SUZUKA, Japan (AP) – Kimi Antonelli, a 19-year-old driver from Italy representing Mercedes, clinched his second consecutive victory in Formula 1 by winning the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
He finished the race 13.7 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri from McLaren.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari placed third, followed by George Russell of Mercedes in fourth, while Lando Norris from McLaren and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari rounded out the top six positions. The race took place at the Suzuka circuit under clear skies on a sunny spring afternoon.
Historic Win
Antonelli previously achieved his first career F1 victory two weeks ago in China, making him the second-youngest winner in the sport’s history. Max Verstappen holds the record as the youngest winner, having triumphed at the age of 18 in 2016. Antonelli also became the youngest driver to start from pole position in China.
With 72 points accumulated over three races, Antonelli has now established himself as the youngest driver to lead the season standings.
“It’s too early to think about the championship but we’re in a good way,” Antonelli stated. “I got a terrible start, I just need to check what happened.”
He acknowledged that his starts have been a weak point this season, emphasizing the need for improvement as they can significantly impact race outcomes.
Mercedes’ Dominance
Following his second-place finish in China, Russell’s performance alongside Antonelli has solidified Mercedes’ dominance, with the team securing victories in all three races of the 2026 season thus far.
Antonelli began the race from pole position, but both he and Russell struggled at the start, allowing Piastri to take the lead early on.
The Mercedes team demonstrated superior adaptability to the new car configuration for the 2026 season, which balances internal combustion and electrical battery power. The redesigned cars are lighter, narrower, and shorter than their predecessors, leading to mixed reactions from drivers regarding the changes.
Antonelli’s Fortunate Break
After a poor start that placed him in sixth position, Antonelli fought back to regain the lead by the 22nd lap. The race was interrupted when Haas driver Oliver Bearman crashed into a tire barrier, leading to the deployment of the safety car.
Bearman exited the car and was later reported to be in good condition by medical officials.
Antonelli remarked on the advantage the safety car provided, stating, “I don’t know what would have happened, what the outcome would have been without the safety car, but that definitely made life a lot easier.”
Piastri also expressed curiosity about the potential race outcome, noting, “It’s a shame we never got to see what would have happened, but for us at this point to be disappointed about finishing second – is a pretty good place to be.”
Piastri missed the first two races of the season due to a crash during a warm-up lap in Australia and electrical issues in China.
Hamilton’s Comeback
Hamilton, who did not secure a podium finish last season while driving for Ferrari, achieved third place in China and showed competitiveness in Japan, indicating a significant improvement from the previous season.
“I’ve not lost what I had,” Hamilton stated during the race weekend in Japan.
Upcoming Break
Following the Japanese Grand Prix, Formula 1 will observe a five-week hiatus, with the next races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia canceled due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The next scheduled race is set for May 3 in Miami.