Summary

Kimi Antonelli wins Japanese Grand Prix
Italian, 19, becomes youngest driver to lead championship
Piastri second, Leclerc third and Russell fourth
Norris fifth and Hamilton sixth
Oliver Bearman hurts knee in 50G crash
Antonelli dropped back after starting on pole but benefited from safety car

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Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

'Much better than I expected' - Lindbladpublished at 05:40 BST 29 March

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Racing Bulls Arvid Lindblad spoke about his qualifying lap, on Sky Sports: "It was beyond my expectation to get into Q3 after all the issues in P2 and P3. To come to a difficult track, my first time, where mileage is just so important, it went much better than I had expected."
On who he will be racing against in Suzuka: "I think Gasly and the Alpine is a little ahead, for sure Bortoleto next to me is going to be one of the main fights and the Red Bulls are a question mark because obviously they had a difficult day yesterday in quali, they are still a top team. I don't know if their race pace will be there. The Haas behind but I'm trying to look in front."
On the race starts: "It has been good so far, when I do the procedure, I've got stuck in lap one so far. I look forward to the race, it should be good."
Formation lap will start at 06:10 BSTpublished at 05:38 BST 29 March

If you're just joining us this morning, welcome in. The formation lap will start at 06:10 BST now, as repair work is taking place to the barrier at Turn 12 after an incident in the support race.

get involved
Get Involved - who wins at Suzukapublished at 05:36 BST 29 March
Select 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

Alex: Straight battle between Kimi and George. Hoping for more “lead swapping” though.
Alonso extends qualifying run over Strollpublished at 05:33 BST 29 March
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent at Suzuka

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At the back of the grid, the Cadillac team convincingly beat struggling Aston Martin for the first time.
Sergio Perez, in the faster of the two Cadillacs, was 1.6secs quicker than Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin.
Alonso's only consolation at the first race after the birth of his son was that he extended his run of out-qualifying team-mate Lance Stroll to 39 grands prix.

More ways to listenpublished at 05:31 BST 29 March
BBC Sounds

Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin, British racing driver Alice Powell and F1 correspondent Andrew Benson are ready to take us through the Japanese Grand Prix on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Click the 'listen live' tab at the top of this page, ask your smart speaker to "play 5 Live" or you can tune in via the BBC Sounds app if you're an early bird this morning and already heading out.
The pit lane is now open.
McLaren 'getting closer' to Mercedes - Piastripublished at 05:27 BST 29 March

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Oscar Piastri can see a brighter sky on the horizon for McLaren following a difficult opening to the new era of Formula 1.
The Australian driver does have points to his name - three from the China sprint - but he hasn't experienced any proper wheel-to-wheel racing yet. Piastri can see the progress the team has made, though, noting after qualifying P3 yesterday they are getting a little bit closer to Mercedes.
For world champion Lando Norris, it's been a frustrating weekend in the build-up to Sunday's race.
His second practice running was delayed because of a hydraulic failure, then a battery issue kept him in the garage for a while during third practice. He made it through to the pole shootout and will start fifth on the grid, above one of the Ferraris, which he said was a good spot considering the reliability woes.

'The race start is going to be crucial'published at 05:24 BST 29 March

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Mercedes' George Russell: "We definitely know what went wrong. Unfortunately, we've not been able to make any changes for today but I've got some ideas of how I can drive around it. I think it will be slightly easier in the race, I hope, because we have more laps to adjust your driving style. It's a new day.
"I think the race start is going to be crucial. It's a bit of a challenging track to overtake on. With these new regs it will be interesting, I don't think it will be quick as we saw in the first two races. With Charles in P4, they are pretty fast off the line so I hope to try and get in the lead, but we know Ferrari are quick.
"The McLarens have been really strong and that has been a bit of a surprise. We have the same power unit but we will try to hold the position. We should have the pace advantage over them in the race but if they make a good start and get ahead, it will make our life difficult."
Japanese GP start delayedpublished at 05:21 BST 29 March

The start of today's Japanese Grand Prix will be delayed by 10 minutes due to repair works going on to the barriers at Turn 12 after an incident in one of the support races.

'Strange session' for Russellpublished at 05:16 BST 29 March

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The Mercedes was a struggle for George Russell in qualifying, with a lack of rear grip his main gripe of a "really strange" session. He said the team made some tweaks - or 'twerks', a confused Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports - after final practice but the adjustments left him "nowhere" for the fight for pole position.
Russell added both he and Kimi Antonelli have been very fast all weekend but while the Briton had the edge in the opening sector at the Suzuka circuit, teenager Antonelli was superior throughout the rest of the lap.
'The car is very quick' - Antonellipublished at 05:12 BST 29 March

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Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli on today's race: "I had a good sleep. Obviously, still always a bit harder to fall asleep when you know you are starting on pole. But, it's good. I'm looking forward to today. I'm trying to get a good start and try to lead into Turn One, because it's not that easy to overtake on a track like this. So, try to get to Turn One in P1 and try to use the free air and set the pace."
"The car is very quick, very strong in qualifying and the race. Hopefully, today we have good pace and we can just have a really nice race."

