How have the new F1 rules changed?
The seven-time world champion and the teen prodigy: Why everyone’s looking at these two drivers
Much of the focus in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix will be on Mercedes’ 19-year-old driver Kimi Antonelli — he’s on the pole — and Ferrari’s 41-year-old Lewis Hamilton, the most decorated racer in Formula 1 history.
Antonelli won the first F1 race of his career two weeks ago in China, the second-youngest winner in history. The youngest was Max Verstappen in 2016 at only 18. The young Italian also won from pole-position in China, the youngest to ever claim that spot.
It was a rare sighting on Sunday when Hamilton and Antonelli were spotted walking together into the paddock area at the Suzuka circuit in central Japan. They know each well from Hamilton’s days at Mercedes.
Consider this. When Hamilton won his first Formula 1 race in 2007 in Canada, Antonelli was only 9 1/2 months old. Of course, it marks the change of generations in the sport.
Hamilton leads the F1 record books in almost every category: most races won (105), most poles (104), and most podiums (207). And the British drivers is tied with Michael Schumacher for the most world championships (7).
What happened in qualifying?
If you missed out on yesterday’s qualifying session, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.
First up we have 19 year-old Kimi Antonelli on pole – the Italian prodigy started on pole in Shanghai two weeks ago and won his first race. His teammate George Russell will start in second with Australia’s Oscar Piastri in third. Let’s hope his car actually starts this time…
Meanwhile, we have Charles Leclerc in fourth, Lando Norris in fifth and Lewis Hamilton in sixth. Max Verstappen failed to get out of Q2, adding to the Red Bull champion’s frustrations around his new car and the new regulations.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2026.
I’m Hannah Kennelly and I’ll bring you all the news from the race in Suzuka which starts at 4pm.
We’ve got Australian Oscar Piastri starting in third place after a disastrous start to his 2026 campaign, crashing out in the warm-up before the Australian race and failing to start in China last week.
We’ve got both Mercedes on the front role with teenager Kimi Antonelli on pole again.
Stay with us to enjoy the action.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
