Mercedes' Kimi Anonelli is now the youngest driver to ever lead the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship after his second career win at the Japanese Grand Prix.
He lost positions at the start (as did teammate George Russell), falling back several places before mounting an impressive recovery drive. With Oscar Piastri initially leading the race, Russell recovered ground and pressured the McLaren driver for the lead in the early stages but could not complete a pass.
As pit stops began, including for Piastri and Russell, Haas' Ollie Bearman crashed on lap 22 and triggered the Safety Car. He exited the car under his own power but could be seen limping and received medical attention for a knee injury (fortunately, he was later given the all clear).
Antonelli, who had not yet pitted and held a provisional lead, stopped under the Safety Car and rejoined in first place. After the restart, he maintained that first place and extended his advantage over the remaining distance. Piastri finished second, recording his first points-scoring finish of the season and McLaren's first podium of the year.
Leclerc held off Russell to take third. Russell finished fourth and expressed frustration with the timing of the Safety Car, while Lando Norris (McLaren) placed fifth after battling Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), who finished sixth. Red Bull's Max Verstappen could do very little, but pushed his way up from eleventh to eighth after battling Alpine's Pierre Gasly, who held him off for seventh place.
While exciting, the race also highlighted many issues with the current set of regulations, not to mention the drivers' unhappiness with them. The chorus of dissenting voices in the paddock is becoming louder, and concerns were proven right today with Bearman's 50G crash.
As Williams' Carlos Sainz explained after the race, "This break is good for F1. The accident we saw today was something the drivers had been warning the FIA and FOM about; it was just a matter of time. We're reaching speed differentials of 40-50 km/h using boost, and this accident was inevitable."
"I hope Formula 1 reconsiders its position, because it is clear that these regulations have loopholes and problems that need to be addressed before going to Miami," the Spaniard added.
It may be too little too late to salvage this season, though changes can be made. Still, even with the official Formula 1 social media accounts hiding replies from unhappy fans and editing clips to hide how much cars are slowing down going into corners, there's only so long they can try to ignore the 22 drivers on the grid.
Here's a full breakdown of results from today's Japanese Grand Prix:
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1:28:03.403
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - +13.722s
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - +15.270s
4. George Russell (Mercedes) - +15.754s
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) - +23.479s
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - +25.037s
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - +32.340s
8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) - +32.677s
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - +50.180s
10. Esteban Ocon (Haas F1 Team) - +51.216s
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) - +52.280s
12. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull Racing) - +56.154s
13. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) - +59.078s
14. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) - +59.848s
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams) - +65.008s
16. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) - +65.773s
17. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) - +92.453s
18. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) - +1 lap
19. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) - +1 lap
20. Alexander Albon (Williams) - +2 laps
21. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - DNF
22. Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team) - DNF