Antonelli secures Suzuka polepublished at 05:08 BST 29 March

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What better way to follow-up a history-making weekend in Shanghai then by grabbing your second career pole position in quick succession. Kimi Antonelli put his name in the F1 record books as the youngest polesitter with his performance in China and now he gets the chance add to his winning tally this weekend before the five-week break.
The 19-year-old was on provisional pole in Q3 when he suffered a lock-up at Turn 11 on his final run but in the end he beat out team-mate George Russell by 0.298 seconds.
get involved
Get Involved - who wins at Suzuka?published at 05:04 BST 29 March
Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

The race starts haven't been Kimi Antonelli's strong point in the first two races of 2026 so team-mate George Russell will surely be looking to pick off the youngest before overtaking becomes more difficult.
We've also seen the Ferraris fly off the line from the second row. How will Oscar Piastri deal with the demands of the high revs at lights out for the first time?
If you're awake at this hour, let us know who you think will win today's Japanese Grand Prix by using the 'get involved' on the page.

Japan: Race daypublished at 05:00 BST 29 March
Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

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Welcome in, folks. If you made it for the start of the live page, well done! You've successfully navigated the clocks going forward. Goodbye GMT. Hello BST.
Today, our main focus is springtime at Suzuka, as the start of the Japanese Grand Prix is only an hour away, with Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell taking centre stage on the front row.
Chinese Grand Prix winner Antonelli is living the teenage dream on pole position for the second consecutive race weekend but it's Briton Russell alongside him in P2 who leads the Italian by four points in the drivers' championship.
For Oscar Piastri in P3, the hope first and foremost is he actually makes it to the grid for lights out. The Australian failed to start at the opener in Melbourne and then again in Shanghai last time out, so he is yet to complete an actual racing lap in 2026.
Image source, Getty Images

2026 Japanese Grand Prix

3rd Practice

Suzuka, 28 March 2026, 02:30

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:29.362	18
2	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:29.616	18
3	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:30.229	20
4	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:30.364	19
5	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:30.383	23
6	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:30.600	13
7	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:30.658	21
8	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:30.910	22
9	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:31.000	21
10	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:31.082	20
11	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:31.094	21
12	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:31.097	21
13	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:31.288	17
14	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:31.326	22
15	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:31.558	18
16	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:31.733	20
17	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:31.759	25
18	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:31.829	26
19	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:32.503	20
20	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:32.540	18
21	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:33.485	19
22	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:33.529	14

Last updated 28th March 2026 at 03:46

Second Practice

Suzuka, 27 March 2026, 06:00

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:30.133	29
2	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:30.225	28
3	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:30.338	29
4	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:30.649	17
5	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:30.846	28
6	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:30.980	27
7	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:31.441	27
8	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:31.496	30
9	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:31.498	28
10	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:31.509	29
11	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:31.532	30
12	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:31.590	31
13	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:31.608	30
14	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:31.734	29
15	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:31.759	29
16	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:31.933	11
17	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:32.438	28
18	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:32.615	28
19	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:33.596	24
20	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:33.689	14
21	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:33.951	21
22	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	not available	1

Last updated 27th March 2026 at 07:10

First Practice

Suzuka, 27 March 2026, 02:30

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:31.666	27
2	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:31.692	26
3	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:31.798	20
4	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:31.865	23
5	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:31.955	25
6	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:32.040	23
7	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:32.457	27
8	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:32.529	27
9	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:32.601	23
10	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:32.665	29
11	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:32.759	27
12	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:32.798	26
13	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:32.803	27
14	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:32.900	27
15	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:32.978	25
16	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:33.361	24
17	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:33.383	26
18	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:33.697	22
19	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:34.221	18
20	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:34.490	24
21	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:35.294	22
22	Jak Crawford Aston Martin	34	1:36.362	11

