George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secure P5 and P6 in a strategic, low-overtake race at Suzuka.
- George Russell claims seventh straight top-five finish
- Kimi Antonelli sets the fastest lap and leads his first F1 laps
- Both drivers executed one-stop strategies on Medium-Hard compounds
- Limited overtaking opportunities highlight the importance of qualifying
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Race Overview: Steady Results at a High-Stakes Circuit
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka saw George Russell and rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli finish in fifth and sixth respectively, matching their starting grid positions. With overtaking at a premium and tyre management playing a pivotal role, the 53-lap race became a strategic battle rather than an all-out fight on track.
Both Mercedes drivers ran a one-stop strategy, starting on the Medium tyres before switching to the Hard compound. Russell attempted an undercut on Charles Leclerc mid-race but fell short due to traffic and tyre degradation. Antonelli, meanwhile, impressed by leading a portion of the race and setting the fastest lap, became the youngest driver in F1 history to achieve both feats.
Mercedes Driver Performance Summary
| Driver | Start Position | Finish Position | Fastest Lap | Tyre Strategy | Pit Stop Lap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Russell | P5 | P5 | 1:31.356 | Medium → Hard | Lap 19 |
| Kimi Antonelli | P6 | P6 | 1:30.965 | Medium → Hard | Lap 31 |
George Russell: “Frustrating but Solid”
George Russell described the race as “frustrating” given the lack of overtaking chances and the decisive role of Saturday’s qualifying. Although he pushed Leclerc early on, the dirty air affected his tyres, making his undercut attempt ineffective.
“It all came down to qualifying. With our practice pace, we should’ve been on the front two rows. We’ll aim to bounce back quickly in Bahrain, which presents a very different challenge,” Russell noted.
Kimi Antonelli: “Learning and Progressing”
Antonelli continued to impress in his debut season. By extending his first stint and driving in clean air, the young Italian found exceptional pace. He not only led laps but also secured the fastest time of the race with a blistering 1:30.965.
“It was special to lead the race and take fastest lap. I’m learning every time I get in the car, and I’m starting to feel more at one with the W16,” said Antonelli.
Team Reactions: Mixed Emotions but Optimism for Bahrain
Bradley Lord, Team Representative
“Suzuka is a tough place to overtake, and today proved it. We showed top-five pace but couldn’t make it count on track. Had we started further up, we could have been in podium contention. Kimi’s progress remains a real highlight — leading laps and grabbing the fastest time is no small feat for a rookie.”
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director
“This race was a missed opportunity in some ways. The tyre degradation was low, which locked most of the field into a straightforward one-stop. George was close to making the undercut work, but traffic cost us the edge. Kimi drove an intelligent race and continues to mature rapidly.”
Next? Bahrain Awaits
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team heads to Bahrain for the second leg of this season’s triple-header. With its high-degradation surface and abrasive layout, Bahrain will pose a fresh challenge — and a chance for Mercedes to translate strong pace into podium positions.
Stay tuned for full coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix next week.
