The complete driver championship table, updated after every race weekend.
The 2026 Formula 1 World Championship has delivered one of the most fiercely contested title fights in recent memory. With sweeping regulation changes bringing new aerodynamic concepts, a revised power unit formula, and active aerodynamics to the grid, the competitive order has been reshuffled from top to bottom. Reigning champion Max Verstappen has once again shown his class with commanding performances in the opening rounds, but Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton are keeping the pressure firmly on. The midfield battle is equally intense, with several drivers producing standout results that have turned the championship into a multi-team thriller. Every point matters as the season unfolds across twenty-four rounds spanning five continents.
| Rank | Move | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | 🏎 🇳🇱 Max Verstappen |
Red Bull Racing | 77 |
| 2 | — | 🏎 🇬🇧 Lando Norris |
McLaren | 71 |
| 3 | ↑ | 🏎 🇲🇨 Charles Leclerc |
Ferrari | 65 |
| 4 | ↓ | 🏎 🇬🇧 Lewis Hamilton |
Ferrari | 62 |
| 5 | — | 🏎 🇦🇺 Oscar Piastri |
McLaren | 59 |
| 6 | — | 🏎 🇬🇧 George Russell |
Mercedes | 48 |
| 7 | ↑ | 🏎 🇳🇿 Liam Lawson |
Red Bull Racing | 38 |
| 8 | ↓ | 🏎 🇪🇸 Fernando Alonso |
Aston Martin | 35 |
| 9 | ↑ | 🏎 🇮🇹 Kimi Antonelli |
Mercedes | 30 |
| 10 | ↓ | 🏎 🇪🇸 Carlos Sainz |
Williams | 27 |
| 11 | — | 🏎 🇫🇷 Pierre Gasly |
Alpine | 22 |
| 12 | ↑ | 🏎 🇯🇵 Yuki Tsunoda |
RB | 18 |
| 13 | ↓ | 🏎 🇨🇦 Lance Stroll |
Aston Martin | 16 |
| 14 | — | 🏎 🇹🇭 Alexander Albon |
Williams | 14 |
| 15 | — | 🏎 🇩🇪 Nico Hulkenberg |
Sauber | 10 |
| 16 | ↑ | 🏎 🇫🇷 Isack Hadjar |
RB | 8 |
| 17 | ↓ | 🏎 🇫🇷 Esteban Ocon |
Haas | 6 |
| 18 | — | 🏎 🇬🇧 Oliver Bearman |
Haas | 4 |
| 19 | — | 🏎 🇦🇺 Jack Doohan |
Alpine | 2 |
| 20 | — | 🏎 🇧🇷 Gabriel Bortoleto |
Sauber | 1 |
The Formula 1 World Championship uses a points-based system to determine both the Drivers' and Constructors' champions at the end of each season. Points are awarded at every Grand Prix based on the finishing order of the race, with the winner earning the most and positions further down the grid receiving progressively fewer points. This system has evolved significantly over the decades, but the current structure has been in place since 2010 and rewards consistent high finishes across the entire calendar.
In a standard Grand Prix, the top ten finishers receive championship points according to the following scale:
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 25 |
| 2nd | 18 |
| 3rd | 15 |
| 4th | 12 |
| 5th | 10 |
| 6th | 8 |
| 7th | 6 |
| 8th | 4 |
| 9th | 2 |
| 10th | 1 |
Drivers finishing outside the top ten receive zero points for that race. The maximum a driver can score from a single Grand Prix finish is 25 points for a win, making victory the single most valuable result on any weekend.
Since the 2019 season, an additional bonus point has been available to the driver who sets the fastest lap of the race. However, there is an important condition: the driver must also finish inside the top ten to be eligible for this extra point. This rule was introduced to add a layer of strategic intrigue to the closing stages of races. Teams often pit a driver for fresh tyres near the end of a Grand Prix specifically to attempt the fastest lap, weighing the potential gain of one point against the risk of losing track position. The fastest lap point can be pivotal in close championship battles where the margins between rivals are razor-thin.
At selected events throughout the season, a Sprint race is held on Saturday in addition to the main Grand Prix on Sunday. The Sprint is a shorter race, typically around one-third the distance of a full Grand Prix, and it awards a reduced points scale to the top eight finishers: 8 points for the winner, then 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 for second through eighth. No fastest lap bonus point is awarded in Sprint races. Sprint weekends give drivers additional opportunities to score, but also introduce extra risk since a poor result or an incident in the Sprint can affect the main race weekend. The total points available across a full Sprint weekend (Sprint plus Grand Prix) make these events especially valuable for championship aspirants.