at the moment.
Verstappen on the Outside
Speaking of longshots, can the driver who won four titles in a row before Lando Norris' triumph last year remain a part of this new title race? The flying Dutchman has not won a single race as yet this year, but he has had four podium finishes, with three of those in the last four races. Verstappen could even be said to be the driver with the most momentum in recent weeks.
He may well have rather been racing over the next month rather than resting, but he will know that his Red Bull car is probably not good enough to really compete with the Mercedes. A few wins soon after the break would certainly put the cat among the pigeons, however, and give us the title race that we all really want.