Andrea Kimi Antonelli dominates F1 Japanese GP and becomes new championship leader. Andrea Kimi Antonelli claims his second consecutive F1 victory at Suzuka.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has secured a sensational second consecutive victory in the 2026 Formula 1 season, this time at the thrilling Suzuka Circuit. Benefiting from a fortunate Safety Car incident but also displaying remarkable pace on the restart, the young Italian now sits atop the drivers’ championship standings. Behind him, Oscar Piastri delivered an outstanding performance in a resurgent McLaren, while Charles Leclerc claimed the final podium spot with a fantastic defensive drive against George Russell.

Back-to-back wins highlight Antonelli’s talent

Winning in Formula 1 is difficult enough; repeating that success is even more challenging. Yet Andrea Kimi Antonelli has shown that he possesses a unique combination of talent, mental resilience, and skill, capable of making an entire nation dream and of etching his name in the history of motorsport. The 19-year-old from Bologna has proven again that he can rise to the occasion under pressure.

After a challenging start, where Antonelli dropped to sixth at the first corner, he began his determined climb through the field. Ahead, Oscar Piastri and George Russell were battling for the lead. The decisive moment came on lap 22 when Oliver Bearman approached a slower Franco Colapinto at Turn 13. Attempting to avoid contact, Bearman lost control of his Haas VF-26 after briefly running over the grass and crashed at high speed into the barriers.

Oliver Bearman exited the cockpit showing visible pain in his right knee and limped, eventually being taken to the medical center. X-rays confirmed that, despite the 50G impact, he had no fractures and only a contusion. The Safety Car deployment from this incident inadvertently helped Andrea Kimi Antonelli, allowing him to complete his pit stop under optimal conditions, switch to a fresh set of hard tires, and regain the lead.

Antonelli dominates after the restart

When the race resumed on lap 28, Antonelli defended the lead with composure, steadily increasing his advantage over Oscar Piastri. His laps consistently broke track records, ultimately building a gap of over 10 seconds on hard tires. From the free practice sessions onward, it was evident that Antonelli had the strongest pace throughout the weekend, showcasing both the capability of the Mercedes-powered W17 car and his own physical and mental form.

Oscar Piastri also impressed, being the only driver able to revive McLaren’s fortunes after a difficult start. Lando Norris struggled, finishing sixth, highlighting how Piastri’s team had mastered the Mercedes power unit more effectively.

Charles Leclerc’s brilliant defense secures podium

Charles Leclerc delivered a spectacular defensive performance to secure third place for Ferrari, keeping George Russell at bay despite the Mercedes driver’s superior car. The SF-26 managed its tires efficiently, and Leclerc’s skill ensured Ferrari remained on the podium, even as McLaren demonstrated renewed competitiveness.

George Russell, meanwhile, was unlucky with the Safety Car timing, having pitted just moments before the Bearman incident. He now faces a reminder that Antonelli is a serious competitor, confident and unburdened by pressure at this stage of the season.

Other notable performances

Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton fought for fifth place, narrowly won by Norris, though both were disappointing compared to their teammates. Pierre Gasly once again impressed in the Alpine, finishing seventh and holding off Max Verstappen for much of the race. Liam Lawson and Esteban Ocon scored points in ninth and tenth, with Ocon registering his first point of the season.

Nico Hulkenberg performed well for Audi, recovering to 11th after a disappointing qualifying. His teammate Gabriel Bortoleto finished 13th, while Isack Hadjar came in 12th. Williams struggled again, with Carlos Sainz Jr. finishing 15th in the FW48, hampered by excess weight. Lance Stroll retired due to water pressure issues in the Aston Martin.

Final classification – Japanese GP 2026