With the 2026 F1 season suspended after the first three rounds, Sky Sports F1 is evaluating driver performance so far.
Drivers’ Championship standings:
Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – 8/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 2-1 / Points vs. Teammates: 72-63
Kimi Antonelli has shown great character, recovering from a huge crash during the final practice of the opening race in Australia and becoming the youngest championship leader in F1 history after three races.
The 19-year-old was dominant at the Chinese Grand Prix and was equally impressive when he bounced back from a slow start at Suzuka, showing incredible pace even though he was affected by the timing of the safety car.
George Russell, Mercedes – 8/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 1-2 / Points vs. Teammates: 63-72
George Russell started the season in commanding form, winning the Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese Sprint, but a bit of fragility has crept in since suffering technical problems in qualifying in Shanghai.
The Briton seemed to be facing some difficulties in understanding the new style of wheel-to-wheel racing and struggled to overtake the Ferrari in several battles, despite having much faster pace than the red car.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 8.5/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 2-1 / Points vs. Teammates: 49-41
Charles Leclerc has pretty much picked up where he left off last season and seems to be consistently getting everything out of his Ferrari.
Although he was not at his best on the China circuit, which he has repeatedly admitted is the most difficult on the current calendar, he bounced back with a great run in Japan, taking two podiums out of three races.
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Kimi Antonelli, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton reflect on key moments from the Chinese Grand Prix in the cool-down room.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari – 7.5/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 1-2 / Points vs. Teammates: 41-49
Lewis Hamilton looked rejuvenated in the first few races, making a huge improvement over last year and taking Ferrari’s first Grand Prix podium in China.
However, his performance in Japan was reminiscent of 2025, as he finished sixth in the race despite being outpaced by Leclerc throughout the weekend and given a second chance at the podium during the safety car.
Lando Norris, McLaren – 7/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 0-3 / Points vs. Teammates: 25-21
The reigning world champion has been hampered by a series of McLaren gremlins early in the season, most notably when he failed to start a race in China.
It must be acknowledged that Norris’ track time is limited, but he was disappointed to have lost out in qualifying to teammate Oscar Piastri in all three races, but at least he had a decent run in Japan and finished ahead of Hamilton in fifth place.
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Oscar Piastri made a hilarious comment after finishing second at the Japanese Grand Prix, the first race of the 2026 F1 season.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 7.5/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 3-0 / Points vs. Teammates: 21-25
Piastri’s season started in disastrous fashion when he crashed on his way from the pit lane to the grid at his home race. An unexpected torque spike contributed to the accident, but there was also an element of driver error for which he paid dearly.
He hasn’t missed a beat since then, but an unfortunate timing of the safety car meant he missed out on a genuine chance at victory in Japan.
Oliver Bearman, Haas – 7.5/10
Qualifiers vs Teammates: 2-1 / Points vs Teammates: 17-1
The young Briton has started the season with great results, finishing seventh in the opening race and fifth in China, outperforming his team-mates overall in both events.
However, he took the weekend off in Japan and suffered an unexpected Q1 exit. He later retired from the race in an accident that wasn’t entirely his fault, but he may look back on things that could have been avoided.
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Olly Bearman walks away after a huge crash, ending his race in Japan, leaving Kimi Antonelli in the lead and Lewis Hamilton in fourth.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine – 8.5/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 3-0 / Points vs. Teammates: 15-1
The Frenchman has made a great start to 2026, finishing all three races in the points and finishing in the top eight in the drivers’ standings.
He qualified seventh in each of the last two races, was able to move up to sixth by the checkered flag in China, and then defended his starting position in Japan with a brilliant defense against Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 7/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 2-1 / Points vs. Teammates: 12-4
Unhappy campers can’t get enough of Max Verstappen’s mood after the start of the season. The four-time world champion is not a fan of F1’s new cars, especially the Red Bull car he drives.
He recovered well from his qualifying crash in Australia and finished 6th, but in Japan he suffered a shocking Q2 loss at Suzuka and could only finish 8th.
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A look back at Max Verstappen’s disappointing start to the 2026 F1 season.
