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Japanese Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli continues his winning streak, first podium of the season for Oscar Piastri

Two weeks after his victory in China – his first ever F1 win – Kimi Antonelli repeated the feat at Suzuka, winning the Japanese Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc completed the podium.

Published 29/03/2026 à 08:44

Cyprien Juilhard

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Japanese Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli continues his winning streak, first podium of the season for Oscar Piastri

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It's a double victory for Kimi Antonelli, something that would have been hard to predict after the Australian Grand Prix, when George Russell had just easily converted his pole position into a win. But since then, the Briton has stumbled while his teammate rejoices: in two race weekends in Asia (China, then Japan), the Italian has just secured his first two pole positions and his first two wins in [the sport/race]. Formula 1.

However, although Antonelli started in the lead at Suzuka, he quickly found himself sixth, overtaken on all sides by the McLaren Classic Ferrari for sale and his teammate George Russell. The cause: a lot of wheelspin at takeoff and a completely botched start. Despite a few authoritative overtakes, car number 12 was in the shadow of his teammate, who was then in second place and chasing behind. Oscar piastri, temporary leader.

Bearman is doing well

But George Russell is definitely having a run of bad luck: his pit stop was followed by the safety car being deployed on the very next lap. The unfortunate Oliver Bearman, so brilliant since the start of the season, capped off a difficult weekend with a violent crash at the entrance to Spoon corner. The driver Haas was then trying to overtake theAlpine Franco Colapinto, who moved out of bounds late, forced the Briton to jump into the grass, causing Bearman to stall at high speed. Suffering an impact measured at 50 G, the teammate ofEsteban Ocon came limping down from his carbefore undergoing examinations which fortunately revealed no fractures or serious injuries.


Nevertheless, this triggered the safety car and benefited the strategists of the drivers who had not yet pitted, including Kimi Antonelli. Propelled into the lead, the Italian then executed a flawless performance to cross the finish line with a significant advantage over Oscar Piastri (McLaren). Antonelli becomes the youngest driver in history to lead a world championship, while Piastri achieves his first podium finish of the season in his first Grand Prix start of 2026, after missing the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix.

Gasly holds off Verstappen, Ocon smiles again

Behind them, the Ferraris once again livened up a race that was a little less crazy than the previous ones. Charles Leclerc delighted the Suzuka crowds with precise overtaking maneuvers and muscular defenses, both to overtake his teammate Lewis Hamilton to resist George Russell's late charge. The Briton ultimately finished just off the podium (4th) and lost the championship lead to his young teammate.


Behind the six untouchable leading cars (the Mercedes, Ferraris and McLarens), Pierre Gasly et Max Verstappen They battled fiercely right up to the checkered flag, which was crossed first by the Frenchman. Pierre Gasly, finishing 7th, still brought valuable points to Alpine After this thrilling but clean duel against his illustrious former teammate, Max Verstappen was ultimately the only other driver to score points in this group, as Isack Hadjar, who was at the back of the top 10 during the first stint, was hampered by the timing of the safety car, which came out just after his only pit stop. The Parisian finished 12th, while his former teammate, Liam Lawson, secured the two points for Racing Bulls with a 9th-place finish.

Finally, the top 10 is completed by Esteban Ocon, who finally opens his account after a convincing weekend on a track he loves and where he finished 4th in 2022. Now, drivers and teams will return to their respective bases to prepare for the Miami Grand Prix, which will take place in just over a month, on May 3rd in Florida.

ALSO READ > Relive the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka with live text commentary

F1 – Japanese Grand Prix 
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3 Comment (s)

Yves-Henri RANDIER

29/03/2026 at 04:00 a.m.

A second consecutive victory which, even if the luck of the Safety Car – as they say, fortune favors the bold – undoubtedly calls for more. Impressive pace at the end of the race in the clean air... just as Charles Leclerc had predicted before the race!

V

vincent moyet

29/03/2026 at 12:02 a.m.

Youngest pole-sitter, youngest championship leader... A new chapter begins in F1, the new star has arrived: a likeable 19-year-old! What a breathtaking start to the season! Despite promising performances in winter testing, the Red Bull-Ford partnership is off to a slow start, just as expected. Ferrari is still content with putting on a show on the track. This is great for the suspense, as Russell isn't going to win the title with his elbow hanging out of the door. They'll have to fight hard to prevent the youngest world champion in history, who is already shattering records, from being crowned.

A

Alain Féguenne (🇱🇺 Luxembourg)

29/03/2026 at 09:42 a.m.

🏁 Race Results 🏁 Kimi is amazing!!! What more can I say… Oscar deserves the podium, Charles is always well-placed 👏👏 George is suffering, Lando? Lewis is disappointing… Pierre & Alpine …Fantastic 👍, Max is doing his best… Liam… in the points and Esteban finally in the points… Get well soon… To Oliver 👍 Now a long… break, that'll do us good. 😴👀👍👀😎 Alain Féguenne F1 Competitions - 24 Hours of Le Mans - WEC

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