Five Formula 1 Winners & Losers: Japanese Grand Prix

Photo from XPB Images

Mercedes dominance continues, but we may have a better fight than I expected we would this year.

Here are the winners and losers from the Japanese Grand Prix.

Losers

5. Audi

It was a promising Saturday during qualifying for Audi, so to come home with no points at all is really a big bummer.

4. Williams

Williams is the only team with a Mercedes power unit that is finding it very very difficult to succeed.

That’s a really bad sign of things to come.

3. Lando Norris

Norris has never been out qualified by his teammate for three races in a row in his entire career.

But to start the 2026 season, the defending champion is now 0-3 against Oscar Piastri in qualifying this year.

I’m not sure he’d be able to defend his title anyway considering how fast Mercedes looks this year, but missing out in qualifying certainly won’t help.

2. George Russell

George Russell had a ton of experience.

He had been through tough years at Williams. He joined Mercedes right as their dominance ended.

But this was the year. This was the year it was all supposed to come together and he would win a championship.

But after a dominating win in Australia, his teenager teammate has gotten the better of him, and now he trails in the championship.

It is very, very early, but he is in for a tougher fight than many expected.

This won’t be a cakewalk.

1. Formula 1

These regulation changes were meant to create some on track battles, and they have.

However, the drivers hate them, qualifying laps have been neutered, the great talent of the sport, Max Verstappen, is contemplating retiring from the sport because he’s not having fun doing it anymore, and Oliver Bearman was hurt in a crash due to the speed difference between full and drained batteries.

The drivers not liking these regulations is one thing.

Safety concerns are a complete other thing.

The FIA has 5 weeks to try and figure out what to do before the Miami Grand Prix, and I hope they think of something.

Because while the racing is better than it has been in a while, it shouldn’t happen at the cost of safety.

Winners

5. Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso finished a race.

Excellent job, boys!

4. Ferrari

Another race, another clean on track battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Again, it’s not very smart in terms of trying to win a race, but it’s fun!

And that’s got to count for something!

3. Charles Leclerc

After his excellent battle with Hamilton, Leclerc had a fantastic overtake on George Russell to take the final podium spot.

The drivers may not love these regulations, but Leclerc sure is loving the wheel to wheel battles.

2. Oscar Piastri

Piastri not only actually started the race for the first time this year, but was able to get a great start and a 2nd place finish for his first podium of the season.

That has to feel good after such a difficult start to the season for the Australian.

1. Kimi Antonelli

With his win in Japan, Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver to ever lead the World Championship.

I said after the first race that this could be similar to 2014-2016 Mercedes dominance, but that Kimi Antonelli couldn’t hang with Russell like Nico Rosberg could with Lewis.

He is proving me wrong so far, because Kimi Antonelli is showing the world exactly why Mercedes had him replace Lewis Hamilton at only 18 years old.

They thought he was ready, and he clearly is.