Japanese Grand Prix consequence: How George Russell misplaced the Suzuka F1 race

George Russell led the Japanese GP after Kimi Antonelli’s poor begin, however it all unravelled from there.

George Russell with Kimi Antonelli in foreground

George Russell did not make it to the rostrum at Suzuka (Picture: Getty)

When Kimi Antonelli suffered wheelspin off the road at the beginning of the Japanese Grand Prix, it solely seemed more likely to be consequential if George Russell was a kind of who bought previous him. The Brit did certainly fly previous his team-mate and, from there, it felt inevitable that victory was his – even when Oscar Piastri was placing up a very good early battle.

However destiny had different concepts. After Piastri pitted, Russell was telling his Mercedes race engineer over the radio that he didn’t suppose it was a good suggestion to increase his first stint an excessive amount of. He was apprehensive about shedding total race time and handing the benefit to the McLaren driver, so finally his crew listened and introduced the Brit in for contemporary rubber.

Because it turned out, they did so a lap too early, as a result of Oliver Bearman then span off observe and smashed up his Haas. The security automotive was instantly deployed and Antonelli, who was behind Russell and had but to cease, was instantly handed a really low-cost go to to the pit lane. And Russell might solely swear in frustration.

All was not misplaced on the face of it, as he was nonetheless third when the Grand Prix finally restarted. However any hope of reeling in his team-mate pale when he initially went the opposite means, slipping behind first Lewis Hamilton after which Charles Leclerc, placing three automobiles between the 2 Mercedes racers.

He bought again previous Hamilton and thought he had accomplished the identical to Leclerc with three laps to go, solely to then see the Ferrari bravely roar again previous across the exterior of flip one in spectacular trend. It mattered not anyway by that time as Antonelli was already 14 seconds forward of Piastri and even additional away from Russell.

{The teenager} took the chequered flag to an enormous roar from the group and a sea of Mercedes arms punching the air with delight by means of the fence alongside the pit wall. Antonelli is now the championship chief for the primary time in his younger F1 profession, whereas Piastri’s robust run to second noticed Mercedes did not safe a one-two end for the primary time in 2026.

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Antonelli, 19, is now the championship chief – the youngest driver in F1 historical past to take action, and likewise the primary teenager. It was additionally a milestone victory for Mercedes, their a hundred and twenty fifth Grand Prix win since returning to the game in 2010.