Suzuka belongs to Antonelli: 19-year-old stuns F1 with second straight win

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli continued his sensational rise in Formula 1, clinching his second consecutive victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday and further tightening his grip on the 2026 championship.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, who won his maiden race in China just two weeks ago, delivered a composed and strategic drive at the iconic Suzuka Circuit. He completed the race in 1 hour 28 minutes 41.6 seconds , finishing ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri , who crossed the line 4.2 seconds behind after briefly leading in the opening laps. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third place, trailing by 9.8 seconds .

Mercedes’ George Russell finished fourth, followed by McLaren’s Lando Norris in fifth and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in sixth, as the team maintained its perfect record with three wins in three races this season.

Antonelli’s race, however, was far from straightforward. Despite starting from pole position, he made a poor getaway and dropped down the order as Piastri surged into the lead at the first corner. Demonstrating remarkable composure, the young Italian steadily fought his way back through the field.

A decisive moment came on lap 22 when Haas driver Oliver Bearman crashed into the barriers, triggering a safety car. The incident reshaped race strategies, allowing Antonelli to seize control after the restart and ultimately secure victory. Bearman was later reported to be in good condition.

Antonelli also recorded one of the fastest laps of the race at 1:31.4 , underlining Mercedes’ strong pace under the new regulations. The win lifts Antonelli to the top of the drivers’ standings with 72 points , reinforcing his rapid emergence as a title contender. He is already among the youngest winners in Formula 1 history, second only to Max Verstappen.

The race also highlighted the impact of the sport’s sweeping 2026 regulation changes , which feature a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric power, along with lighter and more compact cars. Mercedes appears to have adapted best so far.

Ferrari, meanwhile, showed encouraging signs of improvement. Hamilton, who endured a difficult previous season, came close to another podium finish after securing third place in China.

With the Japanese Grand Prix concluded, Formula 1 now heads into an extended break, with April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. The championship will resume on May 3 in Miami .