Kimi Räikkönen Antonelli admitted that even he did not expect to reach the Formula 1 mid-season break leading the standings. The title fight, McLaren’s progress, and Liberty Media’s financial results were among the main topics on Thursday.
Antonelli sits on 219 points and enjoys a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton, in second place. The Italian began the year with a runner-up finish in Australia, won five Grands Prix in a row, and then returned to the top at Spa-Francorchamps, before completing the podium in Hungary. Despite the comfortable position, he said he still needs to learn and keep working through the second half of the season.
Hamilton also appeared as a direct threat to the leader. Emerson Fittipaldi assessed that the Ferrari driver is ready to fight for the championship, while Damon Hill highlighted his influence on the Italian team’s resurgence. The standings keep George Russell in third place, with 160 points, followed by Charles Leclerc on 138.
At McLaren, Lando Norris projected more victories after the dominant win at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Briton acknowledged that the car’s performance still varies with the circuit, but said he trusted the continuity of the team’s development. The squad, which had been about a second per lap behind Mercedes at the start of the year, has narrowed the gap with its latest updates.
The Aston Martin also drew attention for Adrian Newey’s assessment of the recovery after a start that was deemed “disastrous.” The designer expressed confidence in the team’s progress, while again speaking optimistically about Fernando Alonso’s continued involvement in the project. At Red Bull, Isack Hadjar called for further advances so the team can challenge Mercedes and Ferrari.
Off the track, Liberty Media reported a 38% drop in revenue for the second quarter to $764 million, along with a 61% reduction in adjusted EBITDA. Despite the numbers, the company said it remained confident in the commercial strength of its brands and in growing fan engagement with F1.
Alpine wrapped up the day’s highlights. Flavio Briatore said he does not understand why the team has not yet won in 2026, while Liam Lawson acknowledged that Racing Bulls began the season without knowing their real level, but reached the mid-season break in fifth place among constructors after an evolution beyond internal expectations.
