Antonelli Dominates Early 2026 Season with Five Consecutive Wins
Kimi Antonelli has won multiple Formula 1 Grands Prix in the 2026 season, establishing a commanding lead in the World Drivers' Championship. The events covered encompass the Chinese Grand Prix, Japanese Grand Prix, Miami Grand Prix, Canadian Grand Prix, and Monaco Grand Prix.
"This is just the beginning. The road is still long." — Kimi Antonelli
Season Overview
The 2026 Formula 1 season began with an unplanned five-week gap due to the cancellation of two Middle East races. The season resumed with a revised calendar, which included the Chinese Grand Prix, Japanese Grand Prix, Miami Grand Prix, Canadian Grand Prix, and Monaco Grand Prix as the opening rounds.
Chinese Grand Prix
Race Result
- 1st: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 2nd: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 3rd: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- 4th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 5th: Ollie Bearman (Haas)
- 6th: Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Key Events
Antonelli started from pole position. He lost the lead to Hamilton at Turn 1 but reclaimed it on the following lap. A safety car was deployed on lap 10 when Lance Stroll's Aston Martin stopped due to a suspected battery issue. Pit stops during the safety car period reshuffled the order. Antonelli extended his lead after the restart, finishing 5.515 seconds ahead of Russell despite developing a flat spot on his tires with three laps remaining.
Retirements and Non-Starts
Both McLaren cars (Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri) did not start due to electrical problems identified approximately one hour before the race. Williams drivers Alex Albon and Gabriel Bortoleto also did not start. Fernando Alonso retired due to vibration problems. Max Verstappen retired due to electronics issues. Lance Stroll did not start.
Japanese Grand Prix
Race Result
- 1st: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 2nd: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 3rd: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 4th: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 5th: Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 6th: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- 7th: Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- 8th: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Key Events
Antonelli secured pole position with a time of 1m 28.877. At the race start, he experienced wheel-spin and dropped to sixth place. Piastri moved from third on the grid to lead at the first corner. A safety car was deployed after Ollie Bearman crashed — Bearman sustained a 50G impact and was diagnosed with a right knee contusion; initial X-rays indicated no fractures. The safety car allowed Antonelli to pit without losing significant track position, gaining the lead from Piastri. Antonelli completed the final 25 laps to secure victory.
Championship Implications
At 19 years, six months, and 28 days old, Antonelli became the youngest driver to lead the Formula 1 world championship, surpassing Lewis Hamilton's 2007 record. Antonelli held a nine-point lead over Russell after this race.
Miami Grand Prix
Race Result
- 1st: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 2nd: Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 3rd: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 4th: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 5th: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Key Events
Antonelli won from pole position, his third consecutive pole position of the season. He became the first driver to achieve three consecutive wins from his first three pole positions. The race was moved three hours earlier to 1 p.m. local time due to a forecast of afternoon thunderstorms, though conditions remained mostly dry.
At the start, Antonelli locked up into Turn 1. Verstappen spun after contact with Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto collided at Turn 11; stewards decided no further action. Pierre Gasly's car flipped after contact with Liam Lawson; both drivers were unhurt. Isack Hadjar retired after hitting the wall at Turn 14.
Antonelli lost the lead at the start due to a slow getaway but regained it through a pit stop undercut. Mercedes executed a faster pit stop to give Antonelli the lead. Norris pressured Antonelli for approximately 30 laps but was unable to overtake. Antonelli reported concerns about a gearbox problem and rear tire grip but managed the car to the finish.
On the final lap, Russell, Verstappen, and Leclerc competed for fourth place. Leclerc made an error, spinning and hitting the wall, allowing Russell and Verstappen to pass. Leclerc received a 20-second penalty for leaving the track without justifiable reason, dropping him from fourth to eighth. Verstappen received a five-second penalty for a pit exit breach but maintained fifth place.
Championship Standings
Antonelli led the championship by 20 points over Russell. Norris finished second, his first Grand Prix podium of the season. Piastri was sixth in the standings, 57 points behind Antonelli, with 18 rounds remaining.
"I'm gutted to miss out on a win... We take it on the chin. But it's still a positive weekend." — Lando Norris
Canadian Grand Prix
Race Result
- 1st: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 2nd: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +10.768s
- 3rd: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +11.276s
- 4th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +44.151s
- 5th: Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +1 lap
- 6th: Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +1 lap
- 7th: Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +1 lap
- 8th: Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1 lap
- 9th: Carlos Sainz (Williams) +1 lap
- 10th: Ollie Bearman (Haas) +1 lap
Key Events
The race started after two aborted starts due to Arvid Lindblad's stationary car. McLaren started on intermediate tyres but switched to slicks after laps one and two. Mercedes drivers Antonelli and Russell battled wheel-to-wheel before Russell retired with a power unit issue on lap 30. Hamilton overtook Verstappen on lap 62. Lando Norris retired with a reliability issue on lap 42 after starting on intermediates and pitting early. Other retirements included Sergio Perez (suspension), Fernando Alonso (seat issue), Alex Albon (collision), and Arvid Lindblad (did not start). Isack Hadjar received a 10-second penalty for defensive driving and a stop-go penalty for a yellow flag infringement.
Championship Implications
Antonelli extended his championship lead to 43 points over Russell. The top three drivers (Antonelli, Hamilton, Verstappen) shared the podium for the first time since the 2024 British Grand Prix.
Monaco Grand Prix
Race Result
- 1st: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 2nd: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 3rd: Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- 4th: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 5th-10th: Charles Leclerc (DNF), Max Verstappen (DNF), Lando Norris (DNF), George Russell (finished outside points after penalties), and others.
Key Events
Antonelli led from start to finish. He maintained his lead through two race starts, including a restart after a red flag. Max Verstappen suffered an engine problem at the start and retired after the first lap. A safety car was deployed with 18 laps remaining after Lance Stroll crashed. Antonelli initially missed the pit lane entry but pitted on the next lap and retained his lead. The race was stopped with 10 laps remaining when Charles Leclerc crashed, damaging the track. After a 30-minute halt, a standing restart occurred. Antonelli held his lead through the restart.
"It was one of those days where we had incredible pace. ... The car was feeling incredible and was just giving me the confidence to push." — Kimi Antonelli, after Monaco
Championship Implications
After the Monaco Grand Prix, Antonelli led the championship by 68 points over Russell. Seven cars retired, including Verstappen, Norris, and others due to crashes or mechanical issues. Antonelli was on track to become the youngest World Champion in F1 history if his performance continued at the same level.
Other Race Notes
V8 Engine Proposal
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem proposed that V8 engines with reduced electrification could return to Formula 1 in 2030 or 2031, citing better sound and reduced complexity compared to current V6 hybrid engines.
F1 Regulation Changes
The Miami Grand Prix was the first U.S. race after new regulations aimed at reducing battery management.
Driver and Team Statements
- Toto Wolff (Mercedes team principal): Called Antonelli's performance "really impressive."
- Andrea Stella (McLaren team principal): Acknowledged their pit stop was a few tenths too slow, costing Norris the lead in Miami.
- Oscar Piastri: Described the Miami weekend as not straightforward, noting the team's pace improved.