Verstappen Dominates Again as Red Bull Stretches 2026 Advantage with Lawson Near Miss

Mercedes and Red Bull went head-to-head in the 10th race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Liam Lawson's outdated Red Bull costing him a valuable podium finish. Meanwhile, a late-race collision between Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto disrupted the midfield battle, while Charles Leclerc quietly climbed from the back of the grid to 8th after an early pitstop.

Why it matters:

• The driver ratings debate: Several drivers were left out of the ranking, including Lewis Hamilton, who was labeled as "not rated" for being first-lapped due to a technical issue. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were also excluded from their respective tiers, with commentators arguing that their absence was an honest acknowledgment of the weekend's chaos rather than a reflection of their long-term potential.

The details:

• Podium Monopoly: Max Verstappen now has 8 podiums from 10 races in 2026, putting him on pace for one of the greatest seasons in modern F1 history. With Red Bull's RB22 consistently the class of the field at medium and high-speed circuits, the championship picture looks increasingly one-sided.
• Fernando Alonso vs. Lewis Hamilton: The two veteran champions finished right next to each other after Hamilton's electrical failure caused a first-lap retirement. Alonso, in the sister Aston Martin, secured 10th, though both were unclassified in the main ratings due to their lack of competitive running.
• Franco Colapinto's Rough Weekend: The Williams driver dropped four positions in the final two laps, including contact with Alexander Albon at Turn 13. Despite a season-best points haul, his inability to hold off Esteban Ocon and Arthur Leclerc late in the race raised questions about his racecraft under pressure.
• Charles Leclerc's Quiet Recovery: After an immediate switch to hard tires to escape the midfield, Leclerc worked his way to 8th, gaining 12 positions by the checkered flag. While not officially rated, his performance was arguably one of the most strategic of the afternoon.

What's next:

• The summer break reset: With the season nearly at its halfway point, teams like Mercedes and Ferrari will be looking to unlock hidden pace in their 2026 challengers before the championship battle becomes mathematically unwinnable. Meanwhile, Red Bull's dominance shows no signs of slowing, and the grid's focus may shift to 2027 if the gap remains insurmountable after the August shutdown.