F1 2026 Driver Ratings: Top Performers and Surprises After Three Rounds

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli leads the championship after a stunning recovery from a major crash, while established stars like Max Verstappen struggle with their new cars. The 2026 season's opening trio of races has reshuffled the competitive order, highlighting standout performances from unexpected quarters and exposing challenges for former frontrunners.

Why it matters:

The early season ratings reveal which drivers and teams have best adapted to F1's new technical era. With a teenage rookie leading the standings and a four-time champion visibly frustrated, the pecking order is in flux, setting the stage for a potentially unpredictable championship battle.

The Details:

• Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes, 8/10): The 19-year-old became the youngest championship leader in F1 history after dominating in China and mounting a brilliant recovery drive in Japan. He has shown immense pace and resilience, bouncing back from a huge crash in Australian practice.
• George Russell (Mercedes, 8/10): Started imperiously with a win in Australia and a Sprint victory in China but has shown slight fragility since a technical issue in Shanghai. He has occasionally struggled with the new style of wheel-to-wheel racing despite having superior car pace.
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari, 8.5/10): Consistently extracting the maximum from his Ferrari, securing two podiums in three races. A superb drive in Japan highlighted his current form, making him the highest-rated driver from a top team.
• Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari, 7.5/10): Appeared reinvigorated with a podium in China but was outpaced by Leclerc in Japan, missing a clear podium chance and showing echoes of his 2025 struggles.
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull, 7/10): The four-time champion is visibly unhappy with his car, calling it his least favorite in F1. Results have been mixed, with a shock Q2 exit in Japan capping a difficult start.
• Pierre Gasly (Alpine, 8.5/10): One of the stars of the season so far, finishing in the points at every race and defending brilliantly against Verstappen in Japan. He has comprehensively outperformed his teammate.
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren, 7.5/10): Outqualified reigning champion teammate Lando Norris at all three races and was unlucky to lose a potential win in Japan due to Safety Car timing, recovering well from a disastrous home race crash.
• Oliver Bearman (Haas, 7.5/10): Started strongly with a fifth place in China but had an off-weekend in Japan with a Q1 exit and race crash. He has otherwise dominated teammate Esteban Ocon.

What's next:

The field heads to Miami for the season's second Sprint weekend, where the early trends will be put to the test.

• Mercedes will aim to consolidate its championship lead, while Ferrari looks to close the gap.
• All eyes will be on Red Bull and Verstappen to see if they can find solutions to their performance woes.
• Drivers like Gasly and Bearman will seek to prove their strong starts are no fluke and establish themselves as consistent points contenders.