– Kimi Antonelli leads the Formula 1 drivers’ standings clearly at the 2026 summer break. But was the Italian also the best driver of the first half of the season according to the editors of Motorsport-Total.com? We clarify exactly this question in our mid-term reports after the first eleven Grands Prix of the year.
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After each race, our editorial team rates the 22 Formula 1 drivers for their performance during the respective weekend. Based on this, we have calculated an average score (rounded to two decimal places) at the summer break and thus determined the best driver of the first half of the season according to us.
In our photo gallery, the ratings of all 22 drivers are listed. There are quite a few surprises, because although Charles Leclerc, for example, is in fourth place in the real world championship, the average rating from the editors only placed him ninth in our ranking.
Photo gallery: Mid-term reports: The best Formula 1 drivers at the summer break
The Monegasque, who too often stood in the shadow of teammate Lewis Hamilton, did not receive the top rating from us in any race during the first half of the season. Instead, for his botched weekend including a crash in Barcelona, he even received a 5 once.
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A positive surprise, on the other hand, is Pierre Gasly in eighth place. He consistently scored between 2 and 4 with us, so he never got the top rating but also never a 5. This consistency is crucial for a good placement in our ranking.
This is also shown by the fact that two of the drivers in the top 3 never received a worse rating than a 3 from us throughout the entire first half of the season. The editors have been very sparing with a 1 rating. No driver has so far received the top rating in more than two races.
On the other end of the spectrum, Lance Stroll received a 5 most frequently (five times). The editors have not yet given a 6 rating this season.
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