F1 standings after Japanese GP race as Kimi Antonelli takes lead from George Russell

F1’s new era moves on to the popular Suzuka circuit for round three of the 2026 season
Kimi Antonelli knocked George Russell off the world championship summit after he claimed his second win in a row at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Antonelli took advantage of a safety car period following British driver Ollie Bearman’s 191mph crash in Suzuka to land a free pit-stop and leapfrog his rivals.

The Italian teenager, who landed his debut win in China a fortnight ago, took the chequered flag 13.7 seconds clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Charles Leclerc kept Russell at bay to finish third.

Russell, who yelled “unbelievable” after he changed tyres just moments before the race-changing safety car, now trails Antonelli by nine points following a 13-point title swing in favour of his 19-year-old Mercedes team-mate.

Lando Norris finished fifth, one place ahead of Lewis Hamilton , with four-time world champion Max Verstappen eighth.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Japanese Grand Prix.

Driver standings after Japanese GP
1.

Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 72 points
2.

George Russell (Mercedes) - 63 points
3.

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 49 points
4.

Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 41 points
5.

Lando Norris (McLaren) - 25 points
6.

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) -21 points
7.

Ollie Bearman (Haas) - 17 points
8.

Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 15 points
9.

Max Verstappen Red Bull) - 12 points
10.

Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 10 points
11.

Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) - 4 points
12.

Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 4 points
13.

Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 2 points
14.

Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) - 2 points
15.

Franco Colapinto (Alpine) - 1 point
16.

Esteban Ocon (Haas) - 1 point
17.

Alex Albon (Williams) - 0 points
18.

Sergio Perez (Cadillac) - 0 points
19.

Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) - 0 points
20.

Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) - 0 points
21.

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) - 0 points
22.

Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 0 points
Constructor standings after Japanese GP
What is the 2026 race calendar?

ROUND 4 - MIAMI (sprint weekend)
Miami International Autodrome, Hard Rock Stadium - 1-3 May
ROUND 5 - CANADA (sprint weekend)
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal - 22-24 May
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - 12-14 June
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg - 26-28 June
ROUND 9 - GREAT BRITAIN (sprint weekend)
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - 17-19 July
Hungaroring, Budapest - 24-26 July
ROUND 12 - NETHERLANDS (sprint weekend)
Circuit Zandvoort - 21-23 August
Circuito de Madring - 11-13 September
Baku City Circuit - 25-27 September
ROUND 16 - SINGAPORE (sprint weekend)
Marina Bay Street Circuit - 9-11 October
Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 23-25 October
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 30 October-1 November
Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 6-8 November
Las Vegas Street Circuit - 19-21 November
Lusail International Circuit - 27-29 November
Yas Marina Circuit - 4-6 December
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