Motoring News

Following a successful 2026 Japanese Grand Prix for his young driver Kimi Antonelli, Toto Wolff was in high spirits as he discussed the meteoric rise of the Italian sensation. Talking with Sky Sports F1, the Austrian jokingly accepted the title of "genius" from pundit Natalie Pinkham.
When reminded of Antonelli's surprisingly steep trajectory at such a young age, the Mercedes chief reflected on ...Keep reading

George Russell was left to rue a “frustrating” Japanese Grand Prix, with the Briton feeling that his result “probably would have been a race win” had it not been for the Safety Car emerging only one lap after he made a pit stop.

Kimi Antonelli claimed his second consecutive win for Mercedes after dropping to sixth on the opening lap in Japan.

Oscar Piastri maximised his first Grand Prix start of the season, the McLaren driver finishing P2 in Japan.

Kimi Antonelli believes it is "still early days to think about the championship" despite taking victory in the Japanese Grand Prix and becoming the youngest driver to lead the championship in Formula 1 history.

His first Grand Prix start of the season and Oscar Piastri totally nailed it, launching his McLaren from its P3 grid slot into the lead at Turn 1.

Kimi Antonelli has sealed victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, the Italian becoming the youngest-ever championship leader after putting in a commanding drive to claim his second consecutive win from Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc following an earlier Safety Car.

Ollie Bearman ended his Japanese Grand Prix in the wall after trying to pass Alpine's Franco Colapinto.

Oscar Piastri enjoyed a dream start to the Japanese Grand Prix as he snatched the lead while polesitter Kimi Antonelli dropped to sixth.

Taking a leaf out of Carlos Sainz's book, Mercedes' George Russell added a custom sticker to his helmet for the Japanese Grand Prix, created by a young fan named Sogo.
The sticker, positioned prominently on the rear of the British driver's helmet, featured a holographic-style illustration of Russell alongside his self-proclaimed number one Japanese fan doing the now-famous T pose.
Sogo had ...Keep reading

Joan Mir says he has "zero regrets" about his approach to the sprint race at COTA on Saturday, despite the event ending with a last-lap fall. 
The 2020 world champion was enjoying his strongest ride of the season thus far, pressuring Pedro Acosta for third place as the pair embarked on the final tour. But he pushed a mite too hard entering the first corner and dropped the bike. 
Although ...Keep reading

Franco Colapinto reckons the closing speeds in Formula 1 in 2026 can become “really dangerous” after Oliver Bearman’s 50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Haas driver was approximately one second behind Colapinto through Suzuka’s sector two, before suddenly closing at Spoon as the Alpine was harvesting energy to replenish its battery on lap 22. 
Bearman was forced into evasive ...Keep reading

Kimi Antonelli takes his second win in succession and the lead of the world championship at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Kimi Antonelli takes his second win in succession and the lead of the world championship at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Kimi Antonelli takes his second win in succession and the lead of the world championship at the Japanese Grand Prix.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri might have been named "Driver of the Day" in Formula 1's official vote after the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, but who do you think was the best driver in the season opener?
The Australian finished second in his first race start of 2026, just behind new F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Behind them, there were impressive scraps from the likes of Charles Leclerc, Lando ...Keep reading

With his second consecutive Formula 1 victory, Kimi Antonelli pulled off a masterful move at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix. Taking advantage of George Russell’s failure to finish on the podium, the Italian became the youngest driver in history to lead the world championship, with a nine-point lead that he will carry into the entire month of April. 
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are ...Keep reading

KitKat, which has been a partner of Formula 1 since the start of the 2025 season, has confirmed that 12 tonnes of the F1 KitKat chocolate bars were stolen during transit in Europe.
The chocolate brand told AFP, "A truck transporting 413,793 units of its new chocolate range has been stolen during transit in Europe.
"We've always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat. But it seems ...Keep reading

Drivers' Championship after the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix 




Pos.
Driver
Points







1
K. AntonelliMercedes
72
18/2
29
25/1


2
G. RussellMercedes
63
25/1
26
12/4


3
C. LeclercFerrari
49
15/3
19
15/3


4
L ...Keep reading

Antonelli confirms F1 title ambitions - Jose Carlos de Celis
George Russell seemed destined to win the championship with relative ease this year following Mercedes’ strong start under the new 2026 F1 rules. But suddenly, his team-mate Kimi Antonelli has earned the right to be considered, at the very least, a contender for the title.
The Italian, who already took a record pole in China and ...Keep reading