The world’s top drivers are back for Formula 1’s 2026 season, which starts in March at the Australian Grand Prix and wraps up in December at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit. Lando Norris topped last year’s championship on 423 points, edging Max Verstappen by three and Oscar Piastri by 13 after winning in Australia and collecting multiple victories across the campaign.
This season brings more intrigue at the front. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton returns seeking his first title since 2020, while Verstappen, who closed 2025 with three straight wins, was denied a five-peat last year. Early results have put Mercedes and Ferrari in the mix alongside McLaren and Red Bull.
Below are the latest 2026 driver standings, which will be updated following each race weekend:
- George Russell — Mercedes AMG Motorsport — 51
- Kimi Antonelli — Mercedes AMG Motorsport — 47
- Charles Leclerc — Ferrari — 34
- Lewis Hamilton — Ferrari — 33
- Oliver Bearman — Haas F1 Team — 17
- Lando Norris — McLaren — 15
- Pierre Gasly — Alpine F1 Team — 9
- Max Verstappen — Red Bull Racing — 8
- Liam Lawson — Racing Bulls — 8
- Arvid Lindblad — Racing Bulls — 4
- Isack Hadjar — Racing Bulls — 4
- Oscar Piastri — McLaren — 3
- Gabriel Bortoleto — Audi F1 Team — 2
- Franco Colapinto — Alpine F1 Team — 1
- Alexander Albon — Williams — —
- Carlos Sainz Jr. — Williams — —
- Fernando Alonso — Aston Martin F1 Team — —
- Nico Hulkenberg — Audi F1 Team — —
- Esteban Ocon — Haas F1 Team — —
- Lance Stroll — Aston Martin F1 Team — —
- Sergio Perez — Cadillac — —
- Valtteri Bottas — Cadillac — —
Full 2026 F1 schedule (race weekends):
- Mar 6–8 — Australian GP (Melbourne)
- Mar 13–15 — Chinese GP (Shanghai) (Sprint)
- Mar 27–29 — Japanese GP (Suzuka)
- Apr 10–12 — Bahrain GP (Sakhir)
- Apr 17–19 — Saudi Arabian GP (Jeddah)
- May 1–3 — Miami GP (Miami) (Sprint)
- May 22–24 — Canadian GP (Montreal) (Sprint)
- Jun 5–7 — Monaco GP (Monaco)
- Jun 12–14 — Spanish GP (Barcelona-Catalunya)
- Jun 26–28 — Austrian GP (Spielberg)
- Jul 3–5 — British GP (Silverstone) (Sprint)
- Jul 17–19 — Belgian GP (Spa-Francorchamps)
- Jul 24–26 — Hungarian GP (Budapest)
- Aug 21–23 — Dutch GP (Zandvoort) (Sprint)
- Sep 4–6 — Italian GP (Monza)
- Sep 11–13 — Spanish GP (Madrid)*
- Sep 24–26 — Azerbaijan GP (Baku)
- Oct 9–11 — Singapore GP (Singapore) (Sprint)
- Oct 23–25 — United States GP (Austin)
- Oct 30–Nov 1 — Mexico City GP (Mexico City)
- Nov 6–8 — São Paulo GP (São Paulo)
- Nov 19–21 — Las Vegas GP (Las Vegas)
- Nov 27–29 — Qatar GP (Lusail)
- Dec 4–6 — Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina)
*Madrid is subject to FIA circuit homologation.
How to watch F1 in 2026 (U.S.): Apple TV is the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner beginning in 2026, with every practice, qualifying, Sprint, and Grand Prix available in the Apple TV app. According to F1, some races and all practice sessions will be free to watch in the app. F1 TV Premium continues in the U.S. via an Apple TV subscription and is included for Apple TV subscribers. Outside the U.S., broadcast partners vary; check local listings or the official F1 platforms.
What to watch next: Check back after each Grand Prix (and Sprint weekend) for updated points as the title fight develops. Keep an eye on whether Norris can defend, if Verstappen mounts a renewed challenge, and how Hamilton and Ferrari factor into the evolving picture.
Source: nesn.com