MONDAY MORNING DEBRIEF: The two key questions after Antonelli's Japanese Grand Prix triumph
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli secured his second successive Grand Prix victory in Suzuka, having taken his maiden win two weeks prior in China.

.webp)
Two questions present themselves in the wake of Kimi Antonelli’s second consecutive Grand Prix victory, after a superb performance in his Mercedes around Suzuka.
Firstly, could he have won even without the Safety Car that sprung him ahead of Oscar Piastri, George Russell and Charles Leclerc? All three had been ahead of the Italian but pitted before the Safety Car was deployed for Ollie Bearman’s accident, while Antonelli got the time-cheap stop under the Safety Car.
Secondly, what was the thinking behind Mercedes pitting Russell at the end of Lap 21, which in hindsight was disastrous timing?
Next Up
Related Articles
Wolff reviews Russell and Mercedes’ Austria ‘bounce back’
Verstappen reflects on Austrian GP performance
7 moments you might have missed at the 2026 Austrian GP
Verstappen's best result yet in 2026 gets your vote
Williams reveal special livery for home race at Silverstone
Tsolov wins F2 Feature Race in Austria with complete drive
