Kimi Antonelli made history on Sunday by becoming the youngest Formula 1 championship leader after winning the Japanese Grand Prix. The 19-year-old Italian driver, who started from pole position, secured his second consecutive victory in the 2026 season. Antonelli now leads the standings with 72 points, nine ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who finished fourth.
Antonelli's victory was not without drama. He dropped to sixth place on the opening lap after a poor start but recovered to take advantage of a safety car triggered by Oliver Bearman's high-speed crash. Bearman, driving for Haas, limped away from the wreckage after a 50G impact, raising concerns about closing speeds in F1. The crash occurred when Bearman attempted to avoid Alpine's Franco Colapinto, who was moving off the racing line at Spoon Curve.
Antonelli's win broke a record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2007, when the then-22-year-old led the world championship in his rookie season. The Italian's victory was his second in as many races, demonstrating his rapid rise in the sport. He was denied the customary Champagne at the podium celebration due to Japan's legal drinking age of 20, instead receiving an unlabeled bottle speculated to be sparkling water.
Completing the podium were McLaren's Oscar Piastri in second place and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in third. Russell, who had led the championship before Sunday's race, expressed frustration with his team's luck, while Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the internal battle now facing the team.
The Japanese Grand Prix also saw Lando Norris finish fifth for McLaren, ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. The race highlighted the competitive nature of the 2026 season, with multiple teams and drivers vying for top positions.