Piastri nabs Japanese Grand Prix podium; Teenager Antonelli breaks F1 record
After weeks of crashes, mechanical problems and “watching F1 from the sidelines”, Oscar Piastri has finally started and completed a 2026 race, finishing second at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
Meanwhile, teenager Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead a world championship, winning the Suzuka race by more than 13 seconds after a dominant drive, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc nabbing third place.
Piastri drove brilliantly with a stunning opening lap, overtaking from third place on the grid to snatch the lead from Antonelli on pole and fellow Mercedes driver George Russell.
Russell snatched the lead back on the final chicane on lap eight however Piastri deployed his battery at the straight and retook the lead in lap 9. The Australian pitted early on lap 18 followed by Russell who pitted on lap 21. However, a monster crash from Oliver Bearman on lap 22 triggered a yellow flag and safety car, disrupting pitstop strategies and allowing Antonelli to retake the lead.
Bearman’s car smashed into the barriers and the young driver emerged and limped from the debris. Medical scans showed no broken bones, however the Haas driver suffered an impact of 50G’s
The biggest loser from the safety car debacle was undeniably George Russell (who had pitted one lap earlier) and immediately lost his advantage and forfeited crucial championship points to his teammate, Antonelli who went on to claim his second consecutive grand prix victory.
Despite the chaos, crashes and safety car, Piastri managed to hold on to second place, defending against a resurging Ferrari to nab a podium.
“Wow it turns out when we start these things, we’re pretty good,” Piastri joked over the radio. “Well done everybody, that was a great weekend…we deserve that so thank you, let’s find some more pace.”
Piastri spoke with media after the race and said McLaren needed to work on finding more pace, but admitted he was happy with Sunday’s results.
“Shame that we never got to see what could have happened [with the safety car] but for us at this point, to be disappointed about finishing second place is a pretty good place to be,” he said.
A fan-favourite track, the Suzuka Circuit is renowned for its high-speed technical corners and its unique layout, which typically encourages a one-stop strategy. The Japanese Grand Prix used to be towards the end of the season and has determined the championship winner several times in history. On Sunday, it was the location of a different kind of history.
Antonelli is now the first teenager to win two Formula 1 Grand Prix races and is the youngest driver to lead a world championship. However, the Italian said it was “too early” to think about the championship but admitted “we are in a good way”,
In a post-race interview Antonelli admitted he was “very lucky” to have the safety car, but was impressed with the Mercedes pace.
There is now a five-week gap between now and the next race in Miami, with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Goodbye and thanks for joining us
Hi Folks,
Thanks so much for joining our live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix. There is a five-week gap in the F1 calendar due to the conflict in the Middle East. The next race will now be Miami on May 4.
See you then!
In Pictures: Japanese Grand Prix podium
Piastri reflects on unlucky safety car timing. Could he have won?
Oscar Piastri is speaking to media after the race. Here’s what he had to say.
“It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened,” he said when asked about the safety car triggered in lap 22.
“ Shame that we never got to see what could have happened, but for us at this point, to be disappointed about finishing second place is a pretty good place to be.”
The Australian said McLaren still need to work on finding more performance but praised his team for their efforts.
Historymaker Antonelli all smiles
Kimi Antonelli has hugged his team and sprinted towards his mechanics to embrace them. This is the 19-year-old’s second race win, after claiming his maiden grand prix trophy in Shanghai.
He is now the youngest person ever to lead a world championship and is beaming.
“It feels pretty good, of course it’s too early to start thinking about the championship, but we’re in a good way.”
Antonelli admitted he was “very lucky” to have the safety car, but was impressed with the Mercedes pace.
Piastri nabs Japanese Grand Prix podium; Teenager Antonelli breaks F1 record
After weeks of crashes, mechanical problems and “watching F1 from the sidelines”, Oscar Piastri has finally started and completed a 2026 race, finishing second at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
Meanwhile, teenager Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead a world championship, winning the Suzuka race by more than 13 seconds after a dominant drive, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc nabbing third place.
Piastri drove brilliantly with a stunning opening lap, overtaking from third place on the grid to snatch the lead from Antonelli on pole and fellow Mercedes driver George Russell.
Russell snatched the lead back on the final chicane on lap eight however Piastri deployed his battery at the straight and retook the lead in lap 9. The Australian pitted early on lap 18 followed by Russell who pitted on lap 21. However, a monster crash from Oliver Bearman on lap 22 triggered a yellow flag and safety car, disrupting pitstop strategies and allowing Antonelli to retake the lead.
Bearman’s car smashed into the barriers and the young driver emerged and limped from the debris. Medical scans showed no broken bones, however the Haas driver suffered an impact of 50G’s
The biggest loser from the safety car debacle was undeniably George Russell (who had pitted one lap earlier) and immediately lost his advantage and forfeited crucial championship points to his teammate, Antonelli who went on to claim his second consecutive grand prix victory.
Despite the chaos, crashes and safety car, Piastri managed to hold on to second place, defending against a resurging Ferrari to nab a podium.
“Wow it turns out when we start these things, we’re pretty good,” Piastri joked over the radio. “Well done everybody, that was a great weekend…we deserve that so thank you, let’s find some more pace.”
Piastri spoke with media after the race and said McLaren needed to work on finding more pace, but admitted he was happy with Sunday’s results.
“Shame that we never got to see what could have happened [with the safety car] but for us at this point, to be disappointed about finishing second place is a pretty good place to be,” he said.
A fan-favourite track, the Suzuka Circuit is renowned for its high-speed technical corners and its unique layout, which typically encourages a one-stop strategy. The Japanese Grand Prix used to be towards the end of the season and has determined the championship winner several times in history. On Sunday, it was the location of a different kind of history.
Antonelli is now the first teenager to win two Formula 1 Grand Prix races and is the youngest driver to lead a world championship. However, the Italian said it was “too early” to think about the championship but admitted “we are in a good way”,
In a post-race interview Antonelli admitted he was “very lucky” to have the safety car, but was impressed with the Mercedes pace.
There is now a five-week gap between now and the next race in Miami, with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Can Russell get a podium?
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are battling for a championship so every single point matters. Russell desperately wants a podium and he’s just tried to overtake Leclerc.
Leclerc snatches it back. Russell has one lap left to try and get on the podium.
Four laps to go, can Piastri hang on?
Piastri is clinging to his second place with Leclerc closely in pursuit. You can hear the roar of the Suzuka crowd over the broadcast as the cars race past.
We have George Russell in fourth with Lewis Hamilton in fifth and Lando Norris in sixth.
Could Piastri have won the Japanese Grand Prix?
We’ve got less than 10 laps left and Sky Sports commentators are musing about whether Oscar Piastri could have won this race if the safety car did not happen.
It’s unlikely. As shown in Shanghai and Australian, the Mercedes is currently very very quick. The race-leader, Antonelli, now has a 12.8 second lead.
However, Piastri has driven brilliantly today and a podium looks imminent.
Ferraris battle for a podium
That was so close. Charles Leclerc has overtaken his teammate Lewis Hamilton near Turn 1, narrowly avoiding a potential hit.
Seconds later, Hamilton is overtaken again by George Russell who has fought his way back to fourth place.
Kimi Antonelli now has an 11.5 second lead.
Piastri ‘looks comfortable’ in second
There is (probably) no catching Kimi Antonelli, but Sky Sports F1 commentators say Piastri is ‘looking comfortable’.
The Australian is seven seconds behind the race leader, however he has a 1.2 second gap between himself and Hamilton.
We have 13 laps to go.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
