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2026 F1 Championship: Kimi Antonelli is the youngest leader

With his second consecutive Formula 1 victory, Kimi Antonelli pulled off a masterful move at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix. Taking advantage of George Russell’s failure to finish on the podium, the Italian became the youngest driver in history to lead the world championship, with a nine-point lead that he will carry into the entire month of April. 

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are third and fourth, ahead of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Oliver Bearman, who crashed at Suzuka, slips to seventh place, ahead of Pierre Gasly, the top French driver. Max Verstappen is only ninth in the championship after the first three grands prix of the year. 

In the constructors' championship, Mercedes further extends its lead over Ferrari and McLaren. Haas remains in fourth place, but sees Alpine closing in - now tied with Red Bull. Cadillac and Aston Martin have yet to score any points. 

2026 Drivers' Championship

Pos. Driver Points Australia China Japan
1 ItalyK. AntonelliMercedes 72 18/2 29 25/1
2 United KingdomG. RussellMercedes 63 25/1 26 12/4
3 MonacoC. LeclercFerrari 49 15/3 19 15/3
4 United KingdomL. HamiltonFerrari 41 12/4 21 8/6
5 United KingdomL. NorrisMcLaren 25 10/5 5 10/5
6 AustraliaO. PiastriMcLaren 21 - 3 18/2
7 United KingdomO. BearmanHaas 17 6/7 11 -
8 FranceP. GaslyAlpine 15 1/10 8 6/7
9 NetherlandsM. VerstappenRed Bull 12 8/6 - 4/8
10 New ZealandL. LawsonRacing Bulls 10 - 8 2/9
11 United KingdomA. LindbladRacing Bulls 4 4/8 - -
12 FranceI. HadjarRed Bull 4 - 4 -
13 BrazilG. BortoletoAudi 2 2/9 - -
14 SpainC. Sainz JrWilliams 2 - 2 -
15 FranceE. OconHaas 1 - - 1/10
16 ArgentinaF. ColapintoAlpine 1 - 1 -
17 GermanyN. HulkenbergAudi   - - -
18 ThailandA. AlbonWilliams   - - -
19 FinlandV. BottasCadillac   - - -
20 MexicoS. PerezCadillac   - - -
21 CanadaL. StrollAston Martin   - - -
22 SpainF. AlonsoAston Martin   - - -

2026 Constructors' Championship

Pos Teams Points Australia China Japan
1 Mercedes 135 43 55 37
2 Ferrari 90 27 40 23
3 McLaren 46 10 8 28
4 United StatesHaas F1 Team 18 6 11 1
5 Alpine 16 1 9 6
6 AustriaRed Bull Racing 16 8 4 4
7 ItalyRacing Bulls 14 4 8 2
8 GermanyAudi 2 2 - -
9 United KingdomWilliams 2 - 2 -
10 Cadillac   - - -
11 United KingdomAston Martin Racing   - - -

 

Photos from Japanese GP - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

An Oracle Red Bull Racing fan.

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Car of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Brie Larson.

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Alexander Albon, Williams

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Ferrari fans.

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri's car, McLaren

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charlie Day and Jack Black visit the Mercedes AMG F1 Team garage.

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Benny Safdie

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Zak Brown, McLaren

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team car after his crash

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren Team

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Sunday, in photos

Formula 1
59


  

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