Kimi Antonelli secured victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver to lead the Formula 1 standings. The Mercedes driver overcame a poor start with help from a safety car. However, 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve questioned the car's performance in traffic.
Kimi Antonelli claimed his second win of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix, converting pole position into victory despite a botched start that dropped him back in the pack. The Italian driver regained the lead during a well-timed safety car period and held off challengers to the finish. This result made him the youngest leader of the drivers' standings, with Mercedes dominating every grand prix and sprint race so far this season in their 2026 machinery. Antonelli's teammate George Russell finished fourth, also battling through traffic after an early pit stop before the safety car erased his advantage. Russell had to fight back from lower positions to secure the podium spot outside the top three. Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 world champion, told F1 TV that Mercedes faces a key weakness in dirty air. 'He had a hard time to come back through the field. And it was the same thing for Russell,' Villeneuve said. 'It seems that the car in traffic, all the other ones can fight, can stay in traffic, the Mercedes can't. They need to be in the fresh air.' Villeneuve acknowledged Antonelli's quick pace all weekend but noted the poor start and safety car aid. 'Well, he was the quickest car all weekend. So winning was logical, but he really messed up his start,' he said. 'Then, obviously, a little bit of a helping hand [from the safety car]. And he maximised that situation.'
