Mercedes is already pulling ahead: how the driver and constructor standings have changed after the Chinese Grand Prix

Written by Sonia Romero
Mercedes is already pulling ahead: how the driver and constructor standings have changed after the Chinese Grand Prix
Credit: Kimi Antonelli a remporté le Grand Prix de Chine de Formule 1 2026 à Shanghai lors de la deuxième course du championnat. Crédit photo Overtake Agency / Levi Erb

After just two races, the first gaps are already beginning to emerge. Thanks to the one-two finish by Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell in Shanghai, Mercedes has taken a clear lead in the constructors' championship. In the drivers' standings, Russell retains the lead but sees his young teammate closing in fast behind him.

A look at the drivers' standings

In the drivers' standings, George Russell retains the championship lead with 51 points following his two consecutive podium finishes and his victory in the Sprint race.

But the gap is already closing: thanks to his victory in China this Sunday, Kimi Antonelli is now just four points behind his teammate.

Ferrari remains firmly in the running with Leclerc and Hamilton separated by just one point.

Behind them, Oliver Bearman confirms his excellent start to the season with 17 points, while Pierre Gasly moves into the top 10 thanks to his sixth-place finish in Shanghai.

The standings also highlight Red Bull's current struggles. With only 8 points for Verstappen and 4 for Hadjar, the Austrian team trails far behind Mercedes and Ferrari. A striking contrast after several seasons of dominance.

The Chinese Grand Prix weekend was notably marked by: Verstappen's retirement, pace issues, and difficult starts. All of these factors explain the team's current fifth-place standing in the championship, shown below.

Position Driver Points 1 George Russell 51
2 Kimi Antonelli 47 3 Charles Leclerc 34
4 Lewis Hamilton 33 5 Oliver Bearman 17
6 Lando Norris 15 7 Pierre Gasly 9 8
Max Verstappen 8 9 Liam Lawson 8 10 Arvid Lindblad 4

Constructors' Championship Update

The one-two finish in China has logically allowed Mercedes to build a significant lead after two races. The German team now has a total of 98 points, already 31 points ahead of Ferrari.

The Scuderia is nevertheless limiting the damage thanks to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both finishing in the top four.

Behind them, the gap is already beginning to widen. McLaren remains third with 18 points, but the double non-start by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Shanghai proved very costly.

The surprise in the standings also comes from Haas, fourth with 17 points thanks in particular to Oliver Bearman's fifth-place finish.

Conversely, Red Bull is only fifth, penalized by Max Verstappen's retirement and a generally difficult weekend.

After just two races, the pecking order is beginning to take shape:

  • Mercedes clearly dominates the start of the season

  • Ferrari remains the main threat

  • Red Bull is still searching for the solution

  • The midfield remains extremely tight
    See you in Japan in two weeks to find out whether the next race will confirm—or not—this trend.  

    Position Team Points 1 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 98
    2 Scuderia Ferrari HP 67 3 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team 18 4
    TGR Haas F1 Team 17 5 Oracle Red Bull Racing 12
    6 Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team 12 7 BWT Alpine F1 Team 10
    8 Audi Revolut F1 Team 2 9 Atlassian Williams F1 Team 2
    10 Cadillac Formula 1 Team 0 11 Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team 0