
Formula 1 is speaking Italian once again. After a 20-year wait for a driver capable of consistently winning at the highest level, the Italian flag now flies at the top of the podium for the second consecutive race. Andrea Kimi Antonelli confirmed that his breakthrough victory in Shanghai was no one-off, repeating the feat at Suzuka with another commanding performance.
The Mercedes driver delivered a composed and controlled race, managing pace, strategy, and pressure to secure a second straight win. With this result, Antonelli takes the lead in the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, marking a significant milestone in what is quickly becoming a standout season.
Behind him, the battle for the remaining podium positions added further excitement to the race. Oscar Piastri secured second place for McLaren after a strong and consistent performance, while Charles Leclerc completed the podium for Ferrari, continuing the Scuderia’s competitive run in the early part of the season.
George Russell finished fourth in the second Mercedes, followed by Lando Norris in fifth for McLaren. Lewis Hamilton brought the second Ferrari home in sixth, underlining the team’s solid but not yet dominant race pace compared to its main rivals.
Further down the order, Pierre Gasly claimed seventh place for Alpine, ahead of Max Verstappen, who could only manage eighth for Red Bull after a difficult weekend. Liam Lawson and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten, securing valuable points for Racing Bulls and Haas respectively.
Outside the points, several drivers completed the full race distance but were unable to break into the top ten, while others were forced to retire due to technical issues or incidents. Notably, Lance Stroll retired with a technical problem, and Ollie Bearman was forced to abandon the race following an earlier crash.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2026 – full race classification
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Laps | Gap/Retirement | FL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | Mercedes | 53 | |||
| 2 | O. Piastri | McLaren | 53 | |||
| 3 | C. Leclerc | Ferrari | 53 | |||
| 4 | G. Russell | Mercedes | 53 | |||
| 5 | L. Norris | McLaren | 53 | |||
| 6 | L. Hamilton | Ferrari | 53 | |||
| 7 | P. Gasly | Alpine | 53 | |||
| 8 | M. Verstappen | Red Bull | 53 | |||
| 9 | L. Lawson | Racing Bulls | 53 | |||
| 10 | E. Ocon | Haas | 53 | |||
| 11 | N. Hülkenberg | Audi | 53 | |||
| 12 | I. Hadjar | Red Bull | 53 | |||
| 13 | G. Bortoleto | Audi | 53 | |||
| 14 | A. Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 53 | |||
| 15 | C. Sainz | Williams | 53 | |||
| 16 | F. Colapinto | Alpine | 53 | |||
| 17 | S. Perez | Cadillac | 53 | |||
| 18 | F. Alonso | Aston Martin | 53 | |||
| 19 | V. Bottas | Cadillac | 53 | |||
| 20 | A. Albon | Williams | 52 | |||
| Ret | L. Stroll | Aston Martin | 31 | Technical issue | ||
| Ret | O. Bearman | Haas | 22 | Accident |
The Suzuka race once again highlighted the importance of consistency, race pace, and execution under pressure. With back-to-back victories, Antonelli not only strengthens his position as one of the standout talents of the new era but also firmly establishes himself as a genuine title contender in the 2026 season.







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