Hinchcliffe’s Top Five F1 Drivers After Three Rounds

With the season taking a breather before Miami, IndyCar winner and F1 TV analyst James Hinchcliffe highlights the five drivers who have stood out most through the first three races of 2026.

Pierre Gasly

Gasly has been a lesson in getting the most from every situation. After a tricky spell, he’s returned with calm, efficient racecraft and a knack for extracting unexpectedly strong pace from his car. Whether it’s tyre conservation, finding an extra tenth in qualifying or carving through the pack on race day, his experience and poise have kept him consistently in the points and a contender when strategy reshuffles the order.

Oscar Piastri

Piastri keeps proving why he’s among the brightest youngsters on the grid. He combines smoothness under pressure with the right aggression at decisive moments, turning strong single-lap speed into reliable race results. His ability to adapt to different tracks and conditions, plus clean, well-timed overtakes, suggests he’ll be a frequent podium challenger as the season unfolds.

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton’s opening form is a reminder that racecraft and experience still count for a lot. He’s been adept at extracting performance from difficult situations, pulling off late passes and managing tyre life intelligently. Beyond flashes of outright speed, it’s his race-reading and the strategic dialogue with his team that have been most impressive early on.

Oliver Bearman

Bearman has started to turn promising rookie glimpses into mature race performances. He’s shown bold overtaking and resilience when things don’t go his way, avoiding the kinds of mistakes some newcomers make. His pace in variable conditions and willingness to push right to the limit indicate he’s becoming a reliably competitive presence.

Kimi Antonelli

Antonelli’s steep learning curve continues to attract attention. He displays unusually composed racecraft for someone so new to Formula 1, marrying raw speed with steadily improving race management. Unlike many young drivers who take time to translate practice pace into race results, Antonelli is already finding that equilibrium and looks capable of long-term front-running form.

Conclusion

After three rounds these five stand out for a mix of reasons: the race-reading and calm of Hamilton and Gasly; the rapid development and raw speed of Piastri, Bearman and Antonelli. As the championship heads to Miami and beyond, each has the potential to shape storylines and deliver standout performances throughout the year.