Superb In Suzuka: Kimi Antonelli Takes The Championship Lead And Rewrites History!
30th March 2026The Japanese Grand Prix saw a brilliant return to Grand Prix racing for Oscar Piastri, a mega comeback drive for Kimi Antonelli, and a huge crash for Ollie Bearman.
Feature image credit: Mercedes F1
As the five red lights went out, signalling the start of the Japanese Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri bounced back from two consecutive non–Grand Prix starts, storming into the lead from third into the first corner.
Bearman Cleared
After scoring points in both Australia and China, Ollie Bearman’s race was cut short by a massive shunt into the barriers at Spoon Curve, causing the safety car to be deployed on lap 22. He was seen limping away from the car, expressing pain in his right leg.
Following the 50G impact, Bearman was taken to the medical centre. Thankfully, Haas confirmed that he was cleared from any possible fractures.
Oliver Bearman suffers ‘knee contusion’ after 50G Japanese GP impact
Antonelli Takes The Lead
On lap 28, we went racing again. Despite Kimi Antonelli dropping down to sixth on lap one from pole position, the young Italian, helped by the timing of the safety car, made his way back through the field and into the number-one spot.
After claiming his maiden win in China, it was a Suzuka special for Antonelli, who secured his second consecutive victory by a whopping 14.4 seconds over McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
He now leads the Formula 1 World Championship and becomes the youngest driver in history to do so.
Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, with Mercedes’ George Russell right behind. After a back‑and‑forth battle on track, Lando Norris claimed fifth ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who finished sixth.
Midfield Fight
It was a mega race from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who held onto seventh against the four‑time World Champion Max Verstappen. From fourteenth on the grid to ninth at the chequered flag, Liam Lawson scored points for Racing Bulls, and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 10 with his first points of the season.
An honourable mention goes to Fernando Alonso, now Formula 1’s latest dad, who managed to finish his and Aston Martin’s first Grand Prix of the 2026 season.
Up Next
As the Japanese Grand Prix comes to an end, the focus now shifts to the next race of the season, where Formula 1 will take to Miami. With the ongoing conflict preventing Formula 1 from returning to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this year, we have a five-week break before the racing action resumes on the first weekend of May.
The Full Race Classification
1 – Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
2 – Oscar Piastri, McLaren
3 – Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
4 – George Russell, Mercedes
5 – Lando Norris, McLaren
6 – Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
7 – Pierre Gasly, Alpine
8 – Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
9 – Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
10 – Esteban Ocon, Haas
11 – Nico Hulkenburg, Audi
12 – Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
13 – Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
14 – Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
15 – Carlos Sainz, Williams
16 – Franco Colapinto, Alpine
17 – Sergio Perez, Cadillac
18 – Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
19 – Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
20 – Alexander Albon, Williams
NC – Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
NC – Oliver Bearman, Haas
Read more Formula 1 here:
- FIA release statement after Bearman crash at Japanese GP
- Who finished where at 2026 Japanese Grand Prix?
- Oliver Bearman suffers ‘knee contusion’ after 50G Japanese GP impact
- Antonelli becomes youngest F1 leader with Japanese Grand Prix win
- Alexander Albon avoids punishment for causing collision at Japan GP
- George Russell pips Kimi Antonelli in Japanese GP FP1
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