SUZUKA, Japan — Kimi Antonelli sealed victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, becoming the youngest championship leader in history after putting in a commanding drive to claim his second consecutive victory.
The Italian Mercedes driver took the checkered flag ahead of McLaren racer Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
When the lights went out at the Suzuka Circuit, Piastri made a stunning start to seize the lead into Turn 1 while the Mercedes cars slipped backwards.
The Silver Arrows pair soon embarked on a recovery drive, however, with George Russell going on to challenge the McLaren racer for the lead – though was unable to make a move stick.
As some drivers started to make their pit stops, including leaders Piastri and Russell, a heavy crash for Haas’ Ollie Bearman brought out the Safety Car on Lap 22, allowing Antonelli – who was yet to pit and had provisionally been in the lead – to visit the pits and reemerge in P1.
From there the youngster executed a smooth restart to hold onto the lead and build a significant gap up ahead, crossing the line 13.722 seconds ahead of Piastri.
The victory moved him into the point lead after three races, making him the youngest driver in history to head the standings.
“It feels pretty good. Of course it’s still early days to think about the Championship but we’re in a good way,” the 19-year-old said. “In the race, had a terrible start, just need to check what happened but then I was lucky with the Safety Car to be in the lead but then the pace was just incredible and was a really nice second stint. I felt very good with the car and very pleased with that.
“I think we were obviously very lucky with the Safety Car but on the medium we were really strong once I got some clean air and then on the hard the pace was just incredible.
“I don’t know what would have happened, what the outcome would have been without the Safety Car but definitely made my life a lot easier.”
George Russell was fourth in the second Mercedes, while McLaren’s Lando Norris claimed fifth following a close scrap with Lewis Hamilton in the latter stages, the Ferrari man ending the event in sixth.
