Japan Grand Prix LIVE: Piastri grabs spot on podium in drastic season revival

After weeks of crashes, mechanical problems and “watching F1 from the sidelines”, Oscar Piastri has finally started and completed a 2026 race, finishing second at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.

Meanwhile, teenager Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead a world championship, winning the Suzuka race by eight seconds after a dominant drive, with Ferrari Charles Leclerc nabbing their place.

Piastri drove brilliantly with a stunning opening lap, overtaking from third place on the grid to snatch the lead from a pole sitting Antonelli and fellow Mercedes driver George Russell.

The Australian lead for 18 laps and pitted early, followed by George Russell who pitted on lap 21. However, a monster crash from Oliver Bearman on lap 22 triggered a yellow flag and safety car, disrupting pitstop strategies and allowing Antonelli to retake the lead.

Despite the chaos, crashes and safety car, Piastri managed to hold on to second place, defending against a resurging Ferrari to nab a podium.

“Wow it turns out when we start these things, we’re pretty good,” Piastri joked over the radio. “Well done everybody, that was a great weekend.. we deserve that so thank you, let’s find some more pace.”

Oscar Piastri is speaking to media after the race. Here’s what he had to say.

“It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened,” he said when asked about the safety car triggered in lap 22.

“ Shame that we never got to see what could have happened, but for us at this point, to be disappointed about finishing second place is a pretty good place to be.”

The Australian said McLaren still need to work on finding more performance but praised his team for their efforts.

Kimi Antonelli has hugged his team and sprinted towards his mechanics to embrace them. This is the 19-year-old’s second race win, after claiming his maiden grand prix trophy in Shanghai.

He is now the youngest person ever to lead a world championship and is beaming.

“It feels pretty good, of course it’s too early to start thinking about the championship, but we’re in a good way.”

Antonelli admitted he was “very lucky” to have the safety car, but was impressed with the Mercedes pace.

After weeks of crashes, mechanical problems and “watching F1 from the sidelines”, Oscar Piastri has finally started and completed a 2026 race, finishing second at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.

Meanwhile, teenager Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead a world championship, winning the Suzuka race by eight seconds after a dominant drive, with Ferrari Charles Leclerc nabbing their place.

Piastri drove brilliantly with a stunning opening lap, overtaking from third place on the grid to snatch the lead from a pole sitting Antonelli and fellow Mercedes driver George Russell.

The Australian lead for 18 laps and pitted early, followed by George Russell who pitted on lap 21. However, a monster crash from Oliver Bearman on lap 22 triggered a yellow flag and safety car, disrupting pitstop strategies and allowing Antonelli to retake the lead.

Despite the chaos, crashes and safety car, Piastri managed to hold on to second place, defending against a resurging Ferrari to nab a podium.

“Wow it turns out when we start these things, we’re pretty good,” Piastri joked over the radio. “Well done everybody, that was a great weekend.. we deserve that so thank you, let’s find some more pace.”

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are battling for a championship so every single point matters. Russell desperately wants a podium and he’s just tried to overtake Leclerc.

Leclerc snatches it back. Russell has one lap left to try and get on the podium.

Piastri is clinging to his second place with Leclerc closely in pursuit. You can hear the roar of the Suzuka crowd over the broadcast as the cars race past.

We have George Russell in fourth with Lewis Hamilton in fifth and Lando Norris in sixth.

We’ve got less than 10 laps left and Sky Sports commentators are musing about whether Oscar Piastri could have won this race if the safety car did not happen.

It’s unlikely. As shown in Shanghai and Australian, the Mercedes is currently very very quick. The race-leader, Antonelli, now has a 12.8 second lead.

However, Piastri has driven brilliantly today and a podium looks imminent.

That was so close. Charles Leclerc has overtaken his teammate Lewis Hamilton near Turn 1, narrowly avoiding a potential hit.

Seconds later, Hamilton is overtaken again by George Russell who has fought his way back to fourth place.

Kimi Antonelli now has an 11.5 second lead.

There is (probably) no catching Kimi Antonelli, but Sky Sports F1 commentators say Piastri is ‘looking comfortable’.

The Australian is seven seconds behind the race leader, however he has a 1.2 second gap between himself and Hamilton.

We have 13 laps to go.

Wow, that Mercedes is quick. Kimi Antonelli has boosted his lead to nearly 4.7 seconds.

The young Italian was definitely the biggest winner from that earlier safety car. The pole-sitter dropped to sixth place but was able to pit during the safety car and is now flying in the lead.

Piastri remains in second with a one-second gap (that is dwindling) between himself and Hamilton.

It looks like George Russell briefly lost power and has now dropped into fifth.

We’ve just heard an update from the Haas team on Oliver Bearman’s condition following his crash earlier in the race.

The young driver suffered a 50G impact, but has no broken bones.