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.
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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.
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Five quick takeaways from F1’s 2026 Japanese Grand Prix
2026 Drivers’ Championship
Australia
China
Japan
|
1 |
72 |
18/2 |
29 |
25/1 |
|
|
2 |
63 |
25/1 |
26 |
12/4 |
|
|
3 |
49 |
15/3 |
19 |
15/3 |
|
|
4 |
41 |
12/4 |
21 |
8/6 |
|
|
5 |
25 |
10/5 |
5 |
10/5 |
|
|
6 |
21 |
– |
3 |
18/2 |
|
|
7 |
17 |
6/7 |
11 |
– |
|
|
8 |
15 |
1/10 |
8 |
6/7 |
|
|
9 |
12 |
8/6 |
– |
4/8 |
|
|
10 |
10 |
– |
8 |
2/9 |
|
|
11 |
4 |
4/8 |
– |
– |
|
|
12 |
4 |
– |
4 |
– |
|
|
13 |
2 |
2/9 |
– |
– |
|
|
14 |
2 |
– |
2 |
– |
|
|
15 |
1 |
– |
– |
1/10 |
|
|
16 |
1 |
– |
1 |
– |
|
|
17 |
|
– |
– |
– |
|
|
18 |
|
– |
– |
– |
|
|
19 |
|
– |
– |
– |
|
|
20 |
|
– |
– |
– |
|
|
21 |
|
– |
– |
– |
|
|
22 |
|
– |
– |
– |
2026 Constructors’ Championship
Australia
China
Japan
|
1 |
Mercedes |
135 |
43 |
55 |
37 |
|
2 |
Ferrari |
90 |
27 |
40 |
23 |
|
3 |
McLaren |
46 |
10 |
8 |
28 |
|
4 |
Haas F1 Team |
18 |
6 |
11 |
1 |
|
5 |
Alpine |
16 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
|
6 |
Red Bull Racing |
16 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
|
7 |
Racing Bulls |
14 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
|
8 |
Audi |
2 |
2 |
– |
– |
|
9 |
Williams |
2 |
– |
2 |
– |
|
10 |
Cadillac |
|
– |
– |
– |
|
11 |
Aston Martin Racing |
|
– |
– |
– |
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