Baby Kimi
Is Unstoppable.
And Verstappen Wants Out — Suzuka Reviewed
The Story
Kimi Antonelli came to Suzuka, botched his start from pole, dropped to sixth — and still won. At 19 years old, he is now the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history. At this point it's not a fluke, it's not luck, it's not a pattern. It's just dominance.
But the real story of the Japanese Grand Prix wasn't the winner. It was Ollie Bearman's terrifying 50G crash that triggered a Safety Car and — depending on your perspective — either stole a win from George Russell or handed one to Antonelli. It was Oscar Piastri finally starting a race and reminding everyone that McLaren were world champions 12 months ago. And it was Max Verstappen, four-time world champion, hinting at retirement after a weekend where he couldn't even pass an Alpine.
Three rounds in, 2026 already has more storylines than most full seasons. Buckle up — it's going to be a long five weeks until Miami.
Two wins in two races. Youngest championship leader ever. First teenager in F1 history to win back-to-back Grands Prix. Kimi Antonelli is rewriting the record books in his first full season. Toto Wolff called his start "botched." He won by 13 seconds anyway.
How The Race Unfolded
Piastri Steals The Show At Turn 1
Polesitter Antonelli gets wheelspin off the line and drops to sixth. Piastri surges from P3 into the lead in his first race start of 2026. The crowd goes absolutely wild. McLaren is back — or at least, it's trying to be.
Mercedes Recovery Mode
Russell and Antonelli scythe through the field. Russell gets to P2 behind Piastri but can't find a way past the McLaren. Antonelli rises to P3. The championship leaders are trapped — but the Safety Car is coming, and it will fix everything.
Bearman's 50G Horror Crash
Oliver Bearman loses the rear of his Haas at Turn 13, slides across the grass and slams into the barriers at over 50G. The whole paddock holds its breath. Bearman climbs out — but is limping with a right knee contusion. Safety Car deployed.
The Safety Car Changes Everything
Russell had already pitted one lap earlier. Antonelli, still on his original tyres, pits under the Safety Car and comes out in P1 — ahead of Russell. One lap difference costs Russell what could have been a race win. "One lap different and it probably would've been a win," Russell says afterwards. Ouch.
Antonelli Cruises To Victory
The restart is clean. Antonelli builds a lead of 13 seconds by the chequered flag. Piastri holds on for P2. Leclerc and Hamilton scrap hard for the final podium spot — Leclerc wins that battle. Russell finishes fourth, furious at the timing. Verstappen, who qualified 11th, finishes eighth behind Gasly. Says the car is in the "midfield battle." Then hints at retirement.
Bearman's 50G Smash
Oliver Bearman's crash at Turn 13 was the scariest moment of the 2026 season so far. The Haas hit the barriers sideways at over 50G — an impact that would knock most people unconscious. Bearman walked (limped) away with a right knee contusion. He's already said he's "kicking himself" for the error. The important thing: he's okay.
McLaren — Back From The Dead
Piastri P2. Norris P5. Both Finished.
After a DNS in Australia and a DNS in China, Oscar Piastri finally got to the grid — and finished second. Lando Norris added P5. McLaren's first double points finish of 2026 came at the best possible track, in the best possible fashion. Piastri himself called their pace "a positive surprise." The 2025 champions are not dead yet.
What They Said
"I had a terrible start — I just need to check what happened. But then I was lucky with the Safety Car. The pace in the second stint was incredible. I felt very good with the car."
"One lap different and it probably would have been a win. That's how it goes. One thing after another."
"Our podium pace was honestly a positive surprise. We showed what this car can do when it starts the race. Good to be back."
"We are in the midfield battle. That's the reality." [Later hints at retirement if 2026 regs don't improve] "F1 is becoming a joke."
Race Results
| POS | DRIVER | TEAM | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Win from P6 after bad start |
| 🥈 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | First race start of 2026! |
| 🥉 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Beat Hamilton in team battle |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | Pitted 1 lap too early 😤 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | McLaren double points ✅ |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | Lost P3 to Leclerc late on |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | Held off Verstappen all race |
| 8 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Stuck behind an Alpine 💀 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | |
| 10 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | Points after Bearman DNF |
| DNF — Ollie Bearman | Haas | 50G crash · Knee contusion | |
| DNF — Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | Water pressure | |
Championship After Round 3
🏆 DRIVERS
Meanwhile, In The Red Bull Garage...
MAX VERSTAPPEN — THE BREAKING POINT?
The man who has won four world championships. The man who dominated 2026 qualifying at Suzuka in every year since F1 returned. This weekend he qualified 11th. In the race, he couldn't get past Pierre Gasly's Alpine. He finished eighth.
Afterwards, Verstappen called F1 a "joke", admitted Red Bull are in a "midfield battle", and hinted at retirement if the 2026 regulations aren't fixed. It's not the first time he's said it. But this time, given what he's been watching from the cockpit, it feels a little less like venting and a little more like a genuine warning shot.
Red Bull's car is a genuine mystery. Nobody knows if it's the power unit, the chassis, or Adrian Newey's absence. What we do know is that the most naturally gifted driver of his generation is currently racing an Alpine-beater. That should worry everyone in Silverstone and Milton Keynes.
Team Vibes After Round 3
We called Verstappen for P1. We were very wrong. We are not sorry — it was a reasonable prediction and this season is absolutely unhinged.
Kimi Antonelli is the real deal. Three races, two wins, youngest championship leader ever. He's not riding luck — he's riding talent and a dominant car, and right now nobody can touch either.
The five-week gap until Miami feels criminal. McLaren are awake. Ferrari are restless. Verstappen is furious. Russell is 9 points down and one Safety Car away from the lead. May 1st cannot come soon enough.
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