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls – 7/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 2-1 / Points vs. Teammates: 10-4
Liam Lawson is being pushed hard by British teenager Arvid Lindblad, but deserves praise for winning the Chinese GP sprint and the main race itself for the seventh time.
The qualifying battles were close, but Lawson defeated Lindblad in Australia and China.
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls – 7.5/10
Qualifiers vs Teammates: 1-2 / Points vs Teammates: 4-10
The only rookie on the grid was impressive, taking an elbow on his debut in Australia and producing a strong Suzuka lap to knock out Verstappen in Q2 in Japan.
Had the safety car at Suzuka not been timed better, Lindblad would have added to the points he earned in Melbourne.
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Arvid Lindblad has reflected on his qualifying lap and admitted he was “screaming in his helmet” as he crossed the qualifying line for the Japanese Grand Prix in 10th place.
Isaac Hajar, Red Bull – 7/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 1-2 / Points vs Teammate: 4-12
Hajjar has surpassed Verstappen in his achievements in Japan and already appears to be the Dutchman’s closest teammates since Daniel Ricciardo in 2018.
A forced spin on the opening lap of the Chinese Grand Prix is Hajar’s only major mistake so far.
Gabriel Bortleto, Audi – 7/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 2-1 / Points vs Teammate: 2-0
It is difficult to judge the Audi driver considering Gabriel Bortleto and Nico Hulkenberg have each missed one race.
However, Bortleto continued to display strong single-lap speed and took the team’s only point so far in Australia.
Carlos Sainz, Williams – 7.5/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 2-1 / Points vs Teammate: 2-0
Despite Williams’ struggles in 2026, Carlos Sainz has managed to score points in China and squeeze as much power as possible from his car.
Esteban Ocon, Haas – 6/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 1-2 / Points vs Teammate: 1-17
Ocon failed to make it to Q3 in Australia and China, although his teammate Bearman did, but the French driver did well in Japan to score his first points of the season.
Franco Colapinto, Alpine – 5/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 0-3 / Points vs Teammate: 1-15
Perhaps the biggest difference between teammates on the grid is Alpine, with Colapinto losing out to Gasly, having been nearly a second slower in qualifying for the past two races and off the pace in the race.
This is a continuation of the difference between last year’s alpine pair.
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Watch the funny moment when Alpine mechanics chase Franco Colapinto’s wobbly car up and down the pit lane during the first practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi – 6.5/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 1-2 / Points vs Teammate: 0-2
Hulkenberg continued to maintain a decent pace in the race and could have scored points in Japan had he not lost time battling Bortleto.
Alex Albon, Williams – 6/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 1-2 / Points vs Teammate: 0-2
Albon has struggled more than Sainz with the new driving style required to optimize the new power unit, and that is reflected in the Anglo-Thai driver’s overall lack of pace so far.
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac – 6/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 1-2 / Points vs Teammate: 0-0
Valtteri Bottas may have finished higher among Cadillac drivers and ahead of Sergio Perez in the championship, but he actually had slightly less apparent pace than his teammate.
Sergio Perez, Cadillac – 6.5/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 2-1 / Points vs Teammate: 0-0
Perez’s race pace was much stronger than Bottas’ in Australia and China, and that strength clearly hasn’t disappeared upon his return to F1.
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After the first day on track in Melbourne, Adrian Newey explains how vibration and battery issues are impacting Aston Martin.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin – 6.5/10
Qualifiers vs. Teammates: 3-0 / Points vs. Teammates: 0-0
It’s hard to know how well Fernando Alonso is doing driving an Aston Martin, but he remains the Silverstone-based team’s lead driver and shows no signs of giving up just yet.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – 5.5/10
Qualification vs Teammate: 0-3 / Points vs Teammate: 0-0
Lance Stroll has yet to see the checkered flag in the opening three Grands Prix races, losing out to Fernando Alonso in qualifying based on an on-track comparison of the two Aston Martins.
F1 will resume with the second sprint weekend of the season, the Miami Grand Prix, from May 1-3, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
