Kimi Antonelli has made it clear that being very young doesn’t mean being unable to compete. Even surrounded by highly experienced drivers, he knows how to take control and make things work. And at the Japanese Grand Prix, he confirmed it, setting aside what could be considered “luck” and solidifying his performance.

After three races, Australia, China, and Japan, the Mercedes driver has built a strong start. He opened with a second-place finish in Australia, followed by his first win in China, and a second consecutive victory in Japan, results that place him at the top of the World Drivers’ Championship.

Following the Japanese GP, Antonelli sits on 72 points and leads the standings, while his teammate George Russell is close behind with 63 points. The gap keeps the internal battle at Mercedes alive, with the team establishing itself as a serious contender for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

However, things could now begin to change

Oscar Piastri of McLaren returned to the podium with a second-place finish at the Japanese GP. And that is no small detail. McLaren comes off a championship run, proving it knows what it takes to reach the top, stay there, and compete again from that position. So, although the start of this season hasn’t been ideal due to technical issues, this result could mark the beginning of something bigger.

If the team manages to find the right strategies and stabilize performance after a difficult start, McLaren could once again become a serious contender.

For now, the landscape seems to be opening up. Antonelli leads with authority, but McLaren is starting to respond. And in that contrast, between a rising dominance and a team waking up, is where the season truly begins to take shape.