Kimi Antonelli scores historic F1 Japanese GP win after safety car boost
Kimi Antonelli makes it back-to-back victories in Japan to take the lead of the F1 world championship.
Kimi Antonelli took advantage of a fortunately-timed safety car to make further Formula 1 history by becoming the youngest driver to win two races at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Having recovered from a dreadful start that saw him drop as low as sixth, Antonelli found himself in the lead when his rivals pitted and benefited from a cheap pit stop when a safety car was deployed after Ollie Bearman suffered a huge crash at Spoon Curve on lap 22.
Antonelli kept track position when he remerged and perfectly executed the race restart to check out in the lead, which he converted into a second consecutive F1 victory.
The 19-year-old Italian, who finished nearly 14 seconds clear of McLaren’s fast-starting Oscar Piastri, has also become the youngest driver to lead the F1 world championship, having moved nine points ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
Russell had to settle with a frustrated third place fourth place behind Charles Leclerc and was left cursing his luck for the second race in a row, having pitted a lap before the safety car.
“Unbelievable. Wow. Our luck in these last two races,” Russell lamented over team radio.
Russell appeared to have secured third place with two laps to go but Leclerc fought back with an audacious around-the-outside overtake at Turn 1 to retake the final spot on the podium for Ferrari.
World champion Lando Norris beat Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to fifth place after coming out on top of a late battle that saw the pair exchange positions.
Pierre Gasly claimed a strong seventh place for Alpine, having impressively kept former Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen at bay.
Liam Lawson and Esteban Ocon rounded out the points-paying positions by finishing ninth and 10th for Racing Bulls and Haas respectively.
Aston Martin managed to complete a Grand Prix distance for the first time as Fernando Alonso finished a lap down in 18th at Honda's home race.
The two-time world champion beat the Cadillac of Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon's Williams to the chequered flag.
Team-mate Lance Stroll retired late on due to a water pressure issue.
Bearman escapes 50G crash with bruising
Bearman suffered a right knee contusion in his huge 50G crash, having taking evasive action to avoid Franco Colapinto's Alpine.
The Haas driver appeared to be caught out by massive closing speeds as he swerved onto the grass to miss Colapinto, before spinning off into the barriers in a terrifying crash.
Bearman was seen limping away from the scene of the accident and appeared to have hurt his right ankle.
Haas confirmed Bearman didn't suffer any fractures and was both alert and communicating following a trip to the circuit's medical centre.
The incident was an example of one of the drivers biggest fears about the new regulations, with several expressing concerns about closing speeds this year.
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