Kimi Antonelli extended Mercedes’ unbeaten start to the 2026 Formula 1 season with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Italian driver secured his second consecutive win, finishing 13.7 seconds clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Suzuka.
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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third, followed by Mercedes team-mate George Russell in fourth.
Lando Norris took fifth for McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton finishing sixth for Ferrari on a clear spring afternoon in central Japan.
Antonelli’s latest result means he now leads the drivers’ standings with 72 points after three races.
Mercedes has won all three rounds so far this season, with Russell taking victory in Australia and finishing second in China.
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Antonelli started from pole position alongside Russell but lost the lead at the start as Piastri moved ahead into the opening corner.
Despite the early setback, Antonelli recovered to reclaim control of the race as Mercedes continued to demonstrate strong understanding of the new 2026 regulations.
The revised cars feature a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical battery power, while also being lighter, narrower and shorter than last season.
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Several drivers have criticised the changes, describing them as the most radical in a decade.
Antonelli first claimed victory in China two weeks ago, becoming the second-youngest race winner in Formula 1 history.
“It’s too early to think about the championship, but we’re in a good way,” Antonelli said.
“I got a terrible start, I just need to check what happened.
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“Definitely, it’s been (the starts) a weak point this year and I need to improve that because you can easily win or lose races with that.”
Hamilton, who did not achieve a podium finish last season with Ferrari, followed up his third place in China with a competitive showing in Japan.
“I’ve not lost what I had,” Hamilton said this week in Japan.
Formula 1 now enters a five-week break, with April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled due to the war in Iran.
The championship is scheduled to resume on May 3 in Miami.
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