Ferrari has strengthened its hold on second place in the 2026 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship following the United States Grand Prix, reaching 474 points after another encouraging performance from the SF-26. Lewis Hamilton is now just one point behind George Russell in the Drivers’ Championship, while Charles Leclerc has climbed to 233 points as the Italian team continues to demonstrate improved competitiveness.
The updated F1 standings after Austin underline two contrasting developments. Ferrari remains comfortably ahead of McLaren and Red Bull in the battle for second among the constructors, but Mercedes continues to lead with 607 points. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli’s victory at the Circuit of the Americas has taken the Mercedes driver to 365 points, putting him in an increasingly commanding position to secure his first Formula 1 world title.
Ferrari confirms improved SF-26 performance after Austin upgrades
The United States Grand Prix, round 18 of the championship, provided further encouragement for Ferrari following the introduction of its latest aerodynamic package. The Maranello team had arrived in Texas with substantial revisions designed to improve the SF-26’s performance, and Charles Leclerc’s race pace offered another positive indication of the car’s development.
The improvements introduced for Austin included changes to several interconnected aerodynamic areas, as detailed in our analysis of Ferrari’s four major SF-26 aerodynamic upgrades. The latest performance suggests that the changes have helped the team become more competitive, particularly over a race distance.
Leclerc delivered an especially encouraging performance, demonstrating the pace needed to challenge some of Ferrari’s principal rivals. His display provided the strongest positive takeaway from the weekend, reinforcing the impression that the development direction adopted by the Italian engineers is delivering results.
Hamilton’s performance was less convincing by comparison, although the seven-time world champion remains third in the Drivers’ Championship and has reduced his deficit to Mercedes driver George Russell to a single point. With 241 points against Russell’s 242, the battle for second in the standings remains extremely close.
Ferrari can also draw encouragement from the longer-term implications of its recent progress. The improvements to the SF-26 offer a useful foundation for the team’s technical development, although the challenge of competing consistently with Mercedes remains considerable. Looking towards 2027, Ferrari will also be hoping to close the remaining gap in power-unit performance and compete with its rivals on more equal terms.
F1 drivers’ standings after Austin: Lewis Hamilton one point behind George Russell
Kimi Antonelli has extended his Drivers’ Championship lead to 123 points following his victory in Austin. The Italian Mercedes driver now has 365 points, compared with 242 for George Russell, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton sits immediately behind on 241.
Charles Leclerc occupies fifth place with 233 points, just three behind Max Verstappen. That leaves both Ferrari drivers firmly established among the championship’s leading five, with Hamilton still challenging for the runner-up position and Leclerc close to moving ahead of the Red Bull driver.
Antonelli’s next opportunity to secure the championship comes at the Mexican Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver entered the Austin weekend with his first chance to settle the title and now holds an advantage that leaves him in a particularly strong position. A victory in Mexico, combined with Russell finishing outside the top eight, is one of the scenarios that would allow Antonelli to claim the crown.
The title race could therefore produce a historic outcome for Italy, which has not celebrated an Italian Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion since Alberto Ascari secured his second title in 1953. Different finishing combinations can be explored through the F1 Championship Points Calculator.
Updated 2026 F1 Drivers’ Championship standings
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 365 points
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 242 points
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 241 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 236 points
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 233 points
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 211 points
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 144 points
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – 105 points
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 77 points
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 42 points
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – 38 points
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 27 points
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 23 points
- Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) – 13 points
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – 10 points
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 7 points
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 7 points
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 7 points
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 5 points
- Yuki Tsunoda – 1 point
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 0 points
- Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – 0 points
- Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – 0 points
F1 constructors’ standings after Austin: Ferrari strengthens second place
The Constructors’ Championship provides another reason for optimism at Maranello. Ferrari now has 474 points, establishing a 119-point advantage over both McLaren and Red Bull, who are tied on 355. Although Mercedes remains 133 points ahead, Ferrari has consolidated its position as the closest challenger in the team standings.
That advantage is particularly important because Ferrari’s remaining task is not simply to challenge Mercedes whenever possible, but also to protect second place against the teams behind. Consistent scoring from both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will remain essential in maintaining that margin through the final part of the season.
Austin also demonstrated the importance of race strategy, with the 56-lap contest requiring teams to respond to changing tyre conditions and track positions. The demands of the Texas circuit had already been highlighted in Pirelli’s pre-race assessment of Austin’s tyre and strategy challenges.
Updated 2026 F1 Constructors’ Championship standings
- Mercedes – 607 points
- Ferrari – 474 points
- McLaren – 355 points
- Red Bull – 355 points
- Racing Bulls – 102 points
- Alpine – 69 points
- Haas – 30 points
- Audi – 23 points
- Williams – 12 points
- Aston Martin – 7 points
- Cadillac – 0 points
What the Austin results mean for Ferrari’s remaining 2026 campaign
Ferrari leaves the United States Grand Prix with a clearer picture of its competitive position. The SF-26’s latest improvements have delivered encouraging signs, Charles Leclerc has demonstrated strong race pace, and Lewis Hamilton remains within touching distance of second place in the Drivers’ Championship.
Mercedes is still the benchmark in both championships, with Kimi Antonelli approaching the title and the German constructor holding a substantial points advantage. Nevertheless, Ferrari’s 119-point cushion over McLaren and Red Bull gives the Scuderia a strong platform from which to defend second place.
The challenge now is to turn the promising performance seen in Austin into consistent results over the remaining races. For Ferrari, maintaining its momentum would strengthen its current championship position while providing further encouragement as attention gradually shifts towards the 2027 season.
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