Two very different ways of winning have emerged clearly during the 2026 Formula 1 season. On one side are victories built on technical superiority and largely uncontested race control; on the other are successes shaped by external events and unexpected developments. Comparing the wins achieved by Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen with those of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc highlights that substantial difference.
Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull wins built on control
The victories achieved by Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull have generally been characterised by almost total control of the competition. Kimi Antonelli has put together a series of Mercedes successes based on superior race pace, excellent strategic management and the ability to remain in command without giving rivals significant opportunities to respond. The strength of the package has also been evident in the wider discussion around how dominant the Mercedes W17 has been in 2026.
George Russell has demonstrated similar authority at races including Australia, Austria and Azerbaijan, taking victories through strong control of the race and effective pace management. Lando Norris, meanwhile, converted McLaren’s competitiveness into wins in Hungary and the Netherlands, combining a strong package with dominant race execution.
Max Verstappen then delivered Red Bull’s first victory of the season in Malaysia, prevailing in difficult conditions and reclaiming the lead with clear superiority. In each of these cases, the outcome appeared to stem from technical and competitive dominance: Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull were able to impose their pace, restrict their rivals’ ability to respond and turn the race into an exercise in managing an established advantage. The broader competitive picture can be explored through the Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics.
Why Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc wins were different
The nature of Ferrari’s two victories appears very different and, from this perspective, considerably less convincing as demonstrations of outright superiority. Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Barcelona was not built on a clear performance advantage on track, but was heavily influenced by a Virtual Safety Car appearing at a decisive and particularly favourable moment.
The interruption allowed Lewis Hamilton, who was pursuing a risky three-stop strategy that was not necessarily superior, to make the final pit stop without surrendering the lead. Without that fortunate intervention, the scenario could have been radically different, with the Mercedes cars of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli still in contention into the closing stages. In that sense, it was a victory assisted by events rather than one achieved through unquestioned superiority. More coverage of the seven-time world champion’s Ferrari season is available in the Lewis Hamilton section.
Charles Leclerc’s Silverstone victory was also shaped by circumstances
Charles Leclerc’s triumph at Silverstone similarly materialised after a technical problem affected Kimi Antonelli’s car. The young Italian, who was recovering and represented a genuine threat, suffered a problem with the front-left wheel shield after running over a kerb. The issue forced Kimi Antonelli into additional pit stops and effectively removed Ferrari’s main rival from contention, opening the way for Charles Leclerc.
Once again, the victory did not emerge from prolonged dominance or clearly superior performance, but from an external circumstance that altered the balance of the race in Ferrari’s favour. From that perspective, the success appears weakened when compared with victories achieved through more sustained superiority. Charles Leclerc’s wider 2026 campaign can be followed through the dedicated Charles Leclerc section.
Ferrari’s victories remain marked by external factors
Ferrari’s two victories therefore remain, in a figurative sense, “stained” by their dependence on external factors. They did not demonstrate a complete ability to impose the SF-26’s pace on the field, but instead showed Ferrari’s capacity to capitalise on favourable interruptions or problems encountered by rivals.
In a championship where Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull have demonstrated that they can win with authority, Ferrari’s victories consequently appear more like favourable episodes than examples of the overwhelming superiority displayed by the season’s strongest performers.
Two different models of winning in the 2026 F1 season
The victories achieved by Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen fit a model based on superiority: Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull imposed their pace and closed out races with authority. The wins delivered by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, by contrast, came in races where Ferrari capitalised on fortuitous developments – a well-timed Virtual Safety Car in Barcelona and Kimi Antonelli’s technical problem at Silverstone – rather than on structural superiority.
That does not make the Ferrari victories worth fewer championship points or strip them of equal sporting value, but their circumstantial nature remains an important distinction when assessing the real competitive strength of the SF-26.
Luck is part of Formula 1, but it should not be confused with dominance. The victories of Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull remain examples of commanding performance in the circumstances in which they were achieved, while Ferrari’s successes, however worthy of celebration at the time, remain closely linked to favourable events.
That distinction is also reflected in the difficulties the SF-26 has shown since Silverstone, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc struggling to put Ferrari back on the podium consistently. The challenge is particularly relevant when considering the continuing discussion around Ferrari’s strengths and remaining performance deficit, as the Maranello team searches for the level of sustained competitiveness required to win without relying on outside circumstances.
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