Kimi Antonelli has strengthened his grip on the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, extending his advantage over Lewis Hamilton to 50 points following an impressive recovery drive to third place at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Starting from seventh on the grid, the Mercedes youngster executed a smart race strategy, making the most of a lengthy opening stint before using fresher tyres to climb through the field in the closing laps.
Hamilton, meanwhile, endured a frustrating afternoon. Although the Ferrari driver crossed the finish line in fourth, a five-second time penalty dropped the seven-time world champion to fifth in the final classification, limiting his championship gains. Mercedes teammate George Russell also slipped further behind after taking sixth place.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes continue to enjoy a commanding lead thanks to another strong double-points finish.
2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship Standings
Pos Driver Team Points
1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 219
2 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 169
3 George Russell Mercedes 160
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 138
5 Lando Norris McLaren 128
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull 109
7 Oscar Piastri McLaren 92
8 Isack Hadjar Red Bull 68
9 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 43
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 42
11 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls 23
12 Franco Colapinto Alpine 19
13 Oliver Bearman Haas 18
14 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 10
15 Carlos Sainz Williams 6
16 Alexander Albon Williams 5
17 Esteban Ocon Haas 3
18 Nico Hülkenberg Audi 2
19 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1
20 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 0
21 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac F1 Team 0
22 Sergio Pérez Cadillac F1 Team 0
