Race Notes - Antonelli wins second in a row

By Mark Karp

After taking pole yesterday, Kimi Antonelli in his Mercedes GP won the Japanese Grand Prix, in Suzuka, 13.722 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri in his McLaren-Mercedes. Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari took third, 15.770s behind the winner.

Antonelli took his second win in a row, and is the first teenager to lead the Drivers’ Standings.

In the Drivers’ Standing, Antonelli with 72 point s leads Russell on 63, Leclerc on 49, Hamilton 41, Norris 25 and Piastri 21 points.

Mercedes leads the Constructors Championship with 135, over Ferrari 90, McLaren 46, Haas 18 and Alpine and Red Bull tied on 16 points.

Anttonelli is the first Italian driver to take two consecutive wins since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

George Russell (15.754s), after struggling mid race with the Ferraris, in the second Mercedes finished fourth, followed by Lando Norris (23..479s) in the second McLaren was fifth, Lewis Hamilton (25.037s) win the second Ferrari was sixth, Pierre Gasly (32.340s) in the Alpine-Mercedes was seventh, Max Verstappen (32.677s) in the Red Bull-Ford was eighth, Liam Lawson (50.180s) in the Racing Bulls-Ford was ninth, and Esteban Ocon (51.216s) in the Haas-Ferrari took the final point in tenth place.

Antonelli sits on pole, with team mate Russell alongside on the front row, Piastri and Leclerc on row 2, Norris and Hamilton on row 3, Gasly and Hadjar on row 4, and Bortoleto and Lindblad rounding out the top 10.

Verstappen starts from 11th.

All drivers starting on medium tyres, except for Bottas in the Cadillac starting 20th.

At the appointed time, the drivers drove around on the reconnaissance lap. The driver lined up in their grid spots, the lights went off and the race began with both the Mercedes slow off the line, Piastri to the lead, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Hamilton, and Antonelli in sixth.

On lap 2 Antonelli passes Hamilton for fifth place.

Verstappen and ahead of Hadjar in ninth.

On lap 3 Russell passes Norris for third.

On lap 3 Russell sets fast lap at 1m34.469.

On lap 4 into the first corner Russell passes Leclerc for second place.

On lap 5 Verstappen passes Lindblad for eighth.

Piastri leads Russell by 0.8s, followed by Leclerc, Norris, Antonelli, Hamilton, Gasly, Vertappen, Ocon and Lindblad in tenth place.

On lap 8 Russell passes Piastri into the chicane, and Piastri passes back for the lead down the start-finish straight.

On lap 11 Leclerc in third, staying ahead of Norris and Antonelli.

Antonelli passes Norris into the chicane for fourth place.

On lap 12 Piastri is 0.5 seconds ahead of Russell.

On lap 15 Antonelli passes Leclerc out of the chicane, but the Mercedes twitches and Leclerc come back and retakes third.

On lap 17 Norris pits, for hard tyres and rejoins ninth.

Leclerc pits from third for hard tyres and rejoins om seventh ahead of Norris/

On lap 19 Piastri pits from the lead for hard tyres, and rejoins sixth.

Russell leads Antonelli, Hamilton, Gasly, Verstappen, Piastri, Leclerc, and Norris in eighth.

On lap 21 Piastri passes Verstappen for fifth.

On lap 22 George pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins in fifth - Piastri ahead in fourth.

On lap 23, at the entrance to the Spoon corner Bearman crashes while avoiding Colapinto.

Antonelli, Hamilton, Gasly, Verstappen, Lawson, Boroleto, Sainz, and Ocon all pit.

The Safety Car is out while they clean up Bearman’s car.

Behind the Safety Car, Antonelli leads Piastri, Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, Norris, Gasly, Verstappen, Lawson and Bortoleto in tenth.

The Safety Car pulls in, and the race resumes on lap 28 of 53 with Antonelli leads with Piastri right behind. They cross the start finish line and Antonelli leads, Hamilton passes Russell for third.

Antonelli leads Piastri, Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Gasly, Verstappen, Lawson, and Ocon in tenth.

On lap 29 Antonelli set the fastest lap at 1m33.367s, and again with 1m32.859s.

On lap 31 Lance Stroll retires in the pits.

On lap 33 Hulkenberg passes Lindblad for 13th.

At lap 35 Antonelli leads Piastri by 4.3 seconds, followed by Hamilton (5.4s), Russell (5.9s), Leclerc (7.0s), Norris (9.6s), Gasly (12.4s), Verstappen (13.2s), Lawson (18.1s), and Ocon (18.9s) in tenth.

On lap 36 Hadjar passes Bortoleto for 11th.

On lap 37 Leclerc passes Russell for fourth.

At lap 40 Antonelli leads Piastri by 7.8 seconds, followed by Hamilton (9.5s), Leclerc (10.2s), Russell (11.1s), Norris (13.2s), Gasly (17.7s), Verstappen (19.0s), Lawson (28.1s), and Ocon (29.7s) in tenth.

On lap 41 Leclerc is closing on Hamilton ahead of him, Russell right behind.

On lap 42 Leclerc passes Hamilton for third place into the first corner.

On lap 43, with 10 laps left, Russell passes Hamilton the same way the next lap and takes fourth.

On lap 43 Antonelli sets the fastest lap at 1m32.538 seconds.

On lap 44 Hamilton locks up going into the chicane, and cuts the corner.

On lap 48 Norris passes Hamilton into the chicane, ad Hamilton passes back on the main straight.

Antonelli sets fast lap at 1m32.432s.

On lap 51 Russell passes Leclerc into the chicane for third but Leclerc takes the place back down the main straight.

On lap 52 Norris passes Hamilton into the chicane and takes fifth place.

On the final lap Antonelli cruises to the flag to win over Piastri and Leclerc.