Antonelli wins; GPs cancelled
Kimi Antonelli surged to a second straight victory at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka and took over the world championship lead — a win shaped by a mid-race Safety Car that stalled Oscar Piastri’s charge and left Charles Leclerc third. (formula1.com) (x.com)
Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings on 72 points after Suzuka, nine clear of team‑mate George Russell on 63 following the third round of the season. (racingnews365.com) The race’s neutralisation came after Ollie Bearman’s heavy impact at Spoon Curve on Lap 22, a 50g shunt that prompted the Safety Car and left Bearman checked at the medical centre with x‑rays confirming no fractures. (motorsport.com) George Russell pitted on Lap 21 and was caught out when the Safety Car followed a lap later, a timing misfortune that dropped him to fourth on the day and cost him the championship lead. (msn.com) Oscar Piastri recorded his first classified race finish of 2026 at Suzuka after missing earlier rounds, marking a significant return to points contention for McLaren. (coffeecornermotorsport.com) At 19 years and 216 days Antonelli became the youngest driver ever to top the F1 standings and the first Italian to lead the world championship in two decades. (racingnews365.com) Separately, Formula 1 has officially cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix from the 2026 calendar — cutting the season from 24 to 22 rounds and leaving no replacement dates after an announcement in mid‑March. (skysports.com)
