2026 Teams’ Championship: Who’s Up, Who’s Down After Four Races?

The 2026 Formula 1 season is off to an intriguing start, with the Constructors' Championship standings reflecting a mix of expected dominance and surprising developments. After the Miami Grand Prix, Mercedes sits comfortably at the top, having overtaken McLaren, last year's champions, who now find themselves in third. This reshuffling at the summit marks a notable shift in the pecking order.

Mercedes Surges to the Front Mercedes has capitalized on a strong start to the season, amassing 180 points thanks to George Russell's win in Australia and three consecutive victories by Kimi Antonelli. As the youngest-ever leader in the Drivers’ Championship, Antonelli has been instrumental in Mercedes' ascent to first place. Their 70-point lead over Ferrari underscores the Silver Arrows' impressive form.

McLaren's Rollercoaster Start In contrast, McLaren's journey from last year's dominance to third place is a tale of highs and lows. With 94 points, they are still in the hunt, thanks to strong performances in Japan and Miami from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The latter even tasted victory in Miami's Sprint, suggesting that the papaya squad might not be out of contention just yet.

Ferrari Finds Its Feet Ferrari has made a commendable recovery after ending 2025 in fourth. Early focus on the 2026 campaign seems to be paying off, with the team now in second place. However, a challenging Miami weekend, highlighted by Charles Leclerc's post-race penalty, hints at potential struggles to maintain their position.

Red Bull's Rocky Road For Red Bull, the start of 2026 has been less than ideal. They have slipped to fourth, a consequence of focusing on last season's title race. Yet, there is a glimmer of hope following upgrades in Miami that helped Max Verstappen edge closer to the leaders, suggesting a possible turnaround.

Alpine's Meteoric Rise Alpine has been the surprise package, vaulting from last to fifth. Their strategic pivot to prioritize 2026 early has yielded dividends, with Pierre Gasly leading the charge. Despite an unfortunate crash in Miami, Alpine's points tally already exceeds their entire 2025 haul.

Haas and the Midfield Scramble Haas is another team making headway, climbing from eighth to sixth. With Ollie Bearman showing promise, the American outfit is in the thick of the midfield battle. Their progress is mirrored by Racing Bulls, who also started strong but stumbled in Miami.

Williams and Aston Martin Struggle Williams and Aston Martin, on the other hand, have found the new season tough. Williams, after a promising 2025, has dropped to eighth due to early setbacks, including missing the Barcelona Shakedown. Aston Martin's woes are compounded by engine vibrations and reliability issues, leaving them at the bottom of the standings.

Audi and Cadillac sit between these struggling teams, with Audi matching its 2025 finish in ninth, while Cadillac keeps expectations modest in their debut season. As the season progresses, these standings could be set for further shake-ups.