Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team’s George Russell secured a solid fifth-place finish, while Kimi Antonelli claimed sixth in today’s Japanese Grand Prix, both drivers maintaining their starting positions after 53 challenging laps around the iconic Suzuka circuit.
With limited overtaking opportunities at the technical, high-speed circuit, both drivers executed a one-stop strategy, starting on the Medium tyres before switching to the Hard compound for the second stint. In the early laps, George relentlessly pressured Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari but was unable to find a way through, with the difficult conditions and dirty air compromising his tyre performance. The team attempted an undercut strategy on lap 19, but despite a close call as Leclerc pitted two laps later, George rejoined just behind the Monegasque driver, holding on to P5 to the finish.
This result marks George’s seventh consecutive top-five finish, his best ever performance at Suzuka.
Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli showcased his remarkable talent by leading the race for a few laps after extending his first stint, becoming the youngest driver in F1 history to do so. After the pit stops, Kimi demonstrated impressive pace on the Hard tyre, closing the gap to the cars ahead while also setting a stunning fastest lap of 1:30.965, becoming the youngest driver to claim a Grand Prix fastest lap.
The team now heads to Bahrain next week for the second race of this demanding triple-header.
George Russell
“It was a frustrating race for me. The lack of overtaking opportunities here in Suzuka made things difficult. Despite putting pressure on Leclerc early on, I couldn’t make the pass. We attempted the undercut, but the traffic we had to clear hurt our strategy, and we couldn’t quite pull it off. Ultimately, I think P5 was where we were destined to finish today.”
“The real disappointment lies in qualifying. I felt we had a car capable of fighting for the top two rows, but we didn’t quite extract the full potential. It’s the first time this year that we’ve missed that opportunity, which is frustrating. However, we’ll bounce back in Bahrain—it’s a completely different challenge with a much hotter and more abrasive circuit, and I’m eager to see how we compare.”
Kimi Antonelli
“I’m pleased with today’s race. Once I got clear air, I was able to extend my stint and really show the car’s pace. The Hard tyre felt great, and I was catching the cars ahead but ran out of time. Leading the race was an unforgettable experience, and to be the youngest driver in history to do so is something special. Now, my focus is on leading the final lap—that’s when it really counts!”
“Overall, this weekend has been very positive. Suzuka is a demanding track, but each time I get in the car, I feel more comfortable and confident with the W16. I’m looking forward to Bahrain and continuing to build on this momentum.”
Team and Engineering Insights:
Bradley Lord, Team Representative
“We leave Japan with solid points, but there’s a sense that we could have achieved more. Suzuka is notoriously difficult to overtake on, and George did all he could to apply pressure to Leclerc. The dirty air and tyre degradation meant we couldn’t execute the undercut, but we are confident that with a better starting position, we could have fought for the podium.”
“Kimi continues to impress, achieving several milestones today—leading his first laps and securing his first fastest lap. His growth as a driver is clear, and this result is another step forward. We’re excited for Bahrain, where the challenge will be different, but we are determined to compete for the top spots.”
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director
“Today’s race was one of what could have been. Our pace throughout the weekend showed promise, but Suzuka is a track that favors qualifying performance. Our starting positions (P5 and P6) meant we had an uphill battle to make significant progress.”
“The one-stop strategy played out as expected, with the durability of the tyres limiting any real opportunities for aggressive strategy. George was stuck in Leclerc’s dirty air for much of his first stint, so we attempted the undercut. We came close but just didn’t have enough to make it work.”
“Kimi’s race was impressive. Extending his stint and showing excellent pace in clear air allowed him to pull off a strategy that kept him in the hunt while also setting the fastest lap. He’s proving to be a mature and consistent performer.”
“Bahrain will be a very different challenge. The abrasive surface will test our tyres, but it’s a good benchmark for how much progress we’ve made with the car since last year. We aim to be back in the fight for the podium.”