Antonelli Wins Japan GP to Lead F1 at 19

Overview

• Antonelli won Sunday at Suzuka for his second victory in three races.
• The 19-year-old became the youngest championship leader after a podium of Antonelli, Oscar Piastri, and Charles Leclerc, with George Russell fourth.
• A safety car for Oliver Bearman's heavy crash mid-race let Antonelli pit at the right time while Russell and Piastri had stopped just before.
• The new 2026 rules use an electric boost for passing that can drain the battery on the next straight, a setup Max Verstappen says makes his Red Bull unpredictable as he finished eighth.
• Teams enter a month-long break before Miami, with Ferrari and others targeting upgrades to try to close the gap to Mercedes.