Mercedes’ 19-year-old sensation Kimi Antonelli secured his second consecutive victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, surging from sixth to first after a perfectly timed Safety Car pit stop to claim the Drivers’ Championship lead with 72 points.
Dramatic Suzuka Recovery
Starting from pole at Suzuka, Antonelli dropped to P6 on the opening lap due to Mercedes’ persistent start issues. A heavy crash by Haas’ Oliver Bearman triggered the Safety Car, enabling Antonelli’s cheap stop that vaulted him ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (P2, +13.7s) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (P3).
Historic Milestone
The Italian became F1’s youngest-ever championship leader, surpassing Lewis Hamilton’s record set at age 22. Mercedes now leads both championships after winning all three 2026 races so far, nine points clear of teammate George Russell (P4).
Season Context
Antonelli’s China triumph two weeks prior marked his maiden win. Despite admitting “I need to raise my game” on starts, team boss Toto Wolff praised his race control. The calendar pauses five weeks until Miami.
