Mason Round: 3 winners and losers from Japanese Grand Prix
31st March 2026Following a dramatic third round of the Formula One championship, the Japanese Grand Prix, Mason Round gives his three winners and losers from the grand prix weekend.
Feature image credit: Mercedes F1
Winners
Oscar Piastri
Starting his first grand prix at round three in Japan, Piastri made up for lost time with a superb drive on Sunday. A fantastic start to the race saw the Australian climb to first by turn one and control the pace at the front, in a race that, on another weekend, could have been converted into a win.
Unfortunate to pit just before the safety car was called on lap 22, Piastri still managed to finish in a very impressive P2, finally starting his season off right.
Kimi Antonelli
Following his maiden win in China just over a fortnight ago, expectations were high for Antonelli to build on his momentum coming into Japan.
A second pole position and race win will do just that, seeing the Italian take the lead in the drivers’ championship, becoming the youngest driver ever to do so. It wasn’t easy for Antonelli, after another slow start saw him tumble five places and behind teammate Russell on the first lap.
A spirited comeback drive, which saw overtakes on Hamilton and Norris and a battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, left Antonelli in a prime position to capitalise on an unexpected safety car. Maintaining the lead of the race following his pit, a mature drive to the line saw Antonelli secure his second victory of the season.
Pierre Gasly
In what has been a quietly underrated season so far for the Frenchman, a P7 finish and third consecutive points finish gets his name on this list. Qualifying 7th on Saturday, Gasly’s race was not plain sailing. Following the safety car restart, Gasly managed to keep the charging Max Verstappen at bay for over 25 laps until the finish, a task that is no mean feat.
Finishing just three-tenths of a second ahead of Verstappen, their battle went right down to the wire, providing an entertaining midfield battle throughout.
Losers
George Russell
After an initial slow start from Russell, which saw him lose two places, the Brit was able to use his Mercedes to its full capacity, completing smart overtakes to climb back up to second and challenge Piastri for the lead.
Russell’s race was defined by his pit stop, coming just one lap before Bearman’s accident brought out the safety car. Unable to fully recover from this unfortunate setback, Russell had to settle for P4 on the day, as his teammate swept up to a victory which well could have been his.
Oliver Bearman
The biggest talking point from the weekend, Bearman’s 190mph, 50G crash was a scary sight to witness. Running in 18th following his first pitstop, Bearman attempted to overtake the Alpine of Franco Colapinto going into turn 13. However, the 50kph closing speed difference between the two cars left the British driver forced onto the grass in an avoiding action, leaving him spinning into the barrier.
The highly controversial incident was blasted by drivers and pundits alike as caused by 2026’s new battery deployment and has dented what had been a brilliant start to the season for Bearman.
Franco Colapinto
16th place and nine places behind teammate Gasly, Franco Colapinto had another forgettable weekend in Japan. Qualifying 15th after failing to reach Q3 for the third time this season, Colapinto struggled to make meaningful progress during the race before finishing one place lower in 16th.
As Gasly continues to show what the Alpine can truly be capable of, Colapinto will need to begin improving his performances with a famously impatient boss in Flavio Briatore in control of his future.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Superb In Suzuka: Kimi Antonelli Takes The Championship Lead And Rewrites History!
- 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
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