FORMULA1 WKLY — ISSUE #3
Japanese Grand Prix · Suzuka Circuit · Round 3, 2026
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PODIUM
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P1 — Kimi Antonelli · Mercedes P2 — Oscar Piastri · McLaren P3 — Charles Leclerc · Ferrari
THE WEEKEND
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FP1 — Russell leads Mercedes 1-2
Russell set the pace on a 1:31.666, with Antonelli 0.026s behind. Norris was third, Piastri fourth, Leclerc fifth. Late in the session, Albon clipped the barrier at Degner 2, then made contact with Perez at the same corner. Stewards investigated after the session. Perez missed the opening stint of FP2 while the team repaired floor damage.
FP1 Top 5: Russell · Antonelli · Norris · Piastri · Leclerc
FP2 — Piastri takes over at the top
Piastri went fastest on a 1:30.133, with Antonelli 0.092s back and Russell third. Norris was delayed joining the session and eventually finished fourth on the medium tyre. Lindblad stopped early with a gearbox issue. Bortoleto completed only 10 laps after a car problem.
FP2 Top 5: Piastri · Antonelli · Russell · Norris · Leclerc
FP3 — Antonelli in control
Antonelli posted a 1:29.362, nearly three-tenths clear of Russell. Leclerc was third, over eight-tenths back. Norris missed more than half the session with an ERS problem and finished sixth, 1.2s off the pace. Mercedes went into qualifying looking like the class of the field.
FP3 Top 5: Antonelli · Russell · Leclerc · Piastri · Hamilton
QUALIFYING
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Antonelli took his second consecutive pole. His lap of 1:28.778 put him 0.298s clear of Russell. Piastri was third. Leclerc lost the rear on his final run and settled for fourth. Norris was fifth, Hamilton sixth.
The headline from Q2 was Verstappen's elimination in P11. He called the car "completely undriveable." It ended a run of four consecutive Suzuka poles.
Qualifying Top 5: Antonelli (1:28.778) · Russell · Piastri · Leclerc · Norris
RACE RECAP
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Piastri made the best start of anyone and led into Turn 1. This was his first racing lap of 2026. A DNS in Australia and a double DNS with Norris in China meant he arrived at Suzuka without a single competitive lap to his name. He responded by immediately leading a Formula 1 grand prix.
Leclerc also gained positions off the line. Both Mercedes dropped back. Russell recovered fast, clearing Norris and then Leclerc within four laps to chase down Piastri. The two traded the lead but Russell could not make a move stick.
On Lap 22, Bearman crashed heavily at Spoon Curve and the safety car was deployed. Russell had pitted one lap earlier under green. Antonelli was still out on his original tyres, came in from the lead, and rejoined in P1. The timing ended Russell's race as a contest. He made his frustration clear on the radio. Wolff told him to focus.
Antonelli made a clean restart and built a 13-second lead over Piastri by the flag. Leclerc kept Russell behind him despite heavy pressure late on. Norris claimed fifth, Hamilton sixth. Gasly held Verstappen off for seventh by 0.337s at the line.
Piastri finished second. His first race of the season. That result will matter by the end of the year.
Two wins. Two poles. Three rounds in. Antonelli leads the championship.
STRATEGY BREAKDOWN
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The race was set up as a one-stopper on mediums, with Bottas the only driver starting on the hard. Piastri pitted on Lap 17. Leclerc and Russell followed in the laps after. Antonelli and Hamilton stayed out.
When the safety car came out on Lap 22, Antonelli pitted from the lead and rejoined still in front. Russell, who had stopped one lap earlier under green, lost the net time and the position. That was the race. A free stop under yellow converted Antonelli's strategy into a win with no fight required on the restart.
CRASHES AND INCIDENTS
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Oliver Bearman
Bearman was closing on Colapinto's Alpine at a speed difference of 45km/h on Lap 21. The Alpine was not harvesting energy at the time and its rear warning lights were not on. Bearman had no warning. He was travelling at 308km/h when he had to swerve, went onto the grass, slid back across the circuit and hit the barrier sideways. The impact measured 50G. He walked away with a right knee contusion. No fractures.
The crash forced the conversation about the 2026 regulations into the open. The speed differential between cars in different phases of energy management has been flagged by drivers all season. Sainz said the GPDA warned the FIA this would happen and was dismissed because "the racing is exciting." McLaren's Stella said it "is not a surprise." The FIA confirmed review meetings are scheduled during the April break. This will not be resolved quietly.
Albon and Perez — FP1
Albon made contact with Perez at Degner 2 late in FP1, scattering debris across the track. Stewards investigated after the session. Perez's Cadillac had floor damage that kept him out of the opening stint of FP2.
DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP
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P1 · Kimi Antonelli · Mercedes · 72 pts P2 · George Russell · Mercedes · 63 pts P3 · Oscar Piastri · McLaren · 36 pts P4 · Charles Leclerc · Ferrari · 33 pts P5 · Lando Norris · McLaren · 29 pts
Antonelli is now the youngest driver in history to lead the Formula 1 World Championship. He leads his own team mate by 9 points. That intra-Mercedes battle will define this season.
CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP
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P1 · Mercedes · 135 pts P2 · McLaren · 65 pts P3 · Ferrari · 57 pts P4 · Alpine · 16 pts P5 · Racing Bulls · 13 pts
Mercedes lead by 70 points. Red Bull sit outside the top four. Verstappen is eighth in the drivers standings.
UP NEXT — MIAMI GRAND PRIX
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May 1-3 · Miami International Autodrome
F1 takes a month off before Miami. The FIA regulation review meetings happen during the break, so expect news on the energy harvesting issue before the cars hit the track again. Mercedes arrive as the dominant force. Everyone else needs a result.
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