Pre-race recap
The Japanese Grand Prix marked the third race of the 2026 F1 season, and the last competition before a five-week break. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixs were canceled earlier in March due to conflict.
Mercedes entered Suzuka as the team to beat, after both of their drivers secured wins in the first two races. They sit at the top of the Constructors’ Championship, followed closely by Ferrari. Multiple teams released special liveries for Japan. Mercedes had a new front-wing with a wolf design, Racing Bulls celebrated Japanese culture and hosted a Tokyo Drift themed event, and Haas’ new Godzilla theme showcased their partnership with the Japanese entertainment company that produced the character.
At the Australian Grand Prix, the audience was shocked when hometown driver Oscar Piastri crashed during the reconnaissance lap. He claimed a combination of factors led to the crash, including the new rules dealing with battery power. Other drivers also made remarks about the new energy management rules, comparing it to Mario Kart. The cars include a new boost button which unleashes maximum electrical power and helps with acceleration. The FIA claims that this year’s grand prix saw over two and a half times the number of overtakes, but some are complaining that this isn’t real racing.
The Shanghai Grand Prix was no better for McLaren, as both of their drivers failed to start the race. Luckily, they were able to compete in the sprint race and score some crucial points. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won his first ever F1 Grand Prix and became the youngest ever polesitter. Scuderia driver Lewis Hamilton finally scored his first podium since moving to his new team a year ago. With Hamilton on the podium, Mercedes past and present drivers got to celebrate the team’s success together. Hamilton himself fought a fierce battle for P3 with his own teammate Charles Leclerc. The FIA designed the new regulations to allow for more competition, and Ferrari is taking full advantage.
The two-week break between China and Japan wasn't free of drama either. During the offseason Aston Martin had hired Adrian Newey as their new team principal, but he has already resigned. There’s speculation that he will be replaced by Jonathan Wheatley. Wheatley was team principal at Audi before he left for personal reasons. Aston Martin is finding difficulty racing with their new Honda engine, so the team may be looking to switch up their leadership structure to find results.
Race recap
The chaotic starts of every race this season struck again as Piastri pulled out into the lead with Leclerc and Norris behind him. Mercedes’ terrible starts continued as pole sitter Antonelli dropped all the way to P6 and George Russell dropped to P4. Another huge loser from the start was Audi, with Hulkenberg and Bortoleto both dropping significantly. Early Red Bull team infighting let Ocon carve into P10 amongst the redbulls of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.
Mercedes’ insanely fast pace quickly picked up as Russell passed Lando Norris on lap 3 and then Leclerc on lap 4 to climb back to P2. Antonelli followed behind in P4, chasing Norris as the field stabilized. Russell passed him briefly in lap 8 before Piastri used his battery on the main straight to retake the lead. A small train of cars behind Piastri appeared, with Norris chasing Leclerc and Kimi chasing Norris for P4. Kimi finally made his pass in lap 11 to move up to P4.
Russell finally got his chance to become the race leader when Piastri pitted on lap 19. The pitstops temporarily put Gasly’s Alpine at P4 and Verstappen at P5. With other midfielders pitting, more than half the grid was then running on hard tires, since the one stop strategy from medium to hard is generally considered the best for this circuit.
Piastri got his move on lap 21 to overtake Verstappen for P5. Russell finally got his pitstop to come out right after Piastri, but crucially, before Verstappen. Unfortunately timed for Russell, Ollie Bearman crashed into the barrier on lap 22 causing a safety car. This gave the rest of the field an effectively free pit stop. Luckily for Antonelli, he was able to stop and come out in P1. While helpful for Antonelli, Bearman’s crash was truly scary. He ran into the barriers and limped away from the accident escorted by the medical staff.
The safety car finally ended on lap 27 and Hamilton jumped Russell on the restart. Aston Martin effectively tested their car again as Stroll’s race ended prematurely on lap 31. Hadjar chased up to P10 on lap 36 and Russell furiously chased Hamilton for the P3. Another unlucky break for Russell as a sudden loss of power and speed cost him P4. By lap 40, Kimi had pulled out a comfortable eight-second lead in the front. The Ferrari battle came to an end as Leclerc overtook for P3 on lap 42. That move made Hamilton vulnerable for Russell who overtook on the next lap.
Antonelli ended up winning the Suzuka Grand Prix, making it two in a row for him, and making him the youngest leader of the WDC ever. Piastri claimed P2 spot in his first completed grand prix of the season, and Leclerc held off Russell to round off the podium. Norris and Hamilton closed the race at P5 and P6. With Pierre Gasly finishing P7, the Alpines are continuing to look really solid this season. Verstappen ended P8, and Lawson and Ocon claimed the last points of the race.
