06:23
Race start replay.
Piastri takes the lead at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix
F1 Japanese GP as it happened: Antonelli wins after safety car for huge Bearman crash
Live coverage of the 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Antonelli wins the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix
- Bearman crash brings out safety car
- Race was delayed by 10 minutes due to support series crash
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli starts from pole
- Max Verstappen 11th after Q2 exit
The third round of the 2026 Formula 1 season continues on Sunday 29 March with the 53-lap Japanese Grand Prix from Suzuka.
The iconic Suzuka circuit acts as the venue for Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix, as Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli starts on pole for the second time this season.
The 19-year-old Italian broke his duck last time out in China when he claimed a maiden pole, which he converted into a first grand prix victory.
He will be looking to do the same after a qualifying in which Mercedes stretched its legs, with Antonelli's team-mate George Russell slotting into second after a tricky session.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri led the best-of-the-rest charge behind the works Mercedes team, as the Woking outfit's car appears to be working much better at Suzuka than in previous rounds.
Piastri was able to fend off the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who will start fourth, while Lando Norris managed fifth in the sister McLaren despite the reigning world champion struggling with technical issues all weekend.
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari is "miles and miles away" from Mercedes this weekend, as he goes from sixth on the grid with much tougher task in matching his podium from China.
Pierre Gasly put the Alpine seventh on the grid to give the Enstone team top honours in a tight midfield race, while Isack Hadjar was eighth for Red Bull after team-mate Max Verstappen fell out of Q2 in 11th spot.
Gabriel Bortoleto was ninth for Audi, while Arvid Lindblad sneaked his Racing Bull into the top 10 with a lap in Q2 that dumped Verstappen out of the mix.
Aston Martin brings up the rear of the field for engine supplier Honda's home grand prix, as the Japanese marque will be hoping its vibration countermeasures allows both cars to get to the chequered flag.
The 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix begins at 6am BST.
29 Mar 2026
06:23
Lap 6/53
Piastri leads onto lap six, but Russell is under a second behind now.
Still no way through for Antonelli on Norris for fourth.
06:22
Verstappen gets through on Lindblad at the hairpin for eighth.
06:22
Outside of the top 10, Hulkenberg is 11th from Lawson, Colapinto, Bearman, Bortoleto, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Albon, Perez, Alonso, Stroll and Bottas.
06:21
Lap 5/53
Four laps down. Piastri still leading, 1.3s over Russell.
Leclerc third, while Norris is defending Antonelli well here in fourth.
Verstappen coming onto the back on Lindblad's car in ninth.
06:20
Russell fastest lap now.
06:19
Lap 4/53
Onto lap four. Piastri leading still.
Russell has eased by Leclerc into Turn 1. Looks like Leclerc didn't have the energy to respond to that.
06:19
Hamilton is sixth on lap three from Gasly, Linblad, Verstappen and Ocon to round out the top 10.
Fastest lap for Antonelli at this stage.
06:18
Lap 3/53
Hadjar didn't take that lying down. He tried to get by into the last chicane but ran it a bit wide and has dropped to 11th.
Russell is now up to third ahead of Norris, who now has Antonelli breathing down his neck.
06:17
Verstappen is making progress from 11th. He's up to ninth now after a move on Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar.
06:17
Piastri is 1.8s clear of Leclerc halfway round lap two. Norris in touch still in third.
06:16
Lap 2/53
Lap one completed. Piastri leads Leclerc.
Antonelli jumps Hamilton into Turn 1 to move up to fifth.
06:16
We have a proper race now because the Mercedes duo have a fight on their hands now.
Surprising to see the Merc customer jump the works team off the line.
06:15
Piastri hasn't completed a Sunday race lap in 2026 and he's now leading a grand prix!
06:15
Piastri takes the lead into Turn 1 from Leclerc and then Norris! The Mercedes had had a shocker.
Russell is fourth, Antonelli is down to sixth.
06:14
2026 F1 Japanese GP: Start
The 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix is GO!
06:10
F1 Japanese GP: Tyre choice
Everyone has started on the medium tyre, apart from Cadillac's Bottas on the hard.
Surprisingly, no one taking a risk on starting on the soft.
06:10
2026 F1 Japanese GP: Warm-up lap starts
Right, here we go. The warm-up lap is underway.
06:03
So far, we're still on for everyone making the start.
06:00
10 minutes until lights out!
05:51
Andrea Kimi Antonelli could become the first teenager to win two races in a season today if he converts pole.
05:50
Will we see another rapid Ferrari start today?
05:41
Drivers making full use of the time they have to get some practice starts in at the end of pitlane.
So far this year, Ferrari have been the best starters. Charles Leclerc goes from fourth, while Lewis Hamilton is sixth.
05:38
F1 responds to conspiracy theories amid missing Kimi Antonelli Japanese GP pole lap footage
F1 has denied accusations it deliberately hid 'super clipping' on Kimi Antonelli's pole position lap in Japan.
F1 responds to conspiracy theories amid missing Kimi Antonelli Japanese GP pole lap footage
Antonelli made it back-to-back F1 poles in Japan
05:36
Still on for a start at 2:10pm local time, according to the FIA. Impressive job by the track to get that barrier fixed.