19-year-old Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes wins Japanese GP for second straight victory

Italian 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli, representing Mercedes, secured his second consecutive Formula 1 victory by winning the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. Antonelli finished 13.7 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri from McLaren.

Charles Leclerc from Ferrari claimed third place, while George Russell of Mercedes finished fourth. McLaren’s Lando Norris secured fifth position, and Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari came in sixth at the Suzuka circuit in central Japan on a clear, sunny spring afternoon.

Antonelli achieved his first career F1 victory two weeks ago in China, becoming the second-youngest winner in history. The youngest was Max Verstappen in 2016 at the age of 18. Antonelli also started from pole position in China.

With 72 points from three races, Antonelli now holds the distinction of being the youngest driver to lead the season's standings.

“It’s too early to think about the championship, but we’re in a good position,” Antonelli remarked. “I got a terrible start; I just need to check what happened.

“Starts have definitely been a weak point this year, and I need to improve because races can easily be won or lost with that.”

Russell finished second in China two weeks ago and won the season-opening race in Australia, indicating Mercedes' dominance in the first three races of 2026.

In Japan, Antonelli began from pole position with Russell beside him, but neither had an optimal start, allowing Piastri to take the lead at the first turn.

Nonetheless, Antonelli and Mercedes demonstrated their mastery of the 2026 car configuration, which features a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric-battery power.

The cars this season are also lighter, narrower, and shorter than those of the previous season, with many drivers expressing concerns about the new regulations, which represent the most significant changes in a decade.