The 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli now leads the standings with 72 points|@F1|X
At just 19 years old, Kimi Antonelli made history as the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 following a dramatic victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Mercedes phenom now leads the standings with 72 points, surpassing teammate George Russell. The race was defined by a massive 50G crash involving Haas driver Ollie Bearman, which triggered a safety car sequence that reshuffled the lead.
Formula 1 is seeing a massive increase in audience, with owner Liberty Media reporting that 6.7 million fans attended races in 2025.
The sport’s popularity reached a fever pitch with 19 sold-out events and 11 attendance records shattered, including the massive 500,000-person turnout at the British Grand Prix last year.
However, the series enters an unexpected five-week hiatus due to the cancellation of two Middle Eastern races amid the Iran war.