Suzuka, Japan – Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, marking his second consecutive win and propelling the 19-year-old Italian into the lead of the Formula 1 drivers’ standings for the first time.
Antonelli overcame a poor start that dropped him to sixth place early in the race at the demanding Suzuka Circuit. A safety car triggered by Oliver Bearman’s crash into the barriers at the Spoon hairpin reshuffled the field, allowing the Mercedes rookie to pit and emerge in front. From there, he pulled away comfortably, finishing nearly 14 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in second. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc held on for third, just ahead of Antonelli’s teammate George Russell in fourth.
The result gives Antonelli 72 points after three races, nine clear of Russell following his earlier second place in Australia and win in China. Mercedes has now won every grand prix this season, a strong turnaround after early expectations favored others. Piastri’s podium marked a solid recovery for McLaren, while Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton rounded out fifth and sixth.
Post-race, Antonelli downplayed talk of a title challenge despite becoming the youngest driver ever to lead the championship. He described the weekend as positive but stressed the season’s early stage, noting his car’s strong pace in the second stint after the safety car. The Italian highlighted his starts as a key area for improvement, calling them a weak point that can swing races. He plans to use the upcoming break to work on clutch drops and build consistency.
This triumph builds on Antonelli’s breakthrough in China two weeks prior, where he became one of the youngest race winners in F1 history. In Japan, he extended Mercedes’ dominance on a track long ruled by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who struggled to score highly this weekend. Russell’s fourth place narrowed the internal team gap but left him playing catch-up after Antonelli overtook him atop the standings.
With Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled, Formula 1 heads into a five-week hiatus before Miami on May 3. Antonelli’s rise adds intrigue to the title race, as Mercedes eyes sustained momentum while rivals regroup. His focus remains on incremental gains, setting the stage for a competitive season ahead.
KIMI ANTONELLI WINS THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX!!! 🏁🏆🥳#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/yZ7Ozd2k1e
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 29, 2026
