The Japanese Grand Prix offered a mix of stellar performances and significant hurdles for several drivers and teams. Here is a breakdown of who came out on top and who left Suzuka facing tough questions.
The Winners
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: The young Mercedes driver has surpassed expectations, establishing himself as the championship leader just three rounds into the season. While his teammate George Russell has more experience, Antonelli’s composed and mature approach on track has been impressive, positioning him as a formidable title contender.
Oscar Piastri: Following a challenging start to the season, Piastri delivered one of the finest performances of his career in Japan. He expertly defended against George Russell’s faster Mercedes, proving that McLaren has made great strides in optimizing their Mercedes powertrain ahead of the April break.
Pierre Gasly and Alpine: After a difficult 2025 campaign, Alpine is seeing the rewards of their strategic focus. Gasly has shown consistent speed, regularly reaching Q3, while the team’s overall performance marks a clear upward trajectory compared to their previous struggles.
The Losers
George Russell: It was a frustrating weekend for the Briton. Between a technical setback in China and poor timing with the safety car in Japan, Russell has faced a series of unfortunate events. As he noted,
«In racing, sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it goes against you. It just feels like at the moment, in the last two weekends, it's like every issue we're having, it's on my side.»
Ferrari: As McLaren finds its footing, Ferrari appears to have slipped back in the pecking order. Despite Charles Leclerc's strong racecraft during wheel-to-wheel battles, the team acknowledges that it needs urgent development in aerodynamics and power unit efficiency to remain competitive with the frontrunners.
Williams: Williams endured a painful weekend in Suzuka. With the team essentially treating the Grand Prix as a test session, they struggled significantly with pace. According to team principal James Vowles, the weekend was a "painful line in the sand." The team is now tasked with drastically reducing car weight and increasing downforce to regain their footing in a tight midfield.
Red Bull: While their in-house power unit shows promise, the team is struggling with fundamental chassis issues in the RB22. These limitations have become a major concern, seemingly affecting Max Verstappen's enthusiasm and leaving the team in a difficult position as they attempt to address performance gaps that cannot be solved through setup changes alone.