<h2>Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) &ndash; 224 pts</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Antonelli-ju_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>The 19-year-old rookie leads the Drivers&rsquo; Championship, having won six races, secured nine podium finishes and been on pole six times in the opening 11 races of his second season. The Italian has already gone well past his tally of 150 points in 2025 and announced himself as a mainstay for the years to come.</p>
<h2>Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) &ndash; 171 pts</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Hamilton-i_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>Britain&rsquo;s seven-time world champion has returned to form after a disastrous season last year following his switch from Mercedes to <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/f1-british-gp-ferraris-leclerc-wins-his-first-race-of-the-season-23638402" rel="nofollow"><strong>Ferrari</strong></a>. Hamilton, 40, has been remarkably consistent this season and is the only driver to have scored points in each of the 11 races. Hamilton has one race win and five podium finishes to his name.</p>
<h2>George Russell (Mercedes) &ndash; 168 pts</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Russell-ix_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>Despite coming in as the title-favourite and winning the opening race in Australia, Britain&rsquo;s Russell has blown hot and cold. The British driver did impress with two wins and five podium finishes, but did not finish (DNF) two races as well. He has also been hampered by a fierce intra-team battle with Antonelli.</p>
<h2>Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) &ndash; 145 pts</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Leclerc-ax_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>Another driver who has been part of an intra-team battle (with Hamilton) and felt the heat of it, Leclerc has had an inconsistent season as well. However, the Monaco driver has won one race and secured four podium finishes, and has had a better showing towards the end of the first half of the season.</p>
<h2>Lando Norris (McLaren) &ndash; 134 pts</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/aug/Norris-af_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>The reigning world champion has had a slow start to the season due to the drastic rule changes, but went into the summer break on a high with his first win in the final race at the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/defending-champ-norris-clinches-pole-at-hungary-23641620" rel="nofollow"><strong>Hungarian Grand Prix</strong></a>. The British driver clinched three podium finishes and was on pole once so far.</p>
<h2>Norris clinches pole position for Dutch GP</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/defending-champion-lando-norris-expects-a-tough-season-in-formula-1-23619934" rel="nofollow"><strong>McLaren driver Lando Norris</strong></a> took pole position for Sunday&rsquo;s Dutch Grand Prix, the world champion pipping Mercedes rivals George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who came second and third respectively. The British driver set a time of one minute and 11.163 seconds, 0.102 seconds faster than compatriot Russell, to take a critical advantage into this weekend&rsquo;s race.</p>

As F1 returns from its mid-season break, mid-day assesses the form of the top drivers staking claim for the world c’ship

F1 World Championship: Here are the top in-form drivers

Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 224 pts

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