Antonelli also wins in Japan: the 19-year-old from Bologna leads the F1 World Championship

After China, Kimi repeats his success in Suzuka and becomes the youngest leader in the history of Formula 1.

Formula 1 has found its new star, and he's Italian. Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix, securing his second consecutive victory in the Formula 1 World Championship, following his victory two weeks earlier in China. An extraordinary one-two for a 19-year-old who, race after race, is rewriting the history books of motorsport's premier class.

A veteran's race

Antonelli had taken pole position, but the start was a nightmare: he went from first to sixth, while Piastri led Leclerc and Norris. It looked like the start of a complicated Sunday, but the Bolognese driver didn't panic. He took advantage of the safety car, caused by an accident, to pit, fit hard tires, and emerge still in the lead. From that moment on, no one could keep up with him. Oscar Piastri in the McLaren and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari finished on the podium.

Record after record

Antonelli's achievements go far beyond mere results. At 19 years, seven months, and four days, he became the youngest world championship leader in Formula 1 history, breaking the record held by Lewis Hamilton, who led the championship in 2007 at the age of 22. Furthermore, he is the first Italian driver to win two consecutive races since 1953, when Alberto Ascari triumphed in the Netherlands and Belgium, and the first Italian to achieve multiple career victories since Giancarlo Fisichella.

“We are on the right track”

Clear-headed and grounded, Kimi didn't let his enthusiasm get the better of him. After the finish line, he declared: "It's too early to think about the championship, but we're on the right track. The start wasn't good, then the safety car helped me, but after that, the pace was incredible." He then added that he will use the month-long break—due to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs—to work on his starts, which he considers his main weakness.

Antonelli now leads the championship with a nine-point advantage over teammate George Russell. The season has just begun, but it's certainly off to a good start!