The 2026 season has only just reached its halfway point, but every emotion has already been showcased \u2013 the joy of a maiden victory, frustration of an underwhelming weekend, unbridled anger at watching points slip out of a driver\u2019s hands. No one is better placed to capture all of that than a photographer.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a cliche that a picture speaks a thousand words, but motorsport photographers like Alex O\u2019Connor<\/a> convey thoughts and feelings through their work that are impossible to express in any other medium.<\/p>\n For that reason, we asked O\u2019Connor to select his most striking shots from the opening 11 rounds of the year and explain the process behind each photograph, offering a unique perspective on the exhilarating action we\u2019ve witnessed so far.<\/p>\n 1. Leclerc threads the needle<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc<\/a> has become synonymous with Ferrari<\/a> in recent years, having first stepped up to the iconic team for the 2019 campaign. Although he\u2019s clinched victories here and there over time, he began 2026 with the hope that the Scuderia would make a hotly-anticipated return to the front of the field \u2013 and so far, it\u2019s the closest they\u2019ve been for a while, having gradually closed the gap to Mercedes<\/a> with consistent upgrades.<\/p>\n Outlining this shot of the Monegasque, who also committed to a contract extension<\/a> in June, O\u2019Connor explained: \u201cAt the start of every Formula 1 season, I am given around five minutes to shoot with each driver, all during F1\u2019s pre-season content capture days.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout these years I\u2019ve always tried to capture something different, whether that be a crazy fisheye lens, or capturing a macro shot of a driver\u2019s iris. This year, I posed a couple of drivers, including Leclerc, using their hand\/glove as a prop, looking through the tight gaps in between their fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe job of an F1 driver is to thread the needle through the tiniest of gaps, eking out performance, with often very limited vision. I intended these portraits to reflect exactly that. Charles is always a gent when it comes to photography, and he understood the assignment on this occasion!\u201d<\/p>\n 2. A vibrant Suzuka<\/p>\n Round 3 saw the teams and drivers take on the picturesque Suzuka Circuit, with Mercedes\u2019 Kimi Antonelli<\/a> still riding the high of his maiden Grand Prix win in China<\/a>. He would go on to repeat the achievement in Japan by beating Oscar Piastri<\/a> and Leclerc, simultaneously taking control of the Drivers\u2019 Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is by far one of my favourite shots of the season so far,\u201d our photographer said. \u201cFor years I have stood under the vibrant blossom trees of Suzuka Circuit, attempting to capture the cars weaving between the branches (often on tippy-toes).<\/p>\n \u201cHowever this year, I put my camera on a long monopod, where my remote camera trigger would be able to fire off the shutter. And to make things harder, I put on a Canon FD lens, a beautiful vintage Japanese manual focus lens.<\/p>\n \u201cThis meant auto focus was out of the question, and I had to calculate my focus point with the speed of the car as well as the delay of the remote trigger with the camera shutter. After multiple attempts, we got the shot.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Russell back in the hunt<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor took this shot in parc ferme after George Russell<\/a> won the Canada Sprint \u2013 his first time on the top step of the podium since the season opener at Albert Park.<\/p>\n Antonelli had just about survived the threat of a resurgent McLaren<\/a> at the previous round in Miami, but his team mate\u2019s determined performance in Canada \u2013 ultimately thrown off course by his retirement from the Grand Prix<\/a> \u2013 proved that he wasn\u2019t going to give up on the title fight easily.<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor summarised: \u201cIt really felt like a momentum swing back in George\u2019s favour, and I managed to capture this shot in parc ferme as George walked behind Kimi. For me, this encapsulated that George was back in the hunt, for now.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. A bird’s eye view of Monaco<\/p>\n Arguably F1\u2019s most renowned venue, Monaco has been a steadfast fixture on the calendar since the inaugural season in 1950 and possesses a motorsport history stretching back even further.<\/p>\n Its luxurious setting, memorable layout and unique driving challenge have made it a Grand Prix that every driver dreams of winning. This year, Antonelli took that honour in style, avoiding multiple crashes and retirements to cross the line ahead of Ferrari\u2019s Lewis Hamilton<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring FP2 in Monaco, I was extremely lucky to head up in the television helicopter above the Monaco Grand Prix circuit,\u201d O\u2019Connor said. \u201cThis was my first time shooting from a helicopter, and it was everything I wanted and more.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we dropped from the T\u00eate de Chien, Monaco\u2019s towering rock, the pilot pointed the aircraft nose towards the circuit. At this point, you begin to fight the g-forces on descent as you try to maintain control and balance of your camera.<\/p>\n \u201cWe manoeuvred around the swimming pool section, and with my eye pressed as hard as possible against my viewfinder, I was able to capture this image.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. ’12 is number one’<\/p>\n The excitement around the Silver Arrows heading into this year was largely focused on Russell finally having a car worthy of a championship fight, with very few anticipating such a remarkable improvement from Antonelli.<\/p>\n He made practically every mistake he could as a rookie, paving the way for his matured competitive nature to shine in 2026. This was key in Miami, where he recovered from a disappointing Sprint to convert pole position into a third consecutive Grand Prix win, affirming his status as the youngest championship leader in 76 years of F1.<\/p>\n O\u2019Connor summed it up: \u201cLift-off. After Antonelli wins in Miami, he launches himself off the car before sprinting to his team. This was an announcement and it felt significant. 12 is number one.\u201d<\/p>\n 6. Ocon on the pace<\/p>\n Away from the frontrunners, it\u2019s been a rollercoaster first half of the season for many midfield outfits, including Haas<\/a>. They started out with some incredible drives from sophomore competitor Ollie Bearman<\/a>, who claimed valuable points with P7 and P5 finishes in Australia and China respectively.<\/p>\n From then on, their pace fell away and rivals like Racing Bulls<\/a> and Alpine<\/a> edged ahead in the development race, leaving the Briton and his experienced team mate Esteban Ocon<\/a> to suffer a point-less drought of five races leading up to the summer break.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is another of my favourite shots of the season so far,\u201d O\u2019Connor stated. \u201cI actually captured this photograph of Ocon while he was on the pace during the Barcelona Shakedown earlier this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI really enjoy playing with shutter speed and panning techniques, to accentuate the speed and design of the cars.\u201d<\/p>\n 7. Lewis resurgence<\/p>\n If the talent shown by 19-year-old Antonelli sits at one end of the scale, the other must be Hamilton\u2019s revival off the back of his frustrating maiden campaign with Ferrari. With seven Drivers\u2019 Championships and a record 106 race wins to his name, the Briton has built a phenomenal legacy, but he\u2019s not done yet.<\/p>\n He took his first victory since 2024<\/a> at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in an emotional display of skill and passion before qualifying on pole position for the Sprint at the British Grand Prix.<\/p>\n While he didn\u2019t add to his tally of wins at Silverstone, a pair of podiums over the weekend was more than enough to reignite the faith in a potentially groundbreaking season for Hamilton, which O\u2019Connor labelled \u201cLewis resurgence\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing his first win in red in Barcelona this year, Hamilton followed it up quickly with an emphatic Sprint pole,\u201d he continued. \u201cAs I waited for Lewis to pull into parc ferme, I noticed that all of the British photographers were absolutely ecstatic.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople were high fiving and chatting, ‘Could he do it this weekend?’. This felt special. Lewis got out of the car to a rapturous applause, and he deserved it.\u201d<\/p>\n 8. Hamilton’s lap to the Sprint grid<\/p>\n \u201cBack-to-back Hamilton (not sorry),\u201d O\u2019Connor confessed. \u201cThis is definitely up there as one of my favourite shots of my career. This was Lewis pulling onto the Sprint grid.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton holds an awe-inspiring number of records, including the most triumphs at a single circuit. It\u2019s apt that he achieved his nine wins at Silverstone, the host of his home race and a venue where he always receives an outpouring of love and support from the fans packing out the grandstands.<\/p>\n The photographer added: \u201cOften, the lap to grid provides photographers with the opportunity to capture a car alone on track, as if you were taking the photo during a race.<\/p>\n \u201cYou only have a few seconds before the car drives towards you and often you are swallowed by a team of mechanics collecting the car. On this occasion, Lewis approached slowly as he waved to the fans, so I was able to get my shot with seconds to spare.\u201d<\/p>\n 9. Sparks fly in Hungary<\/p>\n Teams and drivers have spent this season learning about the latest generation of cars which, among many other differences<\/a>, feature new power units and are smaller compared to the 2025 challengers.<\/p>\n Every circuit has therefore offered a new test for them to optimise the cars, with one of the most difficult tracks so far being the Hungaroring. While the demanding conditions and lack of overtaking opportunities took time for everyone to adapt to, Lando Norris<\/a> thrived, securing his first Grand Prix win as the reigning World Champion.<\/p>\n \u201cThis photo of an exploding spark was captured during the Hungarian Grand Prix at Turn 4,\u201d said O\u2019Connor. \u201cI would be lying if I said I spotted it at the moment, however I was confident I had some nice sparks. It\u2019s a great section of track that yields many sparks, and this was a nice surprise!\u201d<\/p>\n 10. Verstappen’s determination<\/p>\n One individual we haven\u2019t yet mentioned \u2013 and has demonstrated time and again that he should never be written off \u2013 is Red Bull<\/a>\u2019s Max Verstappen<\/a>, who has faced his fair share of hurdles to overcome this year.<\/p>\n Reliability and a pace deficiency in the early races severely dented the team\u2019s results, with the Dutchman waiting until Round 5 to stand on the podium. However, upgrade packages have allowed them to close up to the leading pack and regularly be in contention for more points, just in time for Verstappen\u2019s upcoming home race in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n \u201cI took this on the grid at the Hungarian Grand Prix after Max had gotten out of his car before heading to his garage,\u201d O\u2019Connor stated. \u201cWalking towards me, I managed to get some nice close ups of his eyes through his visor, which is always the aim when shooting through helmets.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I love about this image is how determined yet focused his eyes are, which just sums him up so well.\u201d<\/p>\n 11. Monaco tunnel vision<\/p>\n Williams<\/a> have had a tough time of it thanks to production delays, an overweight FW48 and upgrades that largely haven\u2019t provided the boost they need, with Carlos Sainz<\/a> and Alex Albon<\/a> openly sharing the struggles<\/a> they\u2019ve endured so far.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Albon took advantage of the chaotic Monaco Grand Prix to obtain his highest finish of 2026 in P8. But neither he nor Sainz scored in the following races, leaving the historic team with just 11 points from an equal number of rounds.<\/p>\n Detailing this image, O\u2019Connor said: \u201cThe Monaco tunnel is one of the most famous tunnels in the world, and this is where the cars hit their highest speed on the circuit.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a photographer’s perspective, it can be extremely difficult to shoot, as the gaps between the barriers are extremely small, and getting too close can leave you in danger of getting hit by sparks of rubber from the tyres.<\/p>\n \u201cThat said, I did manage to get this shot of Albon during Qualifying, using a star filter on the front of my lens to get the starburst light effect I wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n 12. Antonelli’s composure<\/p>\n Despite all of Antonelli\u2019s eye-catching weekends, he hasn\u2019t avoided falling victim to Mercedes\u2019 concerning reliability issues as he was forced to retire from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and placed outside of the top 10 at Silverstone.<\/p>\n He still holds a commanding 50-point lead over Hamilton in the standings, with Russell an additional nine points behind, and continues to show poise beyond his years when it comes to his attitude and racing prowess \u2013 any pressure he feels from defending his position is hidden well.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was Antonelli getting ready on the grid in Hungary,\u201d O\u2019Connor concluded. \u201cKimi is always so calm on the grid, taking his time to get ready, which is great as a photographer as it gives you time to compose your shots!<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s quite incredible that a teenager has this level of composure, which for me correlates with his incredible performances so far this year.\u201d<\/p>\n