After a season start largely dominated by Mercedes, the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship is changing its face with the prospect of a more uncertain title race.
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The last five Grands Prix have been won by five different drivers, proof that the hierarchy is tightening as the second half of the season approaches.
The Silver Arrows had nevertheless started the season impressively by chaining six consecutive wins, including five for Kimi Antonelli. But since the Spanish Grand Prix, won by Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari, the scenario has been completely different.
Three teams now share the victories
Over the last five races, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren have each tasted success: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have given two wins to the Scuderia, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have allowed Mercedes to continue their harvest, while Lando Norris claimed his first win of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
This diversity is rare enough to be highlighted. It is only the second time in thirteen seasons that five different winners have succeeded each other in five Grands Prix.
The previous time was in 2024, when Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, and George Russell shared six consecutive wins. Other contenders can still join the party, and this dynamic could intensify after the summer break. Oscar Piastri, deprived of a possible win in Hungary due to a gearbox problem, has the pace needed to return to success.
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Verstappen as a cornerstone
For his part, Max Verstappen continues to cope with a Red Bull that is difficult to exploit. Despite the limits of his car, the four-time world champion remains capable of taking advantage of every opportunity to join the fight for victory.
While the new technical regulations introduced in 2026 continue to draw criticism, especially regarding energy management, they do not prevent performances from gradually converging. The numerous developments brought by the teams as well as the introduction of the ADUO system help reduce performance gaps between the main teams.
Certainly, a gap still exists between the top four teams and the rest of the field, but the trend is clearly towards a tightening of the hierarchy.
A highly tense second half of the season
As the restart approaches, the championship appears more open than it was a few weeks ago. Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren now seem capable of regularly fighting for victory, while Red Bull is still trying to find a car capable of meeting Max Verstappen’s demands.
The upcoming Grands Prix will determine whether this alternation of winners was just a parenthesis or if the 2026 season has truly entered a new phase, where several teams can contend for victory until the checkered flag of the last Grand Prix.
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