Kimi Antonelli’s hot start makes more F1 history in Japan

TOPSHOT - Mercedes' Italian driver Kimi Antonelli celebrates at the parc ferme after winning the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit in Suzuka, Mie prefecture on March 29, 2026. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Kimi Antonelli made Formula 1 history at the Chinese Grand Prix when he became the youngest pole-sitter in the storied history of the sport. His win at the Japanese Grand Prix made even more history.

Antonelli converted another pole position into a victory Sunday in Suzuka, and when coupled with a fourth-place finish from teammate George Russell, the young Mercedes driver slid into the top spot in the Drivers’ Championship standings. Becoming the youngest championship leader in F1 history: YOUNGEST CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER IN F1 HISTORY! ✨ Kimi Antonelli ✨ #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.

twitter. com/6jTtxZMaio — Formula 1 (@F1) March 29, 2026 Antonelli recovered from a slow start, which saw him finish the first lap down in sixth place. But he worked his way back through the field, and capitalized when a hard crash from Oliver Bearman allowed him to pit under the Safety Car along with Lewis Hamilton, the only two front-runners yet to make a stop.

Mercedes bolted on a fresh set of hard tires and Antonelli came out of pit lane in the lead, and held on over the rest of the race for the victory. “I think obviously we were very lucky with Safety Car, but on the Medium, we were really strong once I got some free air, and then on the Hard the pace was just incredible. I don’t know what would have happened, how the outcome would have been, without the Safety Car, but yeah, it definitely made my life a lot easier,“ said Antonelli trackside after the race.