Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Review

Suzuka always feels special, and this year the teams leaned into that from the start. Haas grabbed attention with its Godzilla-themed look, while Racing Bulls rolled out a striking red version of its usual design.

Mercedes also arrived with a Japan-inspired visual package, working with a Japanese designer to bring wolf artwork onto the front wing and race suits. It gave the whole weekend extra character before a wheel had even turned. For more from Friday’s build-up, see Suzuka Showdown: Mercedes Lead Early, McLaren Fight Back as Japanese GP Weekend Blows Wide Open.

Practice brings early drama

There was plenty going on before qualifying even began. Fernando Alonso missed FP1 following the birth of his first child, which opened the door for an Aston Martin rookie to get valuable running. Alex Albon also had an untidy start to the weekend after a trip through the gravel, and things only got worse later when he became involved in a collision with Sergio Perez. Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc produced one of the sharpest moments of practice with a bold move on Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly.

FP2 then showed just how close the frontrunners were. Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull all had moments, with several lock-ups hinting that nobody had fully mastered the track. Mercedes, however, looked increasingly comfortable, while Oscar Piastri ended the session quickest. Arvid Lindblad and Perez both lost valuable time in the garage, which hurt their preparation ahead of qualifying. If you want a wider look at the current pecking order, The 2026 Formula 1 Grid: A New Era Begins gives useful context.

Mercedes turns up the pressure in final practice

FP3 offered one last chance to tidy up the balance, and Mercedes made the strongest statement of the weekend. Kimi Antonelli went fastest ahead of George Russell, underlining that the Silver Arrows had genuine pace over one lap and long runs. Oliver Bearman had a nervy moment of his own after narrowly avoiding the barriers, but the bigger picture was clear: Mercedes had become the team to beat heading into qualifying.

Antonelli storms to pole as Verstappen falls early

Qualifying delivered one of the biggest shocks of the weekend. McLaren and Ferrari both looked lively in Q1, while Antonelli quickly showed that Mercedes had found another step. Russell also had speed, although he reported that something did not feel quite right with his car.

There was immediate pressure at the bottom of the order. Lance Stroll, Alonso, Bottas, Perez, Bearman and Albon all endured disappointing sessions, but the real headline came in Q2. Verstappen failed to reach Q3, unhappy with Red Bull’s new aero package and describing the car as difficult in the corners. That opened the door for others, and Lindblad took full advantage by squeezing through.

Then came the Antonelli show in Q3. The Italian produced another superb lap to take pole position, with Russell alongside him to lock out the front row for Mercedes. Piastri took third, Leclerc fourth, and Norris fifth, while Gasly, Hadjar, Bortoleto and Lindblad all ensured the top 10 had a very different feel from the usual order. You can read more on Antonelli’s rise in Andrea Kimi Antonelli Joins Mercedes for 2025: A New Chapter and Formula 1’s qualifying report here.

Piastri pounces at the start

Race day began with almost the entire field on medium tyres, apart from Bottas, who chose the hard compound. Once the lights went out, Piastri made a brilliant launch and swept into the lead. Leclerc also made a superb start, surging forward as both Mercedes drivers slipped backwards. Antonelli, from pole, dropped all the way to sixth after a poor getaway, immediately turning his afternoon into a recovery mission rather than a controlled run from the front.

Antonelli regroups as the race settles

The early laps were packed with position changes. Russell forced his way into the fight at the front, while Antonelli began working his way back through traffic. Verstappen also began to recover after a poor qualifying session, although Red Bull never looked fully comfortable. Behind them, the midfield stayed tense, with Hadjar, Lindblad, Hulkenberg and Ocon all fighting for the lower points.

Piastri looked composed out front, but tyre management soon became a talking point. He reported graining, which gave Russell encouragement and kept the pressure alive. Antonelli, meanwhile, was quietly rebuilding his race, showing strong pace and smart tyre usage as others around him blinked first. McLaren’s race pace was clearly better than it had been in the opening two rounds, and Key Takeaways from the Japanese Grand Prix already hint that this could be the weekend their season properly came alive.

The safety car swings the race

The key moment came when Bearman crashed heavily into the barriers, prompting the safety car to be deployed. It was a major incident, later described as a 50G impact, and it changed the strategic picture in an instant. Antonelli and others were able to pit at exactly the right time, turning what had looked like a difficult race into a golden opportunity. When the order settled, Antonelli had emerged in the lead, ahead of Piastri, with Hamilton also gaining track position.

Leclerc holds firm as the battles rage late on

Once racing resumed, Antonelli nailed the restart and quickly began to stretch his advantage. Behind him, the race became a scrap for the podium and the top six. Hamilton moved ahead of Russell for a time, Leclerc fought hard to stay in the mix, and Norris refused to let Ferrari breathe.

The closing laps were brilliant. Russell and Leclerc traded places in a tense fight for third, while Hamilton and Norris went wheel-to-wheel behind them. Verstappen and Gasly also continued their own duel lower down the order. Yet none of it changed the man at the front. Antonelli controlled the race superbly after the restart, managed the gap, and never looked likely to lose it.

Antonelli takes another huge step

At the chequered flag, Antonelli claimed his second straight Grand Prix victory. Piastri finished second for McLaren’s best result of the season so far, while Leclerc held on to take third. Russell had to settle for fourth, Norris took fifth, and Hamilton came home sixth. Gasly beat Verstappen in their late fight, Lawson scored well in ninth, and Ocon grabbed the final point for Haas in tenth.

Final thoughts

This was a huge Suzuka weekend for Mercedes, but it was an even bigger one for Antonelli. He took pole, recovered brilliantly after a poor start, benefited from the timing of the safety car, and then drove away when it mattered most. Just as importantly, the victory moved him into the championship lead, making him the youngest driver ever to top the standings.

McLaren will leave Japan encouraged, Ferrari showed flashes once again, and Red Bull has real work to do after a bruising weekend. With an unexpected break now ahead, every team will be searching for answers. The big question is whether anyone can stop Mercedes before Miami.