Franck Robichon / EPA
Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, from Mercedes, celebrates after winning the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix
After a series of consecutive victories in recent races, Italian Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix, becoming the youngest leader in the history of the Formula 1 championship. He was not entitled to champagne on the podium, as he was not yet of legal drinking age in the Asian country.
This Sunday’s victory Kimi Antonelli at the Japanese Grand Prix launched the Italian Mercedes driver to first place in the Formula 1 championship. With just 19 years oldis the youngest ever to reach this position in the history of the competition.
The Italian took the lead in the standings with 72 points, overtaking his fellow Mercedes driver George Russell28 years old, who occupies second place with 63 points, after finishing Sunday’s race in fourth place.
Antonelli broke the record set by Lewis Hamilton em 2007when the Briton led the world championship in his debut season, aged 22.
Antonelli is so young that he was Denied the usual Champagne in the podium celebration for not having yet reached the legal drinking age in Japanset at 20 years. Instead, says , he received a bottle without a labelwhich commentators speculated was sparkling water.
“It feels really good,” said Antonelli after the race, although, with only three of the 22 races of the 2026 season already contested, he added that he does not attach undue significance to this fact.
“I’m not thinking too much about the championship. Of course it’s great, but there’s still a long way to go,” said Antonelli. “We have to keep raising the level because, as you know, George is very fast and will definitely get back to his usual level, and the other competitors will also end up catching up. I think we have to keep Head down and keep raising the bar”.
Completing the podium were Oscar Piastrifrom McLaren, who took second place, and Charles Leclercfrom Ferrari, in third. Lando Norrisdrivers’ champion in 2025, finished in fifth place.
Mercedes has so far established itself as the unequivocal favorite to victory in 2026 in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Russell started the season as the main contender for the title and reinforced that status by winning the inaugural race in Australia.
But Antonelli, who is only competing for the his second season in Formula 1is now launching his own challenge.
The race also brought some hope for McLarenreigning world champion, after a weak start in 2026 under the new regulations.
Piastri, who failed to start in either of the first two Grands Prix, led the race and had a chance of winning before entry of safety car after a huge accident between Haas Ollie Bearman and Franco Colapintowhich turned the race upside down occurred on the 22nd lap.
“It would have been very interesting to see what would have happened without it,” Piastri said. “I could keep George behind me, and even before the stops, we were even gaining some distance again. So, yeah, it’s a shame we never saw what could have happened”.
