Kimi Antonelli claimed the Formula 1 world championship lead for the first time in his career after taking advantage of a well-timed Safety Car to win the Japanese Grand Prix.
Having dropped from pole position to sixth on the opening lap as Mercedes’ start woes continued, Antonelli was running fourth ahead of the sole round of pit stops at Suzuka before a huge moment of fortune turned the race in his favour.
With the trio who were running ahead of him – Oscar Piastri, George Russell and Charles Leclerc – having already pitted, Antonelli was afforded a much quicker stop when Oliver Bearman’s heavy crash triggered a Safety Car, giving the Italian the lead upon the restart.
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Ollie Bearman walks away after a big crash sees his race in Japan come to an end and moves Kimi Antonelli into the lead while Lewis Hamilton jumps to P4.
He was faultless from there on, unleashing superb pace over the second half of the race to finish 13 seconds clear of Piastri, who led a much-improved display from McLaren.
Russell, who expressed his frustration over the radio at his own misfortune, eventually had to settle for fourth behind Leclerc after battling the Ferraris in the closing stages.
Antonelli’s nine-point advantage over Russell makes the 19-year-old the youngest driver to lead the world championship in the sport’s history, with Lewis Hamilton having previously held the record after first topping the standings at the age of 22 in 2007.
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Oscar Piastri took the lead at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix as pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli and his Mercedes team-mate George Russell both dropped backwards.
The Italian will hold the lead until at least May, with F1 now embarking on a five-week break until the next race in Miami after the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Antonelli said: “It feels pretty good! Of course, it’s too early to think about the championship but we are on a good way.
“I had a terrible start. I need to check what happened. Then I was lucky with the Safety Car to be in the lead but then the pace was incredible.
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Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli claims victory at Japanese GP to win back-to-back races and becomes the youngest-ever to lead the F1 title race.
“It was really nice. The second stint I felt very good with the car. I’m very pleased with that.”
Reigning world champion Lando Norris contributed to McLaren’s improved display by passing Hamilton in the closing stages to take fifth.
Pierre Gasly continued his strong start to the season by claiming seventh for Alpine after holding off a near race-long challenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
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George Russell fumes to Toto Wolff over the Mercedes team radio!
Liam Lawson also benefitted from the Safety Car as he came from 14th on the grid to finish ninth for Racing Bulls, while Esteban Ocon claimed the final point for Haas.
Haas confirmed that Bearman had been cleared following an X-ray of his right knee, with the 20-year-old Brit having appeared in pain as he limped away from the crash.
F1 returns on May 1-3 with the Miami Grand Prix, the season’s second Sprint weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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