US EditionKimi Antonelli wins from Oscar Piastri at Suzuka to become youngest championship leader
Antonelli used a mid-race safety car to secure his second consecutive win and now leads the championship by nine points after three races, the youngest ever to do so.
- On Sunday, Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, becoming the youngest-ever Formula One championship leader at age 19.
- Despite dropping to sixth after a poor start from pole position, Antonelli capitalized on a well-timed pit stop during a safety car period triggered by Haas driver Oliver Bearman's 50g crash on lap 22.
- McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished second and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc third, while teammate George Russell dropped to fourth after his pit-stop strategy was compromised by the safety car deployment on lap 22.
- The victory gives Antonelli a nine-point lead over Russell in the drivers' championship standings, representing a 13-point title swing in favor of the teenager following the race-changing safety car.
- Acknowledging areas for improvement, Antonelli stated, "Definitely it's been a weak point so far this year, and I need to improve that because you can easily win or lose races with that.
105 Articles
105 Articles
The Italian Kimi Antonelli continues to build a season that is beginning to emerge as historic. At just 19 years old, the Mercedes driver left the 2026 Japan Grand Prix, played in Suzuka, added his second consecutive victory and became the youngest leader in the history of the Formula 1.His start of campaign not only surprises with the results, but with the solidity with which he imposes himself on a highly competitive grill, marking what could …
A 19-year-old Italian raced in Formula 1 – in Japan and in the overall ranking. The international media are astonished to watch and open up the internal power struggle at Mercedes.
19-year-old sensation Kimi Antonelli achieves F1 history after winning Japanese GP
Mercedes young sensation Kimi Antonelli has etched his name into the history books after winning the Japanese GP with a stellar drive in Suzuka on Sunday, March 29. The 19-year-old Italian has now won back-to-back races after having won the Shanghai GP a couple of weeks ago, and he now leads the F1 title race. Antonelli has 72 points and leads the title race from his teammate George Russell by nine points. He has now become the youngest ever dri…
Two consecutive victories have taken Kimi Antonelli to the top of the Formula 1 world championship standings for the first time. The 19-year-old Italian is making history as the youngest leader in the elite class of motorsport, but despite the euphoria, he remains down to earth. According to him, it is still far too early to think about the title.
The Mercedes driver at only 19 years old and after the success in Japan he finds himself in the lead of the championship: "The car is really strong, we are in a great position. Today with the safety car I went luxury"
19-year-old Kimi Antonelli wins Japan Grand Prix for 2nd straight win
SUZUKA, Japan — Italian 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes has won his second consecutive Formula 1 (F1) race, taking Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix ahead of Oscar Piastri of McLaren. Antonelli finished a comfortable 13.7 seconds ahead of the Australian. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was third with George Russell of Mercedes in fourth. McLaren’s Lando Norris was fifth with sixth for Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari at the Suzuka circuit in central Japa…
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