Italian driver Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) became the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history by winning the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. He finished ahead of Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who came in second and third, respectively.
The 19-year-old Antonelli repeated his triumph from two weeks ago in China and started from pole position. Despite a poor start, he benefited from a safety car period but was consistently the fastest on track. Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz (Williams) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), who, after two retirements, finished his first race of the season, placed 15th and 18th.
In the race, Mercedes confirmed its privileged position in this controversial 'new era' of F1, to which only Ferrari and the 'recovered' McLaren can get close. Antonelli, who turns 20 on August 25, broke the historical precocity record of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who first led the championship at 21 years and 5 months.
Due to the conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran, and the subsequent tense situation in the Middle East, the fourth and fifth rounds of the championship, initially scheduled for next month in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, have been suspended. The championship will take a break and resume on the first weekend of May with the Miami Grand Prix (USA).
