F1 update – Japanese GP

Round 3 of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship took place at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan for the Japanese Grand Prix.

For the second time this year Mercedes driver Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli took victory finishing ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who had to settle for second despite initially leading the race with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completing the podium in third.

Japanese GP – top 5:

• 1st: Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli – Mercedes
• 2nd: Oscar Piastri – McLaren
• 3rd: Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
• 4th: George Russell – Mercedes
• 5th: Lando Norris – McLaren

Other highlights:

• Haas’s Oliver Bearman suffered a 50G accident whilst trying to avoid the Alpine of Franco Colapinto at Spoon Curve on lap 21, this bought out the safety car. Bearman suffered no injuries following the accident.
• Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll would retire on lap 31 with water pressure failure.
• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen’s poor start to the season continued with an eighth place finish his worst start to a Formula 1 season since 2018.

News:

• The F.I.A will be reviewing some of the 2026 regulations following Bearman’s accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.
• Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso missed the media session at the Japanese Grand Prix after his partner gave birth.
• Aston Martin announced that Adrian Newey will step down as team principal, but would remain with the team in a technical role.
• Audi appointed former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto as their new team principal at Audi as they announced that Jonathan Wheatley will resign as team principal at Audi.

The next round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship will take place at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami, Florida for the Miami Grand Prix on 1st to 3rd May.

Here’s Aston and regular contributor Cameron Perkins with the latest from the world of Formula 1.