F1 Results Today: 2026 Japanese Grand Prix times and positions

Kimi Antonelli took advantage of a convenient safety car at the Japanese Grand Prix to take his second victory in as many races, becoming the youngest drivers' championship leader in F1 history.

Oscar Piastri bounced back in brilliant style from his season-opening double DNS to finish second for McLaren, while Charles Leclerc held off George Russell to round out the podium places.

The race-changing safety car came out in the middle of the pit stop window on lap 22, allowing Antonelli to jump ahead of his rivals, who had all already pitted.

That safety car came out after a huge crash for Haas youngster Ollie Bearman, who was caught off guard by the incredibly high closing speeds seen in F1 this season when he came up to Franco Colapinto at Spoon – getting onto the grass to avoid running into the back of the Alpine and sliding into the outside wall at high speed. Despite some apparent lower leg pain when he exited the car, Haas confirmed that subsequent X-rays showed no fractures.

Piastri had led most of the race before the stops, flying off the line to pass both Mercedes into Turn 1 before, impressively, keeping Russell at bay and growing himself a gap of almost two seconds.

The safety car dropped him behind Antonelli though, a huge let-off for the teenager after a dreadful getaway had dropped him from pole position to sixth at the start to leave him working his way slowly up the field – only up to fourth before pitstops began.

Restarting from the front with 25 laps to go, Antonelli was able to use the raw pace of the Mercedes to drive away from the pack with ease – while his team-mate, in traffic, actually lost a place at the start and spent the rest of the race in a furious battle with the Ferraris for the final spot on the podium behind Piastri.

Further down the field, Max Verstappen had another miserable afternoon. With nothing like the pace of the race leaders, he spent most of the race fighting the Alpine of Pierre Gasly for seventh place – a battle which he ultimately lost.

There was one other astonishing story toward the back of the field. Just two weeks after retiring at barely half race distance because of the force of vibrations in his Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso crossed the finish line for the first time in 2026, just days after becoming a father for the first time.

The two-time world champion finished 18th, ahead on the track of Alex Albon and Valtteri Bottas and just a lap down on Antonelli.

F1 Results: Japanese Grand Prix 2026

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Written by

Chris Deeley - Editor

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