The 2026 Formula 1 season has delivered a thrilling and unpredictable opening chapter, with a new name leading the Drivers' Championship. As the grid takes a brief pause, Sky Sports F1 has evaluated the performances of the field across the first three rounds in Australia, China, and Japan.
Topping the standings is Mercedes phenom Kimi Antonelli, who earns an 8/10 rating. His campaign is a tale of remarkable resilience. The 19-year-old became the youngest championship leader in F1 history after a stunning recovery from a brutal final practice crash in Melbourne.
Sky Sports noted, "Kimi Antonelli has shown great character to bounce back from a huge crash during final practice at the season-opener in Australia by becoming the youngest championship leader in F1 history, after three rounds." His dominance in China was followed by an equally impressive drive in Japan, where he capitalized on a Safety Car period to claim a second consecutive victory.
His teammate, George Russell, also receives an 8/10. Russell began the year in commanding fashion, securing victory in Australia and the Sprint win in China. However, a technical issue in Shanghai qualifying appears to have disrupted his momentum.
The assessment highlighted that "George Russell started the season in imperious form... but since being struck by a technical issue in Shanghai qualifying, a little bit of fragility has crept in." He has also faced challenges in the new era of wheel-to-wheel combat, struggling to overtake Ferrari's despite a pace advantage.
At Scuderia Ferrari, Charles Leclerc stands as the highest-rated driver with an 8.5/10. He has consistently extracted the maximum from the SF-26, securing two podiums in the first three races. His drive in Japan was particularly superb after a difficult weekend in China.
His new teammate, Lewis Hamilton, is graded at 7.5/10. The seven-time champion initially seemed revitalized by his move to the Italian squad. His first podium for Ferrari in China was a clear highlight, showcasing a significant improvement over his final season with Mercedes.
However, the Japanese Grand Prix presented a more familiar struggle. The Sky Sports analysis stated, "His performance in Japan was more reminiscent of 2025 as he was outpaced by Leclerc throughout the weekend, and ended up sixth in the race despite the timing of the Safety Car gifting him a real chance of another podium."
Reigning world champion Lando Norris finds himself in a difficult position at McLaren, hampered by early reliability woes. The ratings confirm he is yet to outqualify his teammate in the opening three rounds, a stark contrast to his dominant 2025 season.
The early data paints a picture of a transformed competitive order. With a teenage sensation leading the charge for Mercedes and established stars adapting to new challenges, the 2026 season is poised for a fierce battle when the action resumes.
Source: skysports.com