Now Reading: Antonelli and Mercedes lead 2026 F1 halfway stage
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Antonelli and Mercedes lead 2026 F1 halfway stage
Kimi Antonelli has won six races this season, including five in a row, leading the drivers' standings as Formula 1 reaches the halfway mark of a radically new regulation era. Mercedes also…
The Story in Brief
Kimi Antonelli has won six races this season, including five in a row, leading the drivers' standings as Formula 1 reaches the halfway mark of a radically new regulation era. Mercedes also tops the constructors' championship, but Ferrari is close behind, with Lewis Hamilton rediscovering form and Charles Leclerc winning the British Grand Prix. Defending champion McLaren remains in contention after Lando Norris won in Hungary, though teammate Oscar Piastri has struggled with three non-finishes. Red Bull's Max Verstappen has been a vocal critic of the rule changes, calling them 'anti-racing'.
The Indian Opinion
The breathless coverage of Verstappen calling the new regulations 'anti-racing' misses the point. The rules have forced a genuine reset, and the standings show no runaway winner: Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren are separated by margins that could flip in a single race. The real test is not whether the regs are ruining the sport, but whether the chasing pack can sustain upgrades through the second half. Will Ferrari's race-start advantage hold up, or can McLaren's in-season development pull Norris into the title fight?
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com
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