Antonelli wins Japanese F1 GP

SUZUKA, Japan — Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli continued his meteoric rise through the 2024 Formula 1 season, capturing Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix for his second straight victory. The 19-year-old Italian controlled the 53-lap contest from lights to flag, crossing the line a commanding 13.7 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The result vaults Antonelli further into championship contention and underscores Mercedes’ resurgence after a winter of aggressive car development. Piastri’s runner-up finish delivers valuable points for McLaren yet again, while the sizeable gap back to third highlights Antonelli’s dominance on Suzuka’s demanding figure-eight layout. With back-to-back wins now on the board, the teenager has sent an unmistakable signal to the paddock: he intends to battle for the title right through the season’s final rounds.