Antonelli tops F1
Kimi Antonelli won at Suzuka and became the youngest driver ever to lead the F1 world championship — nine points clear of George Russell after three rounds. The breakout victory is already being framed as a season-defining performance in post-race writeups. ( )
Antonelli sits on 72 championship points, teammate George Russell on 63 and Charles Leclerc on 49 after three rounds, while Mercedes top the Constructors’ table on 135 points with Ferrari second on 90. (formula1.com)) Oscar Piastri took second at Suzuka and Charles Leclerc third, with Antonelli finishing 13.722 seconds clear of Piastri on the final classification. (formula1.com)) The race turned on a heavy crash for Haas driver Ollie Bearman on lap 22 that brought out the Safety Car, allowing Antonelli—who had been shuffled back off the line—to pit under safety-car conditions and cycle back into the lead. (formula1.com)) Suzuka was Antonelli’s second consecutive Grand Prix victory; his maiden F1 win came at the Chinese Grand Prix on March 15, 2026, when he also converted pole into a win for Mercedes. (formula1.com)) Antonelli was born on August 25, 2006, which made him 19 years, 7 months and 4 days old on March 29, 2026. (en.wikipedia.org)) Formula 1’s calendar returns next to the United States for the Miami Grand Prix on May 1–3, 2026, the next opportunity for rivals to respond to Mercedes’ early-season momentum. (formula1.com))
