F1 standings shakeup
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli just became the youngest driver ever to lead the F1 world championship after his win in Japan — he now sits 9 points clear of team‑mate George Russell, who won the season opener but says Mercedes’ early issues are hurting him more than Antonelli. ( )
Kimi Antonelli has 72 championship points after Suzuka, while team‑mate George Russell sits on 63 points in the official standings following round three. (www.formula1.com) The 19‑year‑old recorded his second straight Grand Prix victory in China and Japan, marking the first two wins of his F1 career. (www.formula1.com) At Suzuka Antonelli recovered from a poor start, pitted under a mid‑race Safety Car and crossed the line 13.722 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri, also setting the race’s fastest lap of 1:32.432 on lap 49. (www.fia.com) Russell finished fourth in Japan for 12 points and told Sky Sports he missed a podium after failing to charge his battery at the safety‑car restart and that “it feels like at the moment all the issues are coming on my side,” blaming a string of early‑season technical and setup problems. (www.fia.com) (www.skysports.com) Mercedes have consolidated an early lead in the Constructors’ Championship with 135 points, with Ferrari second on 90 and McLaren third on 46 after round three. (racingnews365.com) The championship pauses for a five‑week break before the Miami Grand Prix on May 1–3, giving Mercedes two sprint events — setup revisions and power‑unit fixes — to try to level the playing field before the next race weekend. (www.formula1.com) (www.skysports.com)
