F1 Standings 2026: Latest points leaders as Japanese Grand Prix takes place at Suzuka

F1-drivers, credit: Formula One Management — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Standings

F1 Standings 2026: Latest points leaders as Japanese Grand Prix takes place at Suzuka

We could get a new leader in Suzuka on Sunday

Graham Shaw Consultant Editor

Digital sports specialist running global brands for 30 years

Sunday 29 March 2026 06:00

F1 2026 is now well under way with the third race of the season taking place at the Japanese Grand Prix today (Sunday March 29) and we have the latest standings for you.

Mercedes are the big winners so far thanks to the new regulations sweeping into the sport.

The Silver Arrows claimed victories in both Australia (George Russell) and China (Kimi Antonelli) to start this season, and Russell holds a four-point lead over his Italian team-mate heading into Sunday's 53-lap race in Suzuka.

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We could easily see a change of leadership at the top of the standings, with Antonelli starting on pole after pipping Russell in Qualifying on Saturday.

The other big story heading into Suzuka is the miserable start to the season for four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Not only does the Dutchman hate those controversial new regs, he also has a car that he claims is "undriveable".

Verstappen is currently eighth in the standings with only eight points and things are unlikely to improve much on Sunday with the Red Bull star starting down in P11.

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F1 Drivers' Standings before the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix

Position	Driver	Team	Points
1	George Russell	Mercedes	51
2	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	47
3	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	34
4	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	33
5	Ollie Bearman	Haas	17
6	Lando Norris	McLaren	15
7	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	9
8	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	8
9	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	8
10	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls	4
11	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull	4
12	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	3
13	Carlos Sainz	Williams	2
14	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	2
15	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	1
16	Esteban Ocon	Haas	0
17	Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	0
18	Alex Albon	Wiliams	0
19	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	0
20	Sergio Perez	Cadillac	0
21	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	0
22	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	0

F1 Constructors' Standings before the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix

Position	Team	Points
1	Mercedes	98
2	Ferrari	67
3	McLaren	18
4	Haas	17
5	Red Bull	12
6	Racing Bulls	12
7	Alpine	10
8	Audi	2
9	Williams	2
10	Cadillac	0
11	Aston Martin	0

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Written by

Graham Shaw - Consultant Editor

Digital sports leader with 30 years of senior level experience running global brands. Built sportinglife.com to be a behemoth in the UK as well as being in charge of the Planet Sport network of sites including planetf1.com, football365.com, teamtalk.com and planetrugby.com. Then grew goal.com to be the world's biggest soccer website in 18 languages and 37 territories. Was GM of Portals for Perform Group (now DAZN) with overall responsibility for sportingnews.com, spox.de and voetbalzone.nl.

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F1 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka