JAPANESE GP: ANTONELLI CONQUERS SUZUKA, WIN AND CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed victory in the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix after a far-from-straightforward race, turning a disastrous start into a hugely significant win. The young Mercedes talent now leads the World Championship after three rounds, securing an incredible back-to-back and his second consecutive hat trick.

The Suzuka weekend had seemed headed toward a flawless domination, but everything changed when the lights went out: a poor launch dropped him down to sixth place, confirming the W17’s ongoing struggles off the line. From there, however, he began a composed and determined recovery, building his comeback lap after lap in the opening stint.

The turning point came with the Safety Car, triggered by Oliver Bearman’s crash. Antonelli capitalized perfectly: a perfectly timed pit stop allowed him to flip the race, jumping both Oscar Piastri’s McLaren and teammate George Russell’s Mercedes.

After the restart, the Italian left no room for challengers: he set an untouchable pace on hard tires and pulled away decisively, sealing a victory that was as deserved as it was intelligently executed.

Behind him, Oscar Piastri impressed in his first race of the season, while Charles Leclerc delivered a superb performance, engaging in a fierce battle with Russell for the podium. The British driver had to settle for fourth place, also surrendering the championship lead to his younger teammate by nine points.

Further back, Lando Norris made a late move to pass Lewis Hamilton and secure fifth place, while the points positions were completed by Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), and Esteban Ocon (Haas).

A win that carries extra weight for Antonelli: not just for the result, but for the maturity shown in turning a difficult race into a true masterclass of strategy and driving.

© Cavalieri Garage & Co.