Analysts at Sky Sports and Motorsport.com just published their mid-season ratings to deliver a verdict on 2026’s grid. Andrea Kimi Antonelli currently commands the standings with 219 championship points. After a streak of five wins, he earned an A+ grade from Motorsport Magazine critic Mark Hughes. And an 8.48 rating creates a massive gap for him.
Lewis Hamilton locked down second place with a 7.85 rating and 169 points. Ferrari clearly views him as its top performer right now. To maximize his setup, mechanics recently started testing a Mercedes qualifying trick. Charles Leclerc sits far behind his teammate. He holds 138 points and a 7.30 rating.
Max Verstappen occupies fourth place with a 7.27 score—the Red Bull driver hasn’t pushed past 109 points yet. To fix roster imbalances, executives recently hired talent scout Gwen Lagrue. Pierre Gasly achieved a 7.00 score for Alpine. But George Russell struggles with a 6.70 rating because he faces severe difficulties with the front tyres.
Lando Norris secured a 6.69 rating after he won the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position. Several rookies follow closely behind him. At RB F1 Team, Arvid Lindblad scores 6.65—Liam Lawson is right behind him with a 6.53 mark. Isack Hadjar ranks tenth with a 6.44 score. Oliver Bearman walked away with 6.39 points.
Franco Colapinto maintains a 6.20 rating. Critics handed Oscar Piastri a 6.19 score and a B+ grade. Down in fourteenth place, Gabriel Bortoleto captured 6.11 points. Carlos Sainz sits at 5.94. Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg both share a 5.73 rating.
Alex Albon netted a 5.27 score. Esteban Ocon received 5.23 points. Sergio Perez drops to twentieth overall with a 5.21 rating. Near the back of the pack, Valtteri Bottas holds a 4.85 score. Lance Stroll occupies the bottom position with a 3.96 rating.
The Verdict on 2026’s F1 Driver Ratings
Critics continue to debate the exact metrics they grade these drivers with. The final championship standings will determine the true winner they are cheering for.