Watch Charles Leclerc’s lightning start at the Japanese GP: Ferrari star surges from P4 to P2. Charles Leclerc makes a brilliant start at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix.

The opening moments of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix delivered immediate drama, with Charles Leclerc producing a superb launch off the line to surge from fourth on the grid up to second place by the end of the first sequence of corners at Suzuka.

While the Monegasque capitalized on a clean getaway, it was Oscar Piastri who made the most decisive move at lights out. Starting from third, the McLaren driver executed a near-perfect start to sweep into the lead, taking advantage of hesitation and wheelspin from the front row.

Piastri takes control as Mercedes struggle off the line

The biggest surprise in the opening phase came from Mercedes, as both cars lost positions despite locking out the front row in qualifying. Pole-sitter Andrea Kimi Antonelli dropped multiple places, struggling to convert his starting position into track advantage, while George Russell also fell back in the early meters.

This lack of traction off the line exposed a potential weakness in Mercedes’ launch phase, an area that had already shown signs of vulnerability earlier in the season. At a circuit like Suzuka, where track position is crucial, losing ground at the start can have immediate and lasting consequences.

Ferrari executes strong launch as Leclerc delivers

Ferrari, on the other hand, once again demonstrated its strength in race starts. Charles Leclerc’s reaction time and initial traction allowed him to attack aggressively into Turn 1, positioning his SF-26 perfectly to gain two crucial places.

Lewis Hamilton also made progress, moving ahead of Antonelli to slot into fifth position. The coordinated gains from both Ferrari drivers underline the team’s continued ability to maximize the critical launch phase, a key factor in modern Formula 1 where overtaking opportunities can be limited.

Top order reshuffled after opening lap

After the first lap, the running order reflected the dramatic reshuffle at the front. Piastri led the race, followed by Leclerc in second and Lando Norris in third, completing a strong opening phase for McLaren. Russell held fourth position, while Hamilton climbed to fifth.

Antonelli, despite starting from pole, found himself down in sixth, facing an immediate challenge to recover lost ground and rejoin the fight at the front.

Early race dynamics already shaping the contest

The start has already set the tone for what promises to be a strategically complex race. With overtaking notoriously difficult at Suzuka, track position gained or lost in the opening seconds can define the entire Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc’s move into second place puts Ferrari in a strong early position to challenge for a podium, while McLaren’s double presence at the front suggests the team has the pace to fight consistently at the top. For Mercedes, the focus now shifts to recovery, with both drivers needing to rely on race pace and strategy to regain positions.

As the race unfolds, tire management, pit stop timing, and potential safety car interventions will all play a role, but the explosive start has already rewritten the script of the Japanese Grand Prix.