Winners and losers from F1's fraught Japanese Grand Prix
Motorsport.com • • general
Key Points:
- Kimi Antonelli leads the F1 championship as Mercedes' top driver, impressing with mature and controlled performances, becoming the youngest-ever championship leader and race winner.
- George Russell faced setbacks in recent races due to technical issues and poor safety car timing, causing frustration and threatening Mercedes' early-season advantage.
- Oscar Piastri delivered a standout performance for McLaren, holding off Russell longer than expected and signaling McLaren's progress with the Mercedes power unit.
- Ferrari is struggling to keep pace with Mercedes-powered teams, needing development in aerodynamics and power units despite strong driving from Charles Leclerc.
- Red Bull is facing significant challenges with its RB22 chassis, impacting driver morale, including Max Verstappen's apparent frustration, while Alpine shows improvement with Pierre Gasly consistently reaching Q3.
