Antonelli Leads F1 Championship After Dutch Grand Prix; Italian GP Up Next
With the Dutch Grand Prix concluded, Kimi Antonelli maintains his significant points advantage as teams prepare for the iconic Monza circuit.
The story
Andrea Kimi Antonelli holds a commanding lead in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship following the Dutch Grand Prix, which saw Lando Norris secure victory at Zandvoort on August 23. Antonelli finished second in the race, extending his points tally to 242.
His Mercedes teammate George Russell, who took third place in the Netherlands, now sits second in the standings with 183 points, tied with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who is third on countback. The championship battle continues to unfold, with Norris moving up to fourth after his back-to-back wins. As the teams take a short break, attention now turns to the historic Autodromo Nazionale di Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.
On the podium
| Position | Driver | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Winner |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +11.536s |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | +15.906s |
Key moments
Race. Lando Norris secured victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, his second consecutive win.
Race. Kimi Antonelli finished second, further extending his lead in the Drivers' Championship.
Race. George Russell took third place, moving him into second in the championship standings, level on points with Lewis Hamilton.
Championship
| Pos | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 242 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 183 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 183 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 159 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 155 |
Next race
The next stop on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar is the Italian Grand Prix, set to take place from September 4-6 at the historic Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. This race will be Round 13 of the championship and is often a high-speed affair, known for its passionate tifosi.
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