Originally published on Substack. Cross-posted here for Beehiiv readers.
This is the look of a driver who broke several records this season- and we’re only on race 3! (F1 Twitter)
Well, well, well… history seems to be repeating itself.
Let’s review— in the span of a single race weekend, Mercedes senior George Russell watched his championship lead dissolve into a fine paste. His junior teammate, Kimi Antonelli, scored his second consecutive (and second ever) win at Suzuka, turning Russell’s four-point lead into a nine-point deficit.
If this sounds familiar, it should. This exact scenario played out with the McLaren team last year. In the back half of 2025, Oscar Piastri was leading the championship while senior teammate and McLaren darling Lando Norris was stuck playing catch-up. Of course, we know how that one ended— Norris fought back into the lead, won it by two points in Abu Dhabi, and left Piastri in third place despite him leading for 15 rounds.
Will the same happen this year, with Russell finally getting his flowers? It’s too soon to say. We’re only on race three, and we have at least a month until Miami.
You DO have to wonder what George is thinking about all this… (Mercedes AMG F1 Twitter)
Speaking of Piastri, the Australian was finally able to start a race today. And what a race it was! After the crash in Australia and the DNS snafu in China, Piastri charged through the first lap in Suzuka to take the lead, trading it briefly with Russell across the first third of the race before a safety car was called, which ultimately handed Antonelli a solid lead.
Even though he didn’t win, Piastri managed a solid P2 finish— quite impressive for someone who practically just had to sit and watch the first two races of the season (I’m not being mean here, Piastri himself even said that on his social media). By the time the checkered flag waved, he was almost two seconds clear of Charles Leclerc, who spent most of the race’s second half fending off a relentless George Russell, who got alongside him more than once in the closing laps before Leclerc shut the door.
It was a well-deserved return to form for Piastri— who, for the record, said that today was "probably one of my best weekends in F1." Hopefully, his luck will last.
“First laps, first trophy”— and a well-deserved one (Oscar Piastri’s Twitter)
Before we round out this week’s podium, we need to address the Dutch elephant in the room. One can’t discuss the Suzuka circuit without the very man who dominated it for the past while, after all.
The month of March seems to really have it out for Max Verstappen. The four-time Japanese Grand Prix champion wasn’t even able to make it out of the second round of qualifying. Add to that the qualifying disaster from Australia, the DNF from China, AND his own Nurburgring disqualification (which came after he and his team won the NLS2 by almost a minute)… and, understandably, the Dutchman’s spirits aren’t exactly high right now.
That makes his racing today all the more remarkable. Verstappen clawed his way back into the points by the first lap and was even in the top five for a period before the safety car was called. He wasn’t able to break out of midfield once the racing started again, ultimately finishing P8 after repeatedly trying (and failing) to pass former teammate Pierre Gasly. Here’s to hoping Red Bull Racing will fix whatever’s wrong with the car during the break.
Not a good month for the Dutchman (Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Twitter)
Rounding out this week’s podium, as mentioned before, is Charles Leclerc. The Monégasque started the race at P4, behind both Mercedes cars, but made a strong launch up to P2 on the opening lap. He didn’t hold it for long, ceding his position to Russell a few laps later. But once the safety car was called out, Leclerc was soon back into podium contention.
Arguably, this was where the real racing was in the second half of the race. Leclerc and Russell spent the last 11 laps fighting over P3, with the latter muscling his way through before Leclerc immediately snatched it back around the outside of Turn 1, a move so audacious that his own race engineer responded by saying he had balls of steel.
There was even some borderline (albeit flimsy) espionage work happening behind the scenes. Apparently, Russell’s pit wall was telling Ferrari what he was planning to do on track. But Leclerc called his bluff very easily. He later told the press he figured it out when Russell did the exact opposite of what Ferrari was told for four consecutive laps.
Ferrari, Mercedes— both of you should be better than this. You two are arguably going to be the dominant teams of the season. Why are you SO BAD at mind games?
WHY ARE YOU BOTH SO BAD AT ESPIONAGE? (F1 Twitter)
Overall, despite the ongoing issues with the new regulations, Suzuka was certainly more entertaining than last year. We now have the youngest-ever World Drivers’ Championship leader. Oscar Piastri was finally able to start a race. Ferrari’s comeback is lasting for more than two races. Max Verstappen is somewhere behind Pierre Gasly, and I’m feeling really bad for him.
It’s a shame that we’ll have to go a month without another Grand Prix.
Miscellaneous Notes
And now, as always, my other observations and whatnot that didn’t make it into the main article:
The regulation fights continue. Remember how I said a safety car was called roughly 20 laps in? That was because of an absolutely terrifying 50G crash involving Ollie Bearman. The FIA itself had to release a statement about it, which basically amounted to ‘Yes, we know about the issues surrounding the regulation changes. We’re working on it. Please be patient.’ You know. a very normal thing to say after watching a 20-year-old hit the wall at nearly 200 miles per hour.
What the Pit?! Williams’ Alex Albon apparently had to go to the pits six times during the race. Somehow, he still managed to finish the race. Sure, he was last, but a finish is a finish.
Okaerinasai, Yuki-san. Even though he’s been demoted to Red Bull/Racing Bulls test and reserve driver, Yuki Tsunoda still got a lot of screen time on the team socials. I know Suzuka’s his home race, but it was still a nice gesture from a team with a reputation for throwing their drivers away the moment they stop being useful.
Hey! An Aston Martin finished! Fernando Alonso ended the race in P18, the first time this season one of the team’s cars actually made it to the finish line. Funny that it happened in Japan, since Honda’s their engine manufacturer now.
Speaking of Alonso… A belated congratulations to him and his partner, Melissa Jiménez, for the birth of their first child. A little weird how people complained about him going back to work right after— since he not only skipped Media Day to be there with his family, but Max Verstappen did the very same thing last year with little issue. Make of that what you will.
¡Felicitaciones, Alonso! (Aston Martin Aramco F1 Twitter)
Normally, this is where I say, “See you in X weeks for the next race”. And yes, you will see me in May for Miami. But during this unexpected delay, I have a couple of other projects coming your way that I can’t wait for you to see.
One of them is coming next week, and it’s my perspective on what exactly happened between Verstappen and the press this weekend. I’ve only seen a small handful of nuanced takes on the matter, with most of the reaction being either uncritical defensiveness or reflexive outrage.
Both are wrong, and I’ll explain why. Until then, feel free to read my past bonus article on why it’s impossible to move the April races to other locations.
-F