Antonelli’s Suzuka hat‑trick
Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese GP at Suzuka to claim his third consecutive victory and became the youngest-ever championship leader in F1 history — a dramatic statement before the sport’s five‑week break. (news18.com) (espn.com.au)
Antonelli’s Suzuka victory was his second straight win of the 2026 season, following his triumph in Shanghai two weeks earlier. (formula1.com) He started from pole but suffered a poor getaway that dropped him to sixth into Turn 1 before a mid‑race Safety Car and a well‑timed pit stop allowed him to reclaim track position and control the final 29 laps. (fia.com) Antonelli finished 13.722 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri, with Charles Leclerc completing the podium in third. (formula1.com) The win moved Antonelli to 72 points in the drivers’ standings, nine clear of team‑mate George Russell (63) and 23 points ahead of Charles Leclerc in third. (racecar.com) Mercedes widened their advantage in the constructors’ championship to 135 points after the Suzuka round. (racecar.com) Because he is under Japan’s legal drinking age, Antonelli was not handed the customary champagne on the podium and received a non‑alcoholic bottle instead. (nbcnews.com) Formula 1 will not race for five weeks after Suzuka because the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled amid the Middle East conflict, and the championship resumes at the Miami Grand Prix on May 1–3. (espn.com)
