Formula 1 is back this weekend, with the Dutch Grand Prix marking the beginning of the second half of what has already been a gripping, and often controversial and divisive, 2026 season. After almost a month away from the track, the championship battle resumes at Zandvoort, where Kimi Antonelli will look to strengthen his position at the top of the standings.
The Mercedes rising star heads into the weekend with a 50-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton, with George Russell a further nine points behind the 7-time World Champion. Antonelli has enjoyed a remarkable first half of the season, winning six of the opening 11 Grands Prix, with Mercedes more often than not the team to beat.
However, there is still plenty of time for the championship picture to change.
The stakes in Zandvoort will be particularly high because this year's Dutch Grand Prix will be the final Formula 1 race held at the circuit. The venue returned to the calendar in 2021 and quickly became one of the sport's most spectacular events, largely thanks to the enormous support for home hero Max Verstappen.
Verstappen won the first three races following Zandvoort's return before Lando Norris triumphed in 2024 and Oscar Piastri took victory last year. The four-time World Champion will therefore be desperate to end the circuit's F1 chapter with another win—and his first of the 2026 season—in front of his home fans.
The weekend will also be different because Zandvoort is hosting its first Sprint. With just one practice session before Sprint Qualifying on Friday, teams will have considerably less time to find the optimum setup after a month where they're not allowed to make any changes to their cars.
Mercedes will arrive as the favourite, but Ferrari and McLaren have every reason to be optimistic. Hamilton remains Antonelli's closest championship rival, and rumours are swirling that the Prancing Horse has a list of upgrades in play that could move them to the front of the field.
Aston Martin is another team worth watching. While they won't be challenging for wins quite yet, after introducing a major upgrade package in Hungary, the team will benefit from an upgraded Honda power unit at Zandvoort. This weekend should provide a clearer indication of whether the team is finally making progress under Adrian Newey's technical leadership.
Beyond Zandvoort, the championship is heading into a hectic run of races. Monza, Madrid, Baku and Singapore are followed by a demanding sequence of events in the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Las Vegas before the season is currently scheduled to conclude with Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
There is even some uncertainty over the final part of the calendar due to ongoing instability in the Middle East, with the Bahrain Grand Prix already moved to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
After an unpredictable first half of the season, the second promises to be every bit as exciting, something this trailer makes clear...