Kimi Antonelli knocked George Russell off the world championship summit after he claimed his second win in a row at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Antonelli took advantage of a safety car period following British driver Ollie Bearman’s 191mph crash in Suzuka to land a free pit-stop and leapfrog his rivals.
The Italian teenager, who landed his debut win in China a fortnight ago, took the chequered flag 13.7 seconds clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Charles Leclerc kept Russell at bay to finish third.
Russell, who yelled “unbelievable” after he changed tyres just moments before the race-changing safety car, now trails Antonelli by nine points following a 13-point title swing in favour of his 19-year-old Mercedes team-mate. Lando Norris finished fifth, one place ahead of Lewis Hamilton, with four-time world champion Max Verstappen eighth.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Japanese Grand Prix.
Driver standings after Japanese GP
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 72 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 63 points
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 49 points
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 41 points
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 25 points
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) -21 points
7. Ollie Bearman (Haas) - 17 points
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 15 points
9. Max Verstappen Red Bull) - 12 points
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 10 points
11. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) - 4 points
12. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 4 points
13. Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 2 points
14. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) - 2 points
15. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) - 1 point
16. Esteban Ocon (Haas) - 1 point
17. Alex Albon (Williams) - 0 points
18. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) - 0 points
19. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) - 0 points
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) - 0 points
21. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) - 0 points
22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 0 points
Constructor standings after Japanese GP
1. Mercedes - 135 points
2. Ferrari - 90 points
3. McLaren - 46 points
4. Haas - 18 points
5. Alpine - 16 points
6. Red Bull - 16 points
7. Racing Bulls - 14 points
8. Audi - 2 points
9. Williams - 2 points
10. Cadillac - 0 points
11. Aston Martin - 0 points
What is the 2026 race calendar?
ROUND 4 - MIAMI (sprint weekend)
Miami International Autodrome, Hard Rock Stadium - 1-3 May
ROUND 5 - CANADA (sprint weekend)
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal - 22-24 May
ROUND 6 - MONACO
Circuit de Monaco - 5-7 June
ROUND 7- SPAIN (Barcelona)
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - 12-14 June
ROUND 8 - AUSTRIA
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg - 26-28 June
ROUND 9 - GREAT BRITAIN (sprint weekend)
Silverstone Circuit - 3-5 July
ROUND 10 - BELGIUM
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - 17-19 July
ROUND 11 - HUNGARY
Hungaroring, Budapest - 24-26 July
ROUND 12 - NETHERLANDS (sprint weekend)
Circuit Zandvoort - 21-23 August
ROUND 13 - ITALY
Monza Circuit - 4-6 September
ROUND 14 - SPAIN (Madrid)
Circuito de Madring - 11-13 September
ROUND 15 - AZERBAIJAN
Baku City Circuit - 25-27 September
ROUND 16 - SINGAPORE (sprint weekend)
Marina Bay Street Circuit - 9-11 October
ROUND 17 - UNITED STATES
Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 23-25 October
ROUND 18 - MEXICO
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 30 October-1 November
ROUND 19 - BRAZIL
Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 6-8 November
ROUND 20 - LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Street Circuit - 19-21 November
ROUND 21 - QATAR
Lusail International Circuit - 27-29 November
ROUND 22 - ABU DHABI
Yas Marina Circuit - 4-6 December
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