Last updated 27th March 2026 at 03:38

Qualification

Suzuka, 28 March 2026, 06:00

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 3	Qualifying 3	Time
1	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:30.035	1:30.035	fastest lap 1:29.048	fastest lap 1:29.048	fastest lap 1:28.778	fastest lap 1:28.778	Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:28.778
2	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:29.967	1:29.967	1:29.686	1:29.686	1:29.076	1:29.076	Qualifying 3, 1:29.076
3	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:30.200	1:30.200	1:29.451	1:29.451	1:29.132	1:29.132	Qualifying 3, 1:29.132
4	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	fastest lap 1:29.915	fastest lap 1:29.915	1:29.303	1:29.303	1:29.405	1:29.405	Qualifying 3, 1:29.405
5	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:30.401	1:30.401	1:29.795	1:29.795	1:29.409	1:29.409	Qualifying 3, 1:29.409
6	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:30.309	1:30.309	1:29.589	1:29.589	1:29.567	1:29.567	Qualifying 3, 1:29.567
7	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:30.584	1:30.584	1:29.874	1:29.874	1:29.691	1:29.691	Qualifying 3, 1:29.691
8	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:30.662	1:30.662	1:30.104	1:30.104	1:29.978	1:29.978	Qualifying 3, 1:29.978
9	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:30.359	1:30.359	1:29.990	1:29.990	1:30.274	1:30.274	Qualifying 3, 1:30.274
10	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:30.781	1:30.781	1:30.109	1:30.109	1:30.319	1:30.319	Qualifying 3, 1:30.319
11	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:30.519	1:30.519	1:30.262	1:30.262	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:30.262
12	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:30.915	1:30.915	1:30.309	1:30.309	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:30.309
13	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:30.358	1:30.358	1:30.387	1:30.387	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:30.387
14	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:30.657	1:30.657	1:30.495	1:30.495	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:30.495
15	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:30.931	1:30.931	1:30.627	1:30.627	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:30.627
16	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:30.927	1:30.927	1:31.033	1:31.033	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:31.033
17	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:31.088	1:31.088	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:31.088
18	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:31.090	1:31.090	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:31.090
19	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:32.206	1:32.206	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.206
20	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:32.330	1:32.330	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.330
21	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:32.646	1:32.646	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.646
22	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:32.920	1:32.920	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.920

Last updated 28th March 2026 at 07:04

Race

Suzuka, 29 March 2026, 06:10

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Grid	Pits	Fastest Lap	Race Time	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1	1	fastest overall lap 1:32.432	1:28:03.403	25
2	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	3	1	1:32.996	13.722 behind	18
3	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	4	1	1:32.634	15.270 behind	15
4	George Russell Mercedes	63	2	1	1:32.549	15.754 behind	12
5	Lando Norris McLaren	1	5	1	1:33.208	23.479 behind	10
6	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	6	1	1:32.777	25.037 behind	8
7	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	7	1	1:33.691	32.340 behind	6
8	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	11	1	1:33.552	32.677 behind	4
9	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	14	1	1:34.230	50.180 behind	2
10	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	12	1	1:34.256	51.216 behind	1
11	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	13	1	1:33.732	52.280 behind	0
12	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	8	1	1:33.837	56.154 behind	0
13	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	9	1	1:34.164	59.078 behind	0
14	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	10	1	1:34.314	59.848 behind	0
15	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	16	1	1:34.514	1:05.008 behind	0
16	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	15	1	1:34.512	1:05.773 behind	0
17	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	19	1	1:35.637	1:32.453 behind	0
18	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	21	2	1:36.221	1 lap behind	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	20	1	1:36.269	1 lap behind	0
20	Alexander Albon Williams	23	17	6	1:33.427	2 laps behind	0
not available	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	18	0	1:35.604	did not finish completed 53 laps	0
not available	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	22	0	1:37.217	did not finish completed 53 laps	0

Last updated 29th March 2026 at 08:02

All times are UK and subject to change. BBC is not responsible for any changes.

Recap and reaction as Antonelli wins Japanese Grand Prix to take title lead

Summary

Send us your F1 views

Live Reporting

'Much better than I expected' - Lindbladpublished at 05:40 BST 29 March

Formation lap will start at 06:10 BSTpublished at 05:38 BST 29 March

Get Involved - who wins at Suzukapublished at 05:36 BST 29 March

Alonso extends qualifying run over Strollpublished at 05:33 BST 29 March

More ways to listenpublished at 05:31 BST 29 March

McLaren 'getting closer' to Mercedes - Piastripublished at 05:27 BST 29 March

'The race start is going to be crucial'published at 05:24 BST 29 March

Japanese GP start delayedpublished at 05:21 BST 29 March

'Strange session' for Russellpublished at 05:16 BST 29 March

'The car is very quick' - Antonellipublished at 05:12 BST 29 March

Antonelli secures Suzuka polepublished at 05:08 BST 29 March

Get Involved - who wins at Suzuka?published at 05:04 BST 29 March

Japan: Race daypublished at 05:00 BST 29 March

2026 Japanese Grand Prix

3rd Practice

Second Practice

First Practice

Qualification

Race

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