Antonelli wins Suzuka
Kimi Antonelli grabbed his second straight F1 victory at Suzuka and—at 19—became the youngest driver to lead the world championship after a mid‑race Safety Car swung the race in his favour ( ). He crossed the line ahead of Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc — final top 10 read Antonelli, Piastri, Leclerc, Russell, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Verstappen, Lawson, Ocon — while Aston Martin endured a shocker (Alonso P18, Stroll DNF). ( )
The Safety Car was deployed after Haas driver Ollie (Ollie) Bearman slammed into the barriers at Spoon Curve on lap 22 with an impact measured at roughly 50G; Bearman walked to the medical centre and initial scans showed no fractures. (motorsport.com) The neutralisation on lap 22 handed a “free” pit window to drivers who had not yet stopped—allowing those cars, including Antonelli and Hamilton, to change tyres under caution—while George Russell, who pitted on lap 21, lost crucial track position and later radioed his frustration to the team. (formula1.com) Antonelli had taken pole with a lap of 1:28.778 and recorded the race’s fastest lap, a 1:32.432 on lap 49, across the 53‑lap Grand Prix held at Suzuka on 29 March 2026. (en.wikipedia.org) The result moved Antonelli onto 72 championship points with Mercedes team‑mate George Russell on 63 (a nine‑point gap), while Charles Leclerc sits third on 49 after the season’s third round. (racingnews365.com) Aston Martin endured a costly weekend: Lance Stroll was instructed to box and retired around lap 30–31 with the team diagnosing a suspected water‑pressure issue, and Fernando Alonso was classified down in 18th. (planetf1.com) The severity of Bearman’s crash and the role of “closing speeds” has prompted the FIA and teams to reopen safety discussions about the new technical regulations, with the governing body issuing statements and planning follow‑ups. (autosport.com)
