Antonelli wins Japanese GP to secure back-to-back victories and take championship lead

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli benefited from an opportunely timed safety car in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix to clinch his ?second straight Formula 1 win and become, at just 19 years of age, the sport’s youngest ever championship leader.

The Italian, who started from pole but dropped to sixth after a ?tardy start, crossed the line 13.7 seconds clear of Australian Oscar Piastri, who handed reigning champions McLaren their first podium ?of the season. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third.

Antonelli’s win, his second from the opening three ?races, gives him a nine-point lead in the overall standings over teammate George Russell.

The Briton, who had held ?a four-point advantage going into Sunday’s race, finished a distant fourth.

"Of course, it’s too ?early to think about the championship," said Antonelli, who also became the first Italian to win two Formula 1 races in a row since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

"But we’re on the good way," he added, acknowledging the lucky timing ?of the safety car but also pointing to his speed in ?the second half of the race.

Antonelli made ?a tyre-smoking getaway that left him a sitting duck and allowed his rivals to stream past.

Piastri, starting ?third, led into the first corner from Leclerc, reigning world champion Lando Norris, Russell and seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton.

It wasn't until lap 21 that Antonelli found himself back ?in the lead, inherited after his rivals, including teammate George Russell, pitted for fresh rubber.

A heavy crash a lap later for Haas racer Oliver Bearman triggered a safety car and turned the ?race in Antonelli’s favour.

That gave the ?Italian the opportunity to make his stop while his rivals were running at reduced speed and keep the lead, leaving Russell, who had stopped just a lap earlier and had been leading from Antonelli, cursing his luck.

Bearman given all-clear after crash

Briton Bearman was given the all-clear by doctors after limping away from the ?high-speed 50G crash.

Replays showed him having to take avoiding action as he rapidly closed in on Franco Colapinto’s Alpine, with a significant speed differential between the two cars.

That sent Bearman onto the grass and into a heavy collision with the barriers.

The 20-year-old was given an X-ray at the circuit’s medical centre, which revealed a right knee contusion but no fractures, a Haas spokesperson said.

McLarens bounce back from Chinese GP

Piastri’s podium helped McLaren bounce back from a dismal Chinese Grand Prix at which neither of their two cars were able to make the start in Sunday’s race.

It was also redemption for Piastri, who until Sunday had only turned racing laps in China’s Saturday sprint, having crashed out ahead ?of his home race in Australia.

"Yeah, we do alright when we get to start!" joked the 24-year-old.

Norris was fifth in the other McLaren ahead of Hamilton, and the Briton, like ?Antonelli, benefited by pitting under the safety car to move up to third.

But despite another Sunday afternoon of wheel-to-wheel battling, he was unable to hang on to the podium spot.

Pierre Gasly was seventh for Alpine.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who said he was "beyond frustration" after a poor qualifying on Saturday, salvaged some points in eighth.

Liam Lawson was ninth for Racing Bulls ?, with Esteban Ocon 10th in his Haas.

Fernando Alonso ?handed Aston Martin their first finish ?of the year at power unit partner Honda's home race. The Spaniard was 18th.

Related Articles

Oscar Piastri outpaces Mercedes duo in second practice for Japanese Grand Prix

Formula 1 leaders Mercedes have chance to complete hat-trick of wins in Suzuka

Mercedes' George Russell wins entertaining sprint race at Chinese Grand Prix

Motorsport

Bezzecchi claims fifth consecutive MotoGP win by taking US Grand Prix in Austin

'I'm thinking about everything': Verstappen weighing up future after Japan disappointment

Piastri admits second-placed finish in Japan 'as good as a win' for McLaren

Youngest F1 title leader Kimi Antonelli vows to keep 'raising bar' after Japan triumph

Carlos Sainz demands FIA to act after Oliver Bearman's huge Suzuka crash

Martin snatches dramatic Austin sprint win to claim lead in MotoGP standings

Di Giannantonio claims back-to-back poles after breaking US Grand Prix lap record

Wolff hails 'calm' Antonelli after Italian seals second consectuvie pole in Japan

Verstappen dubs car 'undriveable' after qualifying down in 11th for Japanese Grand